Leahy Crosses Genres with Fiddle-driven Music, Dance, and vocals

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

February 25, 2008

With fiddle-driven music, dance, and vocals augmented by dazzling keyboard and driving percussion, the eight awe-inspiring siblings of Leahy leave audiences breathless from the moment they hit the stage. Performing "... ferocious and extremely energetic works [that] gain momentum through plenty of acoustic instruments ..." (Chicago Sun-Times), Leahy writes, arranges, and produces music with an original blend of musical styles and genres from Celtic to country and classical to pop.

Returning to The Paramount Theater, Leahy’s family of instrumentalists, singers, and dancers bring a rare level of originality and musicianship to the stage with a concert on Sunday, March 9 at 7 pm.

This event is sponsored by Virginia National Bank.

The pride of Lakefield, Ontario, the members of this multi-talented musical collective -- Agnes, Angus, Donnell, Doug, Erin, Frank, Maria, and Siobheann Leahy -- have been playing together their entire lives. Raised on the land where ancestor Michael Leahy settled from Ireland in 1825, they'd work outside by day, and play, dance, and sing by night. Erin recalls that their fiddle-playing father and champion step dancing mother "encouraged us to listen to and play a wide variety of styles" and sees that influence "coming across in our writing today."

Leahy's genuine love of a diverse range of music fuels their creativity. By refusing to be bound to the conventions of any one genre, they have forged a sound that can honestly be called unique. This eclectic nature comes naturally, as Erin explains. "With each project we look at the material we have all been writing. We don't really have a particular direction in mind in terms of how we want something to sound until we collect all the material that everyone has been working on, and see what moves us enough to develop further."

"We all write individually," adds Donnell. "Sometimes something that is half-written becomes a collaboration, other times someone writes a whole piece. There is a sort of general vibe that we possess, where we all recognize whether we like a piece or not. Then there will be a collaborative effort in tweaking or finishing it off."

As teens, the siblings performed across Canada with their parents, and quickly became favorites on the festival and fair circuit. A documentary profile about the group, Leahy: Music Most Of All, won an 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Student Film. Following an extended break from performing, the members of Leahy reunited, and a deal with Virgin Records saw their career soar in dramatic fashion.

Their 1997 self-titled debut seized the public's attention, and extensive touring (much of it as the opening act for Shania Twain) boosted Leahy to double platinum sales in Canada, with impressive response in the U.S. (reaching No. 4 on the Billboard world music chart), Great Britain, and Europe as well.

The group snared 1997 Juno Awards for Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group, took home the Best Country Group or Duo trophy the following year, and the prize for the Most Played Folk/Roots song in 2004. In 2005, Leahy won the Socan award for best Folk/Jazz Instrumental.

The band’s three acclaimed CDs -- Leahy, Lakefield, and In All Things -- were joined by their first-ever live DVD and CD in Winter 2007. Their third television special is currently airing on PBS, and a second DVD and live CD are due for release in 2008.

The band’s concerts reflect the diversity of their recorded repertory. They include everything from trademark instrumental pieces honoring Quebecois influences or capturing the step dancing element that’s key to the Leahy live experience, to bright melodic pop songs and haunting ballads withpure vocals and eloquent fiddle playing.

Their compelling career voyage has proven that a musical style defying easy definition can still find a large and wide audience. "It is liberating to see that there are no boundaries," stresses Donnell. "Over the course of a year, we perform at jazz, bluegrass, country, and Celtic festivals. We play for classical audiences, we've played with heavy metal bands, and it works every time."

As part of Leahy’s visit to Charlottesville, the group is issuing “The Call to Dancers” to young performers in the Charlottesville area. This contest awards one local dancer a chance to perform on The Paramount’s stage during the band’s award-winning song “The Call to Dance.” In addition, the winning dancer will receive four tickets to the show and copies of Leahy’s new live CD and DVD.

Young people who have any level of experience in a “traditional” style of dance -- such as clog, Irish, Highland, step-dancing or tap -- are invited to enter. Dancers should submit a short paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining why they should be “called to dance.” Lite Rock Z95.1 Morning Show Host Jay Lopez will select the winning entry.

Entries must be emailed to info@theparamount.net before midnight on Sunday, March 2. Please include name, address, and a daytime phone number where the dancer or a parent may be reached. The winner will be will be notified by phone on Tuesday, March 5.  The winning dancer must be available for a brief rehearsal with the band on the afternoon of the performance.

Tickets for Leahy’s Paramount Theater concert on Sunday, March 9 are $40.50, $43.50, $46.50, and $51.50. Half-price student rush tickets and group discounts are also available.

Tickets are available online or through The Paramount’s Box Office at 434.979.1333.

For more information about Leahy, please visit www.leahymusic.com.