Traditional Singers Club

Welcome to the Traditional Singers Club of the Twin Cities!

In lieu of our usual last-Sunday singing session, on Sunday, January 31, Steve Byrne and Fiona Hunter of the acclaimed Scots band Malinky will offer a double singing workshop at The Celtic Junction before the band's concert that evening. The Singers Club has arranged this opportunity with the help of the Center for Irish Music, and the workshop will be held in their space (up the left staircase as you enter the Celtic Junction).

Here are the details:

2:00-4:00 PM Jan. 31, 2010
The Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave., St Paul
$20 at the door

"The Better o a Sang" - Scots Song with Steve Byrne
The Dundee poet Mary Brooksbank once wrote "whatever may be richt or wrang, we're aa the better o a sang". This workshop will look at a wide variety of songs Steve has used over the years in singing groups he's worked with, concentrating mainly on getting people singing for the fun of it! For part of the workshop Steve will have a focus on songs from his home area, Angus, giving you a chance to try your hand at the old Scots tongue!

Singing workshop with Fiona Hunter
Be prepared to smile. With quirky harmonies and simple vocal percussion, Fiona Hunter will raise the roof in vibrant arrangements of dance songs, lullabies and lyrical gems from Scotland and beyond. Everything will be taught by ear.

Both parts are suitable for all ages, and there will be an intermission between the two with our usual light refreshments.

Malinky's Celtic Junction show will start at 7:00 PM. Stay - or return - for the show if you can!
There's a PDF-format poster promoting both events; please feel free to print and post if you'd like to help get the word out. (Thanks!)

Traditional Singers Club concerts follow a format designed to showcase featured artists while also promoting local participation in traditional singing. Thus, December's event will include performances by "resident" club singers as well as an impromptu song or two from selected "floor" singers.

We support and encourage involvement and excellence in Irish and related singing traditions. We do this in part by providing a regular singing session in the Twin Cities for those who are interested in learning, performing, and sharing knowledge on unaccompanied traditional songs, which was seen as an unmet need when the club was founded.

We also host concerts and workshops by respected traditional singers. Past guests include Len Graham, Aine Meenaghan, and Dáithí Sproule.