Our Next Concert
Traditional Irish Arts Workshops and Ceili Night
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Love Irish Culture? We’re excited to offer workshops in the afternoon followed by an interactive entertainment experience in the evening. Come join the fun!
Dance with Celtic Motion
Celtic Motion Irish Dance Ensemble is an Indianapolis-based not-for-profit organization of adults dedicated to the enjoyment, perfection, and performance of traditional Irish step dancing with a progressive flair. Members are involved primarily for the enjoyment and love of the dance with the goal of improving their technique to create a unified performing group able to share the enjoyment of Irish step with the community.
Language with Brenda Sutton
Brenda Sinclair Sutton is an award-winning singer/songwriter who plays in many bands including the traditional Irish trio Alair. She teaches bodhrán and beginning and intermediate Irish language for Irish Arts Academy of Indianapolis. Brenda fell in love with the Irish language in the early 1980s when she found Irish lyrics printed on the back of a Chieftans album. That sent her plummeting down the rabbit hole of all things Irish, but especially the frame drum and the language. Both provide a window into the Irish culture and imagination. Not content to study modern Irish, she’s now delving into Middle and Old Irish, as well as the language’s connection with Scots Gaelic. Come play with Irish and learn some basic conversational skills.
History of American/Irish music with Ed Delaney
Ed started playing Irish and Old Time American music in high school during the (great Folk Scare of the) 1970’s. He first learned to play the banjo, but shortly fell in love with the concertina. He has attended many sessions and festivals throughout the nation over the years. Upon moving to Indiana, he joined the Full Moon Country Dance Orchestra in Oxford Ohio and played regular dances for over 10 years, followed by years of playing contra dances with the 10th Street Regulars in Richmond Indiana. He currently hosts the weekly Irish session at the Brockway Pub in Carmel IN, and makes up the entire squeezebox section of the Indianapolis Céilí Band.
Learn Tunes with Dave Bagdade
Participants should bring their own musical instrument.
Dave Bagdade is an award-winning mandolin player and an experienced educator, having performed and taught at workshops all over the US and Canada. He began playing Irish music after hearing The Chieftains at the age of 16, and he has been a member of the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club for more than a decade. He is a three-time gold medalist at the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, and he has competed at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÃireann in Ireland. In addition to performing regularly as a solo artist and with The Cousin Brothers and the New Trad Ramblers, Dave teaches mandolin, guitar and tenor banjo at the beginning and intermediate levels. Dave is the host and producer of the Kitchen Party Ceilidh, a radio program based in Indianapolis.
A Traditional Ceili (pronounced Kay-lee) is a social gathering with traditional music, dancing, singing and storytelling. You can expect all this, and more, brought to you by members and instructors of Indianapolis Irish Arts.
We look forward to seeing you for a night of Irish style entertainment, optional audience participation, all around good cheer, and maybe a few surprises!
Indianapolis Irish Arts is a branch of the global organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, founded in Ireland in 1951. The Indianapolis branch was formed in 2019. Comhaltas’ main objective is the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music. This is done in many ways, such as: formal classes, informal music sessions, sponsoring ceili’s, touring group performances, local, regional, and international competitions, archiving thousands of recordings and videos, publishing books, music and tutorials.
Tickets: $20-$30
$30 for Ceili and one workshop or $20 for Ceili only
Workshops: In person only. Registration required
Ceili: In-Person OR Livestream via ZOOM
ONLINE SALES ONLY
No refunds or exchanges unless the event is cancelled.
The Ceili Night will be held in the performance space of the Unitarian Church of Indianapolis, located at 615 W. 43rd. St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 (near Butler University.) All workshops will be held on the UUI Campus, there are several buildings in close proximity. Follow these DIRECTIONS to join the fun.
Our 2022/2023 Schedule
For more details about each event, click the image below.
Stone and Snow
1/21/23
About the Indy Folk Series
If you know the Indy Folk Series, you know it’s special: a listening room venue where the audience is up close and personal; where the vibe is real and the sound is magnificent.
The Indy Folk Series is an all-ages listening room venue featuring superb acoustics, art on the walls, and candles on the tables. Concerts are held in the performance space at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, our home since the series was founded in 2001.
We strive to be accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. If you need accommodations, please contact us: IndyFolkSeries@gmail.com
Activities are made possible in part by Regional Arts Partner Nickel Plate Arts, and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
