The Appalachian Mountains in the United States have long-standing ties with Ireland – Appalachian old-time and bluegrass music echoes the tones, ballads, and instruments of Irish trad. These areas share history, song and background in a trans-Atlantic connection.
The Appalachian region of North Carolina was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, a once in a thousand year weather event – a hurricane seven hours from the ocean. Rivers typically 20 ft. wide became 1000 ft., sweeping away homes, roads, schools and entire communities and leaving hundreds dead and thousands homeless.
On 16 December, Ireland is offering support for the Appalachian mountain region with a night of music and poetry benefitting BeLoved Asheville, a mutual aid social justice charity leading recovery efforts and creating housing for thousands of people displaced by the raging flood waters and landslides.
This event is headlined by Grammy, Pulitzer Prize, and MacArthur Genius Grant winner Rhiannon Giddens. Based in Limerick, Giddens is a visionary musician who co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and is a two-time GRAMMY winner, with nine additional nominations for her work as a soloist and collaborator. She will be performing with Ireland-renowned Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu.
Other contributing artists include Irish soul vocal royalty Mary Coughlan; I Draw Slow, a Dublin-based group sitting squarely at the intersection of Irish and Appalachian music; Enda Scahill, four-time All-Ireland Champion in banjo with Simon Crehan; Loah, creator and queen of ‘Art Soul’ music which blends West African, soul, and Irish traditional music; and Erin Fornoff, Appalachian Irish poet.
Organizer Erin Fornoff said, “There are deeply held ties between Appalachia and Ireland. The thing both places have in their DNA is a passion for helping others, even across the pond.’’
Tickets are priced at €28. The show will be held at Whelan’s on MondayDecember 16th. Doors open at 19:30.
