Irish musicians coming to Valley

PALMER — Irish music lovers will have plenty of opportunities to get their fixes this fall, as several musicians are touring Alaska and coming to the Valley.

The two biggest names touring Alaska are Charlie Piggott and Gerry Harrington, who will perform together at the Sidney Lawrence Theatre (in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, in Anchorage) Oct. 13. On Oct. 14, they will play at Vagabond Blues in Palmer.

Piggott and Harrington perform traditional Irish folk music. Piggott has been a featured artist at the Smithsonian Institution in the past, and he is considered one of Ireland's best button-accordion players.

Harrington is one of Ireland's top box and fiddle players. He has been in Irish bands and played solo for several years.

The twosome will be joined by special guest Peter Gilmore, a singer and guitar player, for the Alaska tour only.

Other stops on their tour include the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the Traditional Music Festival in Manchester, England, the Cincinnati Folk Life Festival, and the Festival of European Accordion Music in Holland.

There are several other musicians coming to Alaska, and the Valley, this fall Patty Furlong (accordion), Eamonn O'Leary (vocals, guitar and bouzouki) and Michelle Bergin (fiddle, piano and step dance) are playing at the Wilda Marston Theatre (Alaska Center for the Performing Arts) Sept. 16 and then playing at Vagabond Blues on Sept. 17.

In October, the Alaska Irish Music Festival and Whistling Swans Production are teaming up to bring Solas to the Atwood Concert Hall in Anchorage.

They played in Anchorage and the Valley previously and are returning to Alaska to play another show.

The band has previously recorded with Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The Alaska Irish Folk Music Festival is a nonprofit organization which brings Irish music, dance and culture to Alaska on a regular basis.