WEST PLAINS, Mo. – One of Ireland’s most popular Celtic bands, Caladh Nua, will stop in West Plains March 3 for a live concert as part of its international tour.
Hosted by the Missouri State University-West Plains’ University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department, the concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the West Plains Civic Center theater. General admission tickets are $10 each; children age 13 and under and university students with a BearPass ID will be admitted free. Tickets are on sale now through the civic center box office, 110 St. Louis St., or by calling 417-256-8087.
“I didn’t realize what a big deal Caladh Nua was until I was watching a nationally televised program on PBS a few weeks ago, and there they were,” said U/CP Theater and Events Coordinator Jennifer Moore. “My jaw dropped – not just because I knew they were coming to West Plains, but also because of how amazing they sounded. They stay true to the traditional Celtic feel and lyrics of southern Ireland while throwing in a modern flair.”
The band includes musicians playing the fiddle, banjo, guitar and button accordion. It also incorporates the bodhran, a Celtic frame drum covered in goatskin that helps give the traditional music its unique sound. Add lead vocalist Lisa Butler, who is known for her spellbinding performances, to this mix, and Caladh Nua gives audiences a musical tug on their heartstrings for all things Irish.
“There’s a reason why Ireland inspires feelings of nostalgia and familiarity among many Ozarkers, even for those of us who have never been there,” Moore said. “Many of the pioneers who settled here were Scots-Irish descendants from further east, and their influence on Ozarks culture has been tremendous. This concert kind of brings that full circle, we feel.”
Moore also pointed out the concert would be a perfect way to begin celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. “Even though the day is set aside to honor Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick’s Day has a special place in American hearts, as well. Whether or not we have Irish roots in our personal histories, we all look forward to wearing a little green on that day,” Moore said.
For more information about the March 3 concert, which will run one hour and 40 minutes and include an intermission, and other events sponsored by the Missouri State-West Plains U/CP Department, call 417-255-7966 or visit the department’s website.