“St. Brigid was a light in the darkest of times, a peacemaker, a woman who provided sustenance and a safe haven for all,”” notes Ivers, a Grammy Award-winning Irish American fiddler. “I’m thrilled to be joining other female artists as part of a livestream concert honoring this beloved Irish saint. May the perpetual flame that St. Brigid ignited so long ago, which still burns in Kildare Town’s Market Square today, live in our hearts and shine through the gift of music and community.” The livestream concert can be viewed on The Association of Irish & Celtic Festivals’ Facebook page.

Along with Ivers and Madden, a flutist and tin whistle player who has been at the helm of the New York-based all-female Irish music ensemble Cherish the Ladies since its inception in 1985, the following artists will be showcasing their musical talents:

The Bowtides (a trio of fiddlers who spent 14 cumulative years – never at the same time – in Gaelic Storm), Ashley Davis (an eclectic American singer-songwriter), Goitse (a multi-award-winning traditional Irish ensemble), Dani Larkin (a singer-songwriter and folk musician from the Armagh-Monaghan border whose music is inspired by the folktales she was raised with, intertwined with elements of traditional melodies and rhythms from around the world in a timeless tradition), Susan O’Neill (SON, an enigmatic singer-songwriter who fuses traditional Irish folk with rock, soul, gospel and blues), Cathie Ryan (an award-winning Irish-American vocalist and songwriter who was the original lead singer with Cherish the Ladies), Clare Sands (a versatile Cork-born fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer-songwriter with deep family roots in Northern Ireland and County Wexford, whose sound is rooted in Irish traditional music), and Aoife Scott (a Dublin-based folksinger-songwriter who is part of the legendary Black Family).

The Association of Irish & Celtic Festivals (AICF) is a collective of more than 170 festivals throughout The United States and Canada that aims to bring the Irish culture – via music, education, food and dance – to those not in Ireland in the hopes that those traditions are never lost. Referring to the concert as “a celebration of the female spirit,” Erin O’Rourke from Indy Irish Fest in Indianapolis and an AICF executive board member, said: “We hope that by highlighting this Irish patron saint and her holiday and stories, we can entertain and educate audiences with a program that celebrates her, and some of the best female Irish musicians and dancers across the world.” More information about the St. Brigid’s Day Concert and AICF may be found at irishcelticfestivals.org.

The concert sets can be viewed on both of the festival’s Facebook pages: https://facebook.com/KateWolfMusicFestival/ and
https://facebook.com/events/601470337259671/

In addition, yoga and Pilates classes will take place via zoom. A schedule appears below, while any updates and additional information maybe found on the festival’s Facebook pages.

Festival organizers expressed gratitude to the performing artists and teachers who are donating their time and noted that there will be links directly to both the performers and teachers for those who would like to donate to them. Although there is no charge to view the festival, online tip jars will be available through which donations may be made to two food banks.

The Kate Wolf Music Festival began as a one-day, one-time event. An enjoyable and successful Kate Wolf Retrospective Concert in June 2016 prompted organizers to make it an annual event. In recent years, it has evolved into a four-day, four-night event with camping at a sprawling ranch in Mendocino County, three hours north of San Francisco.

Virtual Festival Schedule – Times listed are in Pacific Daylight Time.

Thursday, June 25:

– Coffis Brothers – 6 pm (60 minutes – livestream)
– David Jacobs-Strain (w/Bob Beach) – 8 pm (50-90 minutes – livestream)

Friday, June 26:
:
– The Mammals – 5 pm (90 -120 minutes – livestream)
– AJ Lee & Blue Summit – 8:00 pm (60 minutes – pre-recorded)

Saturday, June 27:
:
– Pilates Zoom class with Roxann Guthman – 10 am (50 minutes)
– Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86826304212
Meeting ID: 868 2630 4212
– The Black Feathers – 1 pm (40 minutes – livestream)
– Sam Chase (solo) – 4 pm (90 minutes – livestream)
– Berkley Hart – 6 pm (75 minutes – livestream)
– Josh Brough & Jason Beard (of Poor Man’s Whiskey) with the Whiskey Family Band – 8 pm Kate Wolf tribute set (60 minutes – pre-recorded)

Sunday, June 28:

– Yoga Zoom class with Devorah Blum – 11 am (90 minutes)
Zoom Meeting – https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9039317255
Meeting ID: 903 931 7255
Password: DEVORAH
– Freebo – 1 pm (30 minutes – livestream)
– Alice Howe – 1:40 pm (40 minutes – livestream)
– Aviva le Fey – 3 pm (30 – 45 minutes – pre-recorded)
– John Zipperer – 4:15 pm (75 – 90 minutes – pre-recorded)
– Jimbo Scott – 6 pm (60 minutes – livestream)
– Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber – 7:30 pm (20 – 30 minutes – pre-recorded)

Social Distancing Streaming Concerts: A Facebook page created by Gordon Nash of New York. https://www.facebook.com/streamingconcerts/

Stellar Village Online Music Listening Room – a FB group established by Grisha Stewart from Washington State. https://www.facebook.com/groups/stellarvillage/

Viral Music – because kindness is contagious – With more than 30,000 members, this may be the largest FB group of its kind to date.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/622864291902580/

In addition, these pre-existing Facebook groups welcome their members to post about online concerts:

AcousticMusicScene.com – This group is associated with Michael Kornfeld’s long-running online publication for the folk, roots & singer-songwriter communities.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/173333793206/

Nowheresville Chat Page: This group is hosted by Quarantinus Maximus – aka Joltin’ Joe Pszonek and associated with his radio shows. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1310788175680473/

Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous:This Canadian not-for-profit arts organisation that aims to expand the performance infrastructure for folk music (primarily via concerts in private homes and other non-traditional spaces) also is presenting The National Online Folk Festival @ https://www.facebook.com/homeroutes.

New websites of note include:

https://www.stayathomefest.com – This website includes a calendar of online concerts, among other information.

https://www.UndiscoveredMusic.net bills itself as “The community for great live acoustic music” and now features a calendar of livestreaming concerts.

Let’s share the power of music and help those who help enrich our lives in this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy everyone!