Giant’s Causeway to play at the Lopez Center

Giant’s Causeway is a group of Irish music players who share a passion for exciting and beautiful tunes. While their musical focus is the traditional instrumental music of Ireland, tunes can be heard that have originated in Scotland, England and America. Lively jigs and reels are woven together with sweeping airs and waltzes

May 22, 2015 5:00 pm
Giant’s Causeway Concert and Workshop at Lopez Center.
Giant’s Causeway Concert and Workshop at Lopez Center.

Giant’s Causeway is a group of Irish music players who share a passion for exciting and beautiful tunes. While their musical focus is the traditional instrumental music of Ireland, tunes can be heard that have originated in Scotland, England and America. Lively jigs and reels are woven together with sweeping airs and waltzes. There will be space available on the side for those who wish to dance. Based in Bellingham, the group has played regionally at Subdued Stringband Jamboree and Seattle Folk Life festival. This will be their first trip to the San Juans. The group is comprised of Cayley Schmid on fiddle, Clea Taylor on cello, Zach Bauman on mandolin and guitar, Sam Vogt on guitar and mandolin, and David Pender Lofgren on bodhran. Many Lopezians know Schmid as the fiddler from Polecat, which has played numerous shows at the Center and Galley.

The concert is Friday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for youth (6-17) and are available at Paper, Scissors on the Rock, Lopez Book Shop, Blossom and online. Tickets at door are $12 for adults and $6 youth.

Before the show, band members will be providing an opportunity to further your knowledge of Irish music with fun and informative hour and half workshops. Join Schmid, Lofgren and Bauman at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29 and choose between:

– Beginning bodhran (Irish hand drum) with David! Bring any sort of frame drum if you have one, no experience necessary. Learn some of the basic rhythms and patterns used in different types of Irish tunes.

– Learn a fiddle tune by ear with Schmid and Taylor. Whether you have been learning from sheet music for years, or just interested in what makes an Irish tune sound the way it does, any beginning-intermediate melody player can take away something from this workshop. Taught on fiddle and cello.

– Strum some Irish tune chord progressions with Bauman. Learn some rhythms and techniques of playing guitar with Irish music, and how to support the tunes thoughtfully. Familiarity with basic chords is recommended.

The workshop is $20 for adults and $10 for youth.