The Chieftains instruments travel to Space

Irish-American astronaut Cady Coleman has not forgotten her Emerald Isle roots, the NASA astronaut marked St. Patrick's Day in space by playing a solo on Paddy Moloney's pennywhistle and Matt Molloy's 100-year-old Irish flute. When she launched toward the space station in December on a Russian spacecraft, Coleman — a hobby musician — made sure to take a bit of that Irish heritage along for the ride. She packed away two Irish instruments — an antique wooden flute and a shiny pennywhistle — that were loaned to her by the members of the Chieftains.

"St. Patrick's Day is a day when people all over the Earth recognize their Irish heritage," Coleman said while wearing an appropriately green shirt. "And now we're doing that from space as well.

The pennywhistle is owned by Chieftains member Paddy Moloney and the wooden flute is owned by his bandmate Matt Molloy, Coleman said. "I might not have mentioned that the trip would have been six months long and that their flutes would have traveled millions of miles before they came home, but I'd like to reassure them that their treasures are just fine," Coleman said. "They're actually never far from home because we fly over Ireland several times a day."

Coleman is one of three astronauts currently living on the International Space Station (three other crewmembers returned to Earth yesterday), and is the outpost's only American crewmember. An Italian astronaut and Russian cosmonaut round out the crew. Another three spaceflyers (a NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts) are due to launch toward the space station in the next few weeks. Their initial March 29 (EDT) liftoff was delayed due to a technical glitch on their spacecraft. Coleman and her two current station crewmates are scheduled to return to Earth in September.

You can view the video via the link below. Happy St.Patrick's Day!
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=14483&media_id=72871981&module=homepage

THE CHIEFTAINS PERFORM LIVE ON LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON TONIGHT (03/14)

The Chieftains and Special Guests are playing a festive medley of songs tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Check nbc.com and your local listings to catch this special TV event!
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

The Chieftains have been touring the US and Canada on a whirlwind North American tour.
They will be at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on St. Patrick's Day.

Culture Ireland is proud to award a grant in support of The Chieftains 2011 US Tour

Culture Ireland is proud to award a grant in support of The Chieftains 2011 US Tour as part of Culture Ireland’s strategic focus on the US for 2011, entitled Imagine Ireland.  Culture Ireland is the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide, working under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Culture Ireland creates and supports opportunities for Irish artists to present their work at strategic international festivals, venues, showcases and arts markets.

Since Culture Ireland was established in 2005, the agency has promoted and supported over 1200 Irish cultural initiatives and events in over 60 countries worldwide. In 2008 alone, over 500,000 people across the globe saw a live performance by an Irish theatre and/or dance company and many more have seen the work of Irish artists in exhibitions and films or been to a showcase gig of Irish bands at one of the 6 Music From Ireland showcases taking place every year.

A selection of highlights of projects and events in receipt of Culture Ireland support are listed on www.cultureireland.gov.ie/events/2011Spring.html

If you are interested in seeing The Chieftains perform on their Spring 2011 US tour please see http://www.thechieftains.com/news/  to see if there is something happening near you.

THE CHIEFTAINS CONFIRM 2011 U.S. TOUR SPECTACULAR FEATURING SURPRISE GUESTS, LOCAL PIPE BANDS, MUSICIANS AND DANCERS IN EACH CITY

Six-time Grammy winners and the world's most popular Irish traditional music group, The Chieftains, have confirmed an extensive U.S. tour for 2011. The tour will feature an array of surprise guests and local musicians and marks the band's first return to the U.S. following the 2010 release of their critically acclaimed album 'San Patricio.' They'll kick off a month of shows on Feb 17 in Troy, NY. See below for complete dates.

"In 2011, The Chieftains' performances could be better described as a Big Show or a Spectacular rather than a concert," says frontman Paddy Moloney. "There will be upwards of 12 people on stage at all times, with additions of local musicians, special guests I’m not allowed to divulge, anywhere from 6 to 20 local dancers on a couple of pieces, and the Scottish pipe bands performing the 'March to Battle,' which was narrated by Liam Neeson for 'San Patricio.'"

Billboard called 'San Patricio' "as thrilling as it is enlightening," and the New York Times described it as "joy, thoroughly Mexican yet utterly Irish, carried aloft by tin whistles, skin drums, pipes, harps, guitars and stomping feet."

Since releasing 'San Patricio,' the band has collaborated with Herbie Hancock on 'The Imagine Project,' and Moloney has been selected as a Medal of Honour recipient by the National Arts Club.

Tin Whistle and Flute taken into space.

Cady Coleman from NASA has taken one of Paddy Maloney's tin whistles to the International Space Station together with a flute from Matt Molloy and a flute from Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.

This is not the first time, 10 years ago a tin whistle belonging to Paddy Maloney did five laps of the earth in the shuttle Discovery. This was then presented back to Paddy on stage at Houston on it's return. This whistle is now on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, The Chieftains having won 6 Grammys already.

Cady and Paddy intend to have a link up duet for whistle and flute in the very near future.

MUSIC & MUSICIANS (March / April 2010)

THE CHIEFTAINS
Finding a vivid common ground between Ireland and Mexico

(READ FULL ARTICLE) PDF

The Chieftains To Bring Unprecedented Blend of Musical Traditions to Life on U.S. Tour Supporting ‘San Patricio’ (March 9/Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group)

Special Guests Los Cenzontles to Join Chieftains on First Three Shows

Tour Concludes with Special St. Patrick’s Day Performance at NYC’s Town Hall, March 17

Six-time Grammy winners The Chieftains, the world’s most popular Irish traditional music group, have confirmed a month-long U.S. tour kicking off on Feb 17 in Chico, CA. In select markets they will be joined by special guests and perform selections from their forthcoming album ‘San Patricio’ (March 9/Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group), a collaboration with fellow Grammy-winner Ry Cooder.

The album, which also features guest stars Linda Ronstadt, Liam Neeson, Los Tigres del Norte, and many other celebrated Mexican, American and Irish musicians and singers, is one of The Chieftains’ most unique projects ever. An unprecedented blend of the musical heritage of Ireland and Mexico, ‘San Patricio’ brings to life the story of the San Patricio Battalion, Irish-Americans who deserted the United States Army to join the Mexican side in the Mexican-American War.

The New Yorker recently listed ‘San Patricio’ among the most eagerly awaited new albums of 2010.

For more information on San Patricio, please contact Brendan Gilmartin (bgilmartin@shorefire.com) or Matt Hanks (mhanks@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media, 718-522-7171.

Joel Amsterdam – Concord Music Group 310-38-4206 (joel.amsterdam@concordmusicgroup.com)