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THE CHIEFTAINS CELTIC-SCOTTISH CONNECTION 2008 TOUR

Legendary Irish Musical Group Joins With Scotland’s Alyth McCormack, Brian Mcalpine, And Jonny Hardie For A Celebration Of Musical Heritage

NEW YORK –The Chieftains, having served as the benchmark for Irish traditional music for the past four decades, will return to the U.S. this February through March for their annual winter tour. February 2008 marks 34 years of touring in North America for the group, having made their U.S. debut in 1972 and their first tour in 1974. The 2008 tour begins on February 18 in Albuquerque, NM and ends with a St. Patrick’s Day performance on March 17 at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

The Chieftains original members include founder and frontman Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Sean Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals). Other performers include the notable Irish harpist Triona Marshall, and the young Canadian acrobatic dancing team of brothers’ Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, along with traditional Irish dancer Cara Butler. Known for her one-of-a-kind technique, Triona left the RTE Orchestra to tour with The Chieftains and released her self-titled solo debut album in early 2007. The dancing Pilatzkes have been a part of The Chieftains show for just over five years now, with Jon continuing to dazzle audiences with his ability to combine his talents on stage as a correspondingly brilliant fiddle player. Also on board is Maureen Fahy (fiddle and vocals), and Irish vocalist Carmel Conway, who will be joining the group in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

For the CELTIC-SCOTTISH CONNECTION 2008 TOUR, The Chieftains will incorporate a trio of renowned musicians from Scotland as special guests. Fronting the trio is Alyth McCormack, a singer/actress who has performed worldwide to rave reviews, having also recorded with various artists and appearing on a number of film soundtracks. McCormack found critical acclaim for her first solo album An Iomall (The Edge) released by Vertical Records, and will be accompanied throughout the tour by pianist and singer Brian Mcalpine, and Jonny Hardie (guitar and fiddle).

Says Chieftain Paddy Moloney: “The connection between Irish and Scottish music is undeniable, and I’m excited to finally be celebrating this with these great talents.” Adds Moloney with a laugh, “It’s about time we join up with some Scots, considering we gave them the bagpipes and all.”

This year, The Chieftains can also be heard on the soundtrack for “The Water Horse: Legend of The Deep,” by composer James Newton Howard. The family film is playing in movie theaters worldwide, with the original music mutually finding international praise. For the 2008 tour, The Chieftains will perform selections that span their latest and greatest hits, many of which are found on their 2006 release The Essential Chieftains. As usual with The Chieftain’s shows look for other surprise guests to appear at select shows. The Chieftains and guests will perform in the following cities:
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With a career that spans forty-three years and forty-three albums, The Chieftains are not only Ireland’s premier musical ambassadors but also the most enduring and influential creative force in establishing the international appeal of Celtic music and have also collaborated with many musical legends including Van Morrison and Sting. Six-time Grammy winners and nineteen-time Grammy nominees, The Chieftains continue to maintain an international touring schedule that has brought them before literally millions of fans on every continent. Contact: DERA, ROSLAN & CAMPION - (212) 966-4600

Chieftains Working Calendar 2007-2008

On June 12th 2007, Paddy Moloney was presented as Honorary President of "The Japan Uilleann Pipers Club".

January 2006 marks 32 years of touring in North America for The Chieftains, having made their U.S. debut in 1972 and their first tour in 1974. The 2006 tour began on January 17 in Shreveport, LA and ran through to March 18 in Newark, NJ. They made stops in Texas, northern California, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston among others. After breaking with tradition and performing their St. Patrick's Day show in Toronto, Canada last year, they returned to New York City's Carnegie Hall on St. Patrick's Day and had a rollicking good time with special surprise guest, Elvis Costello.

On this US tour the four main members of The Chieftains were present, Sean Keane, Matt Molloy, Kevin Conneff and of course Paddy Moloney were at the top of their game. Triona Marshall, the notable Irish harpist, and the young Canadian dancing team of brothers' Jon and Nathan Pilatzke and Cara Butler joined the group for the 23 date tour. Triona Marshall left the RTE Orchestra to come on the road with The Chieftains this year and The Pilatke's have been a part of The Chieftain's show for just over three years now, with Jon continuing to dazzle audiences with his ability to combine his talents on stage as a brilliant fiddle player.

Cara Butler has been performing with The Chieftains for over 13 years. Another special guest on this 2006 tour was Jeff White, a well-known country-bluegrass musician who was highlighted on the Live From Dublin cd, and has been a wonderful addition to the group.

Also on board as special guests were The Cottars, two brother-sister pairs hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Each a multi-instrumentalist, singer and stepdancer, Jimmy and Roseanne MacKenzie and Ciaran and Fiona MacGillivray first performed with The Chieftains in 2004 as their guest stars on the CBC TV special "The Chieftains In Canada." These remarkably talented youths, all between the ages of 15 and 17, have been playing traditional music since their early childhood years and have a fan base that spans three continents.

In addition to these star-studded appearances The Chieftains welcomed a few local bagpipers at each show, many putting on toe-tapping, stand-in-your-seat performances. On leg 1 of the 2006 tour, Don Shannon was able to travel with the group and perform at 6 shows throughout Texas. On leg 2, Mike MacNintch joined them for 8 shows along the east coast. The Chieftains couldn't have the show they do without these guest pipers.

A portion of the musical program included selections from The Chieftains latest album, Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell. Derek Bell was a member of The Chieftains for over 30 years, who passed away after recording the group's 2002 Grammy nominated album, Down The Old Plank Road.

STILL CHIEFS OF CELTIC MUSIC - SHIRLEY JINKINS - STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

FORT WORTH - After 42 years, The Chieftains and their guest artists are still defining Celtic music with dignity and clarity in a Riverdance-crazed world.  Not that there's anything wrong with a bit of step dancing.

Their Wednesday show at Bass Performance Hall, which has become a frequent stop for the popular band in traditional-music-loving Fort Worth, wasn't short on footwork. The second half of the concert was climaxed by dancers, a couple of bag-pipers and America the Beautiful.

The Chieftains' current tour is in honor of the Derek Bell, a longtime member who died in 2002, and they've managed to fill that huge void with guest artists. But then, the Dublin band has made its international reputation on its penchant for and proficiency in playing with all manner of artists from The Rolling Stones to Ry Cooder.

As always, founder Paddy Moloney's definitive style on the uillean pipes formed the backbone for most of the music, although his haunting tin whistle is almost as much a trademark.

Matt Molloy's standard flute on Easter Snow and Rites of Man was inspiring as was Kevin Conneff's spirited bodhran (a goatskin drum) and ditty of a song, The Salt.

The Chieftains were almost overwhelmed by their guest band The Cottars, four Nova Scotian teens. Ciaran and Fiona MacGillivray and Roseanne and Jimmy MacKenzie are two brother-sister duos who electrified the audience with their vocal harmonies and dancing.

One of the night's most familiar guests to local audiences was country-bluegrass musician Jeff White, a regular with Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett whose recording credits also include The Chieftains' Down the Old Plank Road albums. His Country Blues offering was a highlight of the first half.

Canadian brothers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke combined wicked step dancing with Jon's fiddling, and harp purists in the audience enthusiastically applauded the solo turns of guest Triona Marshall.

GRADE: A

PADDY MOLONEY AND THE CHIEFTAINS NOMINATED FOR 2006 GRAMMY AWARDS - BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM
Live from Dublin ­ A Tribute to Derek Bell (RCA Victor)

We would like to take this opportunity to tell you about the nomination of The Chieftains for the 2006 Grammy Awards. The legendary musical Ambassadors of Ireland, The Chieftains, who have released 35 albums, received six Grammys, an Oscar, an Emmy and  a Genie, have been nominated in the category of Best Traditional Folk Album for "Live From Dublin - A Tribute To Derek Bell" (RCA Victor) The 2006 Grammy Awards will take place Wednesday February 8 in Los Angeles, California, USA.  On "Live From Dublin: A Tribute To Derek Bell", The
Chieftains not only celebrate the life and legacy of one of its most beloved members, but also provide an intriguing glimpse into the acclaimed past and bright future of these internationally acclaimed Irish musical ambassadors.

LEGENDARY MUSICAL HEROES THE CHIEFTAINS ARE BACK BRINGING IRISH SONG AND SPIRIT FOR 2006 WINTER TOUR
US TOUR DATES 2006

Music Program to Include Songs from latest RCA Victor Album: Tribute To Late Chieftain Derek Bell; Step-dancing duo Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, Renowned harpist Triona Marshall along with East Coast Music Award-Winner The Cottars as Very Special Guests

NEW YORK ­The Chieftains, having served as the benchmark for Irish traditional music for the past four decades, will return to the U.S. this January through March for their traditional winter tour. January, 2006 marks 32 years of touring in North America for the group, having made their U.S. debut in 1972 and their first tour in 1974. The 2006 tour begins on January 17 in Shreveport, LA and runs through March 18 in Newark, NJ. After breaking with tradition and performing their St. Patrick’s Day show in Toronto last year, they will return to New York City’s Carnegie Hall on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17).

The Chieftains original members include Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Sean Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals). Founder and frontman Moloney has been the recipient of two prestigious awards this year, the first the Gold Badge of Merit presented by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, the second from the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Moloney will be the International artist inducted this year, among five Scottish inductees, as recognition for his significant influence in traditional music.

Other performers include the notable Irish harpist Triona Marshall, and the young Canadian acrobatic dancing team of brothers’ Jon and Nathan Pilatzke.. Known for her one-of-a-kind technique, Triona left the RTE Orchestra to come on the road with The Chieftains, and The Pilatke’s have been a part of The Chieftain’s show for just over three years now, with Jon continuing to dazzle audiences with his ability to combine his talents on stage as a correspondingly brilliant fiddle player. Jeff White, the Nashville vocalist highlighted on the latest Live From Dublin, will be a part of the tour as well.

Also on board are The Cottars who will be their very special guests this tour, two brother-sister pairs hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Each a multi-instrumentalist, singer and stepdancer, Jimmy and Roseanne MacKenzie and Ciaran and Fiona MacGillivray first performed with The Chieftains in 2004 as their guest stars on the CBC TV special “The Chieftains In Canada.” These remarkably talented youths, all between the ages of 15 and 17, have been playing traditional music since their early childhood years and have a fan base that spans three continents.

A portion of the musical program will also include selections from The Chieftains’ latest album, Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell. Derek Bell was a member of The Chieftains for over 30 years, who passed away after recording the group’s 2002 Grammy nominated album, Down The Old Plank Road.

As usual with The Chieftain’s shows, besides all these anticipated performers, other surprise guests will appear at select shows - to be announced. Look for The Chieftains and guests on the following dates:

Tour Dates
Choose and click on a tour location to view dates and details
US 2006

With a career that spans forty-three years and forty-one albums, The Chieftains are not only Ireland’s premier musical ambassadors but also the most enduring and influential creative force in establishing the international appeal of Celtic music and have also collaborated with many musical legends including Van Morrison and Sting. Six-time Grammy winners and eighteen-time Grammy nominees, The Chieftains continue to maintain an international touring schedule that has brought them before literally millions of fans on every continent.

LEGENDARY IRISH MUSICIAN TO OPEN PUB IN MANCHESTER, NH
World famous Irish traditional musician Matt Molloy, the flute player of the Chieftains, has teamed up with Tommy McCarthy, owner of The Skelligs and the Burren Bars in Boston, to open a new bar - The Shaskeen, on Sunday, November 27 in Manchester, NH.

Matt Molly, who also owns an award winning traditional Irish pub that is a magnet for visitors and locals alike in his home town of Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, will be bringing some of his famous friends to the Shaskeen's grand opening. Naturally these will include some of the great luminaries of the traditional music scene - the chief of the Chieftains, Paddy Moloney and fellow Chieftains Fiddler Sean Keane and vocalist and Bodhran player and Kevin Conneff. The Lord Of The Dance and most recently The Celtic Tiger's Michael Flatley will be there to cut the ceremonial ribbon.

The Shaskeen, located on Elm Street, will combine the best of American and Irish food and drink with typically Irish warmth and conviviality. And as always, some of the finest music to be heard this side of the Atlantic.

The name of the bar, The Shaskeen, is one of the flighty reels that Matt's part of Ireland breeds and which have taken root to wherever its natives have settled.
The Chieftains, having served as the benchmark for Irish traditional music for the past four decades, will return to the U.S. this January through March for their traditional winter tour.  January, 2006 marks 32 years of touring in North America for the group, having made their U.S. debut in 1972 and their first tour in 1974.  The 2006 tour begins on January 17 in Shreveport, LA and runs through Boston on March 11, to March 18 in Newark, NJ. 
           
With a career that spans forty-three years and forty-one albums, The Chieftains are not only Ireland's premier musical ambassadors but also the most enduring and influential creative force in establishing the international appeal of Celtic music and have also collaborated with many musical legends including Van Morrison and Sting.  Six-time Grammy winners and eighteen-time Grammy nominees, The Chieftains continue to maintain an international touring schedule that has brought them before literally millions of fans on every continent.