Press Releases 2007

Celtic Concert

Millville, NJ – The Down Jersey Folklife Center at WheatonArts will present a Celtic Concert featuring Kevin Burke on the fiddle and Cal Scott on guitar, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Event Center.

The New York Times describes Kevin Burke, as “a superior instrumentalist in any idiom…impressively virtuosic.” From The Irish Times, “Burke’s fiddling is one of the high spots of the current Irish musical scene.”

Burke’s fiddle playing has been at the forefront of traditional music for over 30 years. His work during the 1970s with Arlo Guthrie, Christy Moore and the Bothy Band established him as a first-class musician and brought him international acclaim in both Europe and the U.S. He also gained recognition as a soloist with his album, “If the Cap Fits.”

By 1980 Burke had settled in the U.S. and was performing with Bothy Band colleague Michael O’Domhnaill. Their two albums, “Promenade” and “Portland,” became, and still are, very influential resources for many traditional musicians. In 1985 he was a founding member of the group, “Patrick Street,” and this band, successful on both sides of the Atlantic, has recently released its ninth album.

Burke spent much of the 90s recording and performing in a series of highly successful concert tours with Johnny Cunningham from Scotland and Christian Lemaitre from Brittany, a trio of fiddle players known as “The Celtic Fiddle Festival.” He has also become a featured member of Tim O’Brien’s crossover band, “The Crossing.”

Although Burke has spent much of his life playing in a group context, he has never lost his love for solo fiddle music – the “naked fiddle” as he calls it. This is evident in his most recent solo release, “In Concert,” which is a live performance of mostly unaccompanied traditional pieces.

In 2002, The National Endowment for the Arts invited Kevin to Washington, D.C. to receive a National Heritage Fellowship, the country's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Recipients of this award are chosen for their artistic excellence, authenticity and contributions to their field and are honored for their achievements as artists, teachers, innovators and guardians of traditional art forms.

Cal Scott is a multi-instrumentalist whose professional credentials span a wide range of music, from traditional music to bluegrass to jazz and everything in between. He plays guitar, but also bass and brass. He plays in the eight-piece folk ensemble, “The Trial Band.”

Scott is a composer with dozens of scores for documentaries, films and commercials. In 2006, his film score for Scotland’s, “Lighthouses,” was recognized by the Just Plain Folk Music Awards with 4th place in the Celtic Album Of The Year and 5th place in the Celtic Song Of The Year. Burke and Scott met each other while Scott was working on a documentary about Northern Ireland. Burke was brought in as a consultant. This musical collaboration led to their working on a new recording, “Across the Black River.”

Ticket prices: Adults $15 in advance, $18 at the door. $13 for Senior Adults and children under 12 years of age. To reserve tickets, call Krystina Morton at 800-998-4552 or 856-825-6800, extension 109, or send an e-mail to kmorton@wheatonarts.org. Payment can be made with a credit card or a check payable to: Down Jersey Folklife Center at WheatonArts and sent to: WheatonArts, 1501 Glasstown Rd., Millville, NJ 08332-1566

The Down Jersey Folklife Center, the largest in the state, offers special exhibits, programs and performances featuring the culture and tradition of major heritage communities that have settled in southern New Jersey. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Center is included in the price of admission to WheatonArts: Adults $10.00, Senior Adults $9.00 and Students $7.00. Children five and under are free.

WheatonArts strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events and programs to all persons with disabilities. Individuals needing special assistance or accommodations should provide notice at least two weeks in advance. Patrons with hearing and speech disabilities may contact WheatonArts through the New Jersey Relay Service (TRS) 800-852-7899 or by dialing 711.

The DJFC is a division of Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Inc., a non-profit arts organization. The DJFC receives support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State; the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. The DJFC is further supported by residents and groups with an interest in the traditional art and culture of southern New Jersey. Additional funds provided by the New Jersey Cultural Trust.

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