Traditional Irish Arts of Knoxville is proud to present a trio of America's finest traditional Irish musicians. Sean and Michael Gavin are joined by Don Penzien to bring the tunes and songs of Ireland to Knoxville, TN. for a night of world class music. Join us Saturday, August 1st at the Historic Laurel Theater. The performance will begin at 8 pm.
The Gavin Brothers, Seán and Michael, are among the leading exponents of traditional Irish music in the United States, carrying forward a family tradition rooted in County Clare. Raised in Detroit and mentored from an early age by their father, Mick Gavin, a Clare fiddler and respected tradition bearer, they developed a deep connection to the repertoire, style, and cultural values of Irish music that continues to shape their work today.
A master of the uilleann pipes, Irish flute, and tin whistle, Seán Gavin is one of the most highly regarded performers and teachers of traditional Irish music. He is the first musician born outside Ireland to win the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold medal, and the author of a popular tin whistle book published by Hal Leonard. Seán is the founder and director of the Irish Music Institute – a non-profit music school based in Southeast Michigan, and also serves as coordinator of celtic week at the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina.
Michael Gavin is a highly respected multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and educator whose command of fiddle, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, and mandolin has made him a vital presence in Irish music for more than three decades. Together, the Gavin Brothers bring to the stage a rare combination of family legacy, virtuosity, and deep knowledge of one of Ireland’s richest living traditions.
Don Penzien has long been a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music. Frequently on the road playing concerts and festivals with his many projects including Gailfean (featuring Brian Conway, John Whelan & Máirtín de Cógáin), The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, and Shared Madness (featuring Haley Richardson of Riverdance). Don is widely recognized for his reserved backing style and his dexterous work on DADGAD-tuned guitar provides solid, driving rhythms to traditional tunes.