Altan — a top Irish band — has a gig here
The Irish band Altan will join up with Tucson’s own Maguire Academy dancers and Chicago-based American Celtic fiddler Liz Carroll for a concert Saturday night at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway, on the campus of the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
Why is this such a big deal? Altan has been around 20-plus years and is largely regarded as one of the top bands in Ireland.
But you’ll want to see the band Saturday because it’s a chance to see it in the intimate setting of the Berger. Its last show here, nine years ago, was in a larger venue.
Altan has been a regular in Tucson over the years. It is coming here Saturday with In Concert, a group that brings mostly Celtic and Irish folk bands to town.
People are also reading…
Altan has all the ingredients of fine Irish music-making: two top-notch fiddlers, accordion, strings, whistles and a pair of vocalists — Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, one of those two fiddlers; and Daithi Sproule, whose résumé includes singing with Triona and Michael O’Dhomnaill of the Bothy Band. Both Mairead and Daithi sing in Irish gaelic and in English, according to In Concert’s Don Gest.
Saturday’s concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 ($27 for seniors) online at inconcerttucson.com or at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. and The Folk Shop, 2525 N. Campbell Ave. It’ll cost you $3 more at the door. Details: Call 981-1475.
Blues rocker Guy back at Rialto Wednesday
Blues giant Buddy Guy returns to Tucson for a show Wednesday at The Rialto Theatre, 318. E. Congress St.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Guy returns to the same venue he played in his last Tucson show in 2013.
Danielle Schnebelen and her Kansas City blues outfit, Danielle Nicole Band, open the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $36 to 63 at ticketfly.com
Also coming up at the Rialto:
- Comedian Ralphie May plays an all-ages show at 8 p.m. next Thursday; $25 to $36.
Got some dust on your hands? Wipe off here
Tucson’s own all-star cumbia band Chicha Dust — Brian Lopez and Gabriel Sullivan on guitar and vocals; Geoff Hidalgo blasting out bass; Jason Urman playing farfisa and accordion; Efren Cruz banging timbales and percussion; and Winston Watson on drums — brings the party to Club Congress Friday.
It’s a 21-and-older affair and one that promises to “kick off your spring the right way with a hip shakin’ extravaganza.”
Past Chicha Dust shows have proven that Club Congress is not just spouting hyperbole.
Mute Swan is on the lineup and the show starts at 8. It’s $10 in advance, $12 day of show at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Also this weekend at Club Congress:
- There’s a rap fest and rap contest Saturday featuring a host of Tucson rappers:
- Jabee, Cash Lansky, Marley B
- and others. It’s all ages and it starts at 6 p.m.; $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
Note: The Simply Beat Battle on the patio after the concert — around 10 p.m. — is open to those 21 and older, and admission is free.
