GRANVILLE -- The Kells, a trio of musicians playing their own style of high-energy traditional Celtic music, will appear in a concert at Denison University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 2) in Burke Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.

The Kells

The Kells made their debut performances at the Dublin Irish Festival this past year and have also previously performed in Granville with a group of Irish dancers in Swasey Chapel. Members of the group are Terry Blankenship, Eddie Cotter Jr. and Brian McCoy.

The group's appearance is sponsored by the Student Activities Office and the Office of International Student Advising. Susan Kennedy, associate professor of psychology, is coordinating the band's concert. "They are absolutely fabulous," she says.

Earlier, Blankenship , Cotter, McCoy were teamed with another duo in The Gabriel Hounds, a Celtic band that toured extensively during 1999. They appeared at The Irish Festival on Flagler (West Palm Beach, Fla.); The Milwaukee (Wis.), Peoria (Ill.), Fox Valley (Chicago) and Cincinnati Irish Festivals; the Chicago Celtic Festival; a "ceili" with the Irish Dancers of Indianapolis, Ind., and with dancers in Louisville, Ky., and Dayton; and at The Guiness Fleadh in Chicago.

Blankenship plays bouzouki, mandola, mandolin, and guitar and does vocals for The Kells. Before taking up traditional music, he played lead guitar and was vocalist for the rock band Daemon. He plays traditional Irish, Scottish, English, Breton and Renaissance music. He has previously played with the Celtic band Silver Arm and with Margaret Gravitt and Rick Evans. In 1997 and 1998, he appeared in St. Patrick's Day television specials on the "Culture of Diversity" show.

Cotter, who plays the traditional bodhran and percussion for The Kells, has previously performed with Inisheer and taught bodhran workshops at most of the major Irish festivals in the United States. A Catholic youth minister with family roots in Rathcormac, County Cork and County Roscommon, he founded the Dead Theologians Society, which now has chapters around the world. Cotter appeared on MTV in his youth as a rock drummer with The Bellows.

McCoy plays flute, penny whistle, low whistle and uilleann pipes. His family hails from Ballaghadereen, County Roscommon, and emigrated to the Chicago area where he had the opportunity to play with many legendary Irish musicians living there. He has won numerous competitions, taught and played at the Milwaukee Irish Festival for 10 years and has performed at Willie Clancy Week in Clare. He played with The Gabriel Hounds for five years.

Described as "one of the most talented group of musicians to hit the Celtic music scene" by Pat Byrne, owner of Byrne's Pub in Columbus, the group's sound is characterized by him as "fast paced, high energy sound that grabs the interest of music lovers of all types." In addition to being invited back to the Dublin Irish Festival next year, The Kells have played locally at the St. Michael's Festival, The Shamrock Club and Byrne's Pub. They are recording a CD and expect it to be released in the next few months.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575