Ballyhooley is a celebration of Irish song and dance, and it's coming to the Painted Hand Casino on March 15. Saskatchewan singer Eileen Laverty says the show is bringing together the Celtic roots of the province's music scene.
The show began last year, when Michael Hughes of Circling Over Shannon and Laverty decided to take on their roots and collaborate on a show that brought out the best of traditional Irish music. While they had the music down, they realized that it would not be complete without dance, a major part of the Irish folk music tradition. That meant bringing on the River City Reelin' Rockettes.
The show is a true collaboration, Laverty says, and from the very beginning they were exploring how they could collaborate and bring something new to the other's repertoire. She says that it's a constantly shifting lineup on stage and off, as the group shifts to best accompany each song.
The goal of the performance is to have a good time in the month of St. Patrick's Day, of course, but Laverty says they wanted to create an experience that expressed the Irish culture in an authentic way. They did not want to do a "Hollywood version" of Ireland, but to bring the real roots out to people and but on a show that captures an authentic spirit of Ireland.
"I thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase authentic Irish music and authentic dancing. It had to be genuine," Laverty says.
"People finding these old tunes and sharing them and keeping that tradition alive is very important."
That tradition involves having a good time, and Laverty promises that the evening will show why those traditions have remained popular and vital.
"It's a lively night and the dancers certainly kick it up a notch. We have a lot of fun on stage, and I think if we can have fun on stage too and put on a show for folks then they should enjoy themselves for sure."
The show is also going back to Laverty's own roots. The Belfast-born singer says that her roots are a big part of her music, and as she writes and records her own songs they are drawing from the traditional sounds and forms of her roots.
"The music speaks to me for sure, I'm very fond of the Irish ballad, the narrative tradition that's very strong," Laverty says.
"You just have those songs that speak to you on a whole other level."
While this is the first time Ballyhooley has left Saskatoon, Laverty has played in Yorkton before and is excited to get back with the new show, which will be different than the solo tours she has done in the past. She says that the group has known each other for years, and enjoys the opportunity to play together, and that the group brings out the best in each other and their music.
"To me, nothing compares to making music with other people, and having an audience there to enjoy that and feed off that as well. On stage we feed off each other, we push each other, and there's nothing else like it."
Ballyhooley will be at the Painted Hand Casino on March 15.
