Tuesday, March 06, 2001

WILMINGTON -- UNCW Arts in Action and the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts will present the musical talents of Leahy at 4 and 8 p.m., Saturday, March 31, in UNC Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium.

Two years ago a group of nine brothers and sisters named “Leahy” took North Carolina by storm, selling out every scheduled performance. Since that time the group has been fiddling and step-dancing its way into world-wide acclaim. And now they’re back for another high-energy performance in the Tar Heel state.

“Oxygen tanks should be passed out to arriving patrons at a Leahy concert, “ quoted the national APAP Presenters Report following their original N.C. statewide tour, “for ‘breathtaking’ doesn’t even come close to the experience Leahy gives to its audiences.”

The Leahy family, from Lakefield, Ontario, has been playing music, singing and dancing together literally their whole lives. As a family tradition, the brothers and sisters would gather at the family farm to celebrate the music of their fiddling father and champion Cape Breton step-dancer mother. Eventually, the siblings began to play at local fairs, tiny clubs and extended family gatherings. Requests for their appearances became more frequent. In 1985, a filmmaker traced their family’s musical tradition in the documentary Music Most of All. The film won an Academy Award.

Since their 1997 burst on the Canadian music scene with their debut, self-titled CD, Leahy performed as the opening act on Shania Twain’s world tour. They were featured on Twain’s television specials and performed outdoors at Niagara Falls on New Year’s Eve. Heavily Celtic-influenced, yet melded and blended with folk, country, rock, jazz and a delivery that is lighting sharp and pulsating as their step-dancing, Leahy is playing and developing their own, unique musical style. Their music is a fierce, heartfelt, vibrant display of boundless energy and virtuoso musicianship.

Leahy’s self-produced first recording climbed to Billboard’s International Top Ten. The band is working on a second, as yet untitled, CD that is slated for release in June 2001. This new album further develops Leahy’s musical style and creative vision. For the first time in their professional musical careers, Leahy has recorded several vocal tracks. In addition, 11 of the tracks are original compositions.

“Recording this CD has been a challenging but fulfilling experience,” said pianist Erin Leahy. “We feel that it reflects both the origins and evolution of our music which includes vocals, instrumentals, dancing and a passion to play. We can’t wait to share it with our audience.”

Tickets for the March 31 performance are $6 to $8 for UNCW students and children 12 and younger; $12 to $14 for UNCW faculty/staff; and $18 to $25 for all others. To order tickets by phone, call the Kenan Auditorium Box Office at 962-3500, or 1-800-732-3643 outside the Wilmington area. The box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available at the University Union Information Desk. Visit Leahy’s website at www.leahymusic.com

For more information and/or to arrange advance telephone interviews with artists, or to request singular event black & white or color photography of the artists, contact Shannon Hooker at 910/962.7600 or e-mail hookers@uncwil.edu