Seán Heely is heading up to Maine this May to play some concerts with me!
We'll be at the May Faire in Monmouth on May 20th at 11am to play some tunes from the porch at Cumston Hall. Then we'll head to Winthrop United Methodist Church for a full concert of Celtic fiddle & song plus a few from my new album, "Oh When: Now" at 4pm. A reception with treats and CDs to purchase will follow. On Sunday, May 21st we'll be in Portland for a show at the Maine Irish Heritage Center at 3pm. All the details on the Events page!
Seán Heely and Owen Kennedy met at the 2019 Acadia Traditional School of Music & Arts in Bar Harbor, Maine. Inspired by Seán’s workshops and performances at Acadia Trad and Fiddle Hell, Owen was motivated to dive into the Scottish fiddling tradition. With Seán’s mentorship, Owen went on to compete and win both the 2021 Junior US National Scottish Fiddle Championship and the 2022 New England Regional Open Scottish Fiddle Competition. Since then, Owen & Seán have been performing in venues and events across Maine. Here more on this YouTube playlist!
Seán and Owen enjoyed Maine Tour in 2021, followed by a turned-virtual Boston Celtic Music Festival performance in January 2022. In May 2022, Owen joined Seán and Beth Patterson when they came up as a duo to perform in Maine, and in August, Owen was a guest performer with the Seán Heely Band at the Maine Highland Games.
After heading up to Cape Breton to enjoy Celtic Colours, Owen and Seán played several shows back in Maine with another Fiddlers in the Forest event hosted by the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston, followed by a guest appearance at Vienna Union Hall as part of the Pineland Fiddlers concert, which Seán joined on bouzouki.
They fit in one more show at Cumston Hall, featuring beautiful bouzouki & fiddle duets, haunting slow airs, lively Gaelic song, mighty pipe marches, and wild twin fiddling before taking off for Boston States Fiddle Camp.
Seán Heely Band at the Maine Highland Games
August 2022
In May 2022, Owen welcomed his teacher & mentor Champion Celtic musician Seán Heely back to Maine, this time with Beth Patterson. Together, Seán and Beth bring a high-energy repertoire to the table, largely consisting of Scottish and Irish tunes and songs as well as brand new original compositions. And of course songs in Gaelic, quick-witted humor & fun stories, plus a stage full of instruments from harp to shruti box, fiddle, bouzouki & bass! Owen was thrilled to join them for their shows at The Hayloft at Dragonfly Barn, with Belfast Flying Shoes, as part of the Old South Church Concert Series, and their final stop on the May Tour, Bangor Celtic Crossroads.
In October 2021 Seán and Owen wowed audiences hungry for live music with an exciting & imaginative program of Scottish fiddle and song, with five events throughout Midcoast & Central Maine.
FIDDLERS IN THE FOREST
Presented by YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston
FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL
Boothbay Railway Village
"We had been looking forward to Celtic Colours this year . . . What a treat to hear Owen and Seán play together! They were as good as anything we've heard at Celtic Colours."
~ Boothbay Fall Foliage Festival
POP-UP TRIP TO SCOTLAND
Searsport Shores Campground
Presented by Belfast Flying Shoes
Tunes at Doolin's Pub ~ Litchfield
A Workshop & Two Sessions
