Eileen Ivers will change the way you think of the violin.
Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated, Eileen Ivers continues to push traditional fiddling boundaries from a folk music staple to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intensely driving world stage experience. In a career that has spanned over 30 years, Ivers has performed and/or toured with such diverse artists as Sting, Patti Smith, Al Di Meola, Hall and Oates and The Chieftains. She has guest starred with the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, over 50 symphony orchestras to date, and was the groundbreaking musical star of Riverdance, a featured instrumentalist on Back to Titanic and film soundtracks including Gangs of New York. She is a 9-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, and one of the most awarded All-Ireland Fiddle and Banjo champions ever. Eileen has been proclaimed “a national treasure” by NCTA Board Chairman George Holt as she celebrates her renowned career as a performer, composer, producer, songwriter, band leader, educator, multi-instrumentalist and revered pioneer in connecting her American, Irish traditional, jazz, blues, and world roots.
She’s been called a “sensation” by Billboard magazine and “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin,” by The New York Times. “She electrifies the crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing” says The Irish Times.
Ivers graduated magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona University. Iona has since conferred upon Eileen the degree of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa for her “lifelong commitment to innovation, excellence and deep dedication to bringing people together through music.” Eileen has recently been appointed to Iona’s Board of Trustees and, as one of many projects, spearheaded the establishment of an Iona University campus in Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Eileen continues to bring people together in performance with her five piece, passionate, powerhouse band. The L.A. Times proclaims, “Ivers’ presentation was music with the kind of life and spirit that come together when talented artists from different backgrounds find the linkages that connect all forms of music…no wonder the audience loved every minute.”
“Scatter the Light” is Eileen’s new CD release of predominantly original music. It follows the previous release “Beyond the Bog Road”, which focused on the influences of the Celtic tradition on Roots music (bluegrass, French-Canadian, Cajun, Appalachian, Americana). In 2022 Eileen was awarded the Family Choice Award for her first children’s book, “Will Someone Play Bluey?”, a heartwarming, anti-bullying, stand-up-for-yourself story written in perfect rhyme and rhythm featuring talking instruments …and a blue violin.
Band Members:
Buddy Connolly: accordion, whistles, keyboards
Three time All-Ireland accordion champion Buddy Connolly hails from Newark, New Jersey with parents from Clare and Galway in Ireland. In 1995, he moved to Nashville and was introduced to bluegrass, Cajun and country music and toured/recorded with Tim O’Brien, Kathy Mattea, Rodney Crowell, Christian rockers Ceili Rain, Orleans, Matt Molloy (Chieftains), Joel Sonnier and many others.
Colin Forhan: guitar, banjo, concertina, vocals
Colin grew up in Takoma Park, MD. and was primarily exposed to American folk music in his youth. A self-taught musician, after moving to New York City Colin began attending trad sessions and voraciously learning traditional tunes. He recently transitioned from his position in actuarial sciences to professional musician.
Lindsey Horner: upright bass, electric bass, baritone sax
Julliard alum Lindsey Horner has recorded and performed with diverse artists from Susan McKeown and Johnny Cunningham in the Celtic realm to Greg Osby, Bill Frisell, Bobby Previte, Dave Douglas, Don Byron and Muhal Richard Abrams in the jazz world. He has performed for dozens of Broadway shows from the “Lion King” to “Tommy” and has produced five albums, including his most recent “Undiscovered Country” features Irish legend Andy Irvine on two tracks.
Dave Barckow: percussion, guitar, vocals
Queens, NY native Dave Barckow has been playing music professionally since the age of 12 and has played with several national and international acts including Celtic Cross, The Diddley Idols and hard rockers White Trash. As song writer and performer, Dave’s music has been used on several prime time network shows including “Mercy” (NBC) “Nurse Jackie” (SHO) and “Flesh & Bone” (SHO).
