The Connecticut Accordion Association will hold a St. Patrick’s Day Program on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 1:PM at The Waverly Tavern,
286 Maple Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410

The program will feature host/accordionist Michael Clarke along with vocalist, Kathy Mrazik.

In Irish circles, a “seisiún” is defined as a gathering of Irish traditional performers for the purpose of celebrating their common interest in the music.  A participatory event set in a relaxed, informal setting, a seisiún is simply a collaborative, collective sharing of talent and song. The objective in a seisiún is not to provide music, song and stories for an audience of passive listeners.  

It should be noted that although what are referred to as “punters” (non-playing attendees) often come for the express purpose of listening, the seisiún most of all for the musicians, singers and storytellers themselves. Simply put, a seisiún is an experience that is shared, not a performance that is bought and sold.

Michael Clarke started playing the piano accordion at the age of six, before he had any say in the matter. His late mother, Rosemary, who came from the County Donegal in Ireland, loved the “squeeze box.  Rosemary herself played the piano accordion, as she said, “until I got married, and that was that!”  

Mr. Clarke realized early on that he, too, loved the accordion, and has since performed regularly on three continents.  Mr. Clarke is founding member of Celtic Cross, a celtic-rock band formed in the 1980s in the New York metropolitan area, Mr. Clarke ushered in the tri-state’s homage to the “Celtic Tiger” movement by writing and performing on Celtic Cross’ popular first album, entitled Part the First.  Mr. Clarke has recorded with Tommy Mulvihill, John Nolan, Kitty Kelly, Susan McGrath and Eileen Crowley, and has performed with Paddy Noonan, Dermot O’Brien, the Saw Doctors, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Michael “Jesse” Owens, the Wolfe Tones, the Commitments, the Jamie Kelly Band and the Andy Cooney Band.  Currently, Mr. Clarke regularly performs live an eclectic mix of Irish and 1980s music with the two piece band, McBueller.

For the meeting please bring an instrument of any kind! Bring your voice! Share an Irish tune, song or story!

Admission is $5.00 CAA members, $10.00 all others, under 16 years, free!

Please RSVP by March 23 to Marilyn at 203-272-1202. Visit www.CTAccordion.com

For further information: caa@ctaccordion.com