Loreena McKennitt, Santa Rosa

Celebrating three decades as Canada’s foremost, groundbreaking independent artist and following a much lauded North American fall tour, Loreena McKennitt will continue her rare and intimate series of performances in select venues across the western U.S. next spring. Traditionally performing with her band in large concert halls around the world, this unique series will feature McKennitt in the trio formation that garnered her a 2012 Grammy nomination for Troubadours on the Rhine.

“It has been great to get back to touring in the United States this fall and has been wonderful to meet so many people along the way,” says Mckennitt. “Because one of the key variables of this kind of tour is performing in locations about three hours drive from each other, it has been great to see more of the country by ground rather than by air and encounter some of the regional specialties and characteristics. I only wish we could do this by bicycle!!!”

Joined by two of her long-time musical collaborators, guitarist Brian Hughes and cellist Caroline Lavelle, this atmospheric evening features music and stories inspired by Loreena’s exotic travels in pursuit of the history of the Celts- from China and Mongolia to central Turkey and Ireland, while interlacing the mystical Irish poems of Yeats and such classical writers as Shakespeare and Tennyson. The performances will also feature a small component on Irish history from the time of the famine (1840s) to the present, she brings historical events to a contemporary relevance.

McKennitt’s eclectic Celtic blend of pop, folk and world music has sold over 14 million albums worldwide. Her recordings have achieved gold, platinum and multi-platinum status in 15 countries on four continents. She has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won two Junos, as well as a Billboard International Achievement Award.

McKennitt has performed in some of the world’s most-respected and historic concert venues, from Carnegie Hall to the famous Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain and for dignitaries including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and numerous heads of state.

March 18                                                   Santa Rosa, CA                Wells Fargo Center for the Arts