Black Brothers Band 1916 Centenary Concert @ Trinity Cathedral, San Jose

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in San Jose

Admission is $20 advance or $24 at the door. Advance tickets are on sale online at sanjoseblackbrothers.eventbrite.com.

On Friday, March 4th in San Jose at 7:00pm, The Black Brothers Band returns to San Jose, proudly presented by The San Jose-Dublin Sister Cities Program, and generously hosted by Trinity Cathedral, 81 N. Second Street, San Jose.

Some video samples:

https://youtu.be/jY0bH5ZgUww The Black Brothers Band – The Willow Tree 3-13-08 @ The Little Fox, Redwood City CA

https://youtu.be/GG5-uVYDxro Michael Black & Shay Black @ The Plough and Stars as broadcast on the Irish TV station TG4 in December ’08

https://youtu.be/vg8MAkDiqXY Michael Black & Shay Black ‘Mo Mhadu Beag’ (My Little Dog) @ The Plough and Stars as broadcast on the Irish TV station TG4 in December ’08.

https://youtu.be/hg1FeJd73TI The Black Brothers perform Ireland Boys Hooray at 2009 Bay Celtic Festival.

https://youtu.be/bCnKJknBeWI Shay Black – Chicken on a Raft.

https://youtu.be/EADUQWKoVek Shay Black – Barack Obama is IRISH! by The Corrigan Brothers (Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys)

Celebrate being almost to St. Patrick’s Day by spending an enchanted evening with the Black Brothers Band, who make every day seem like St. Patrick’s Day. Led by the charismatic charmers from Dublin, Shay and Michael Black are the singing siblings from Ireland’s foremost family of song, The Black Family, which also includes their sisters Mary and Frances and brother Martin. Shay and Michael play an exciting mix of Dublin street songs, music hall songs and historical ballads. Singing in close harmony, the brothers draw people in with their energy, wit and superb musicianship. They have a special fondness for chorus songs and love to hear their audience sing.

This year being the Centenary of the 1916 Rising in Dublin, they will be adding songs from Irish Revolutionary era into the mix. The Easter Rising, also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Dublin during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent Irish Republic. Members of the Irish Volunteers, led by schoolmaster and Irish language activist Patrick Pearse and joined by the smaller Irish Citizen Army of James Connolly, along with 200 members of Cumann na mBan (Women’s Auxiliary), seized key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic. The British Army quickly suppressed the Rising, and most of the leaders were executed following courts-martial, but the Rising succeeded in bringing Republicanism back to the forefront of Irish politics. Two years later Republicans won 73 Irish seats out of 105 in the 1918 General Election to the British Parliament, on a policy of abstentionism and Irish independence. On 21 January 1919 they convened the First Dáil and declared the independence of the Irish Republic.

There are numerous songs commemorating this Rebellion and memorializing the people who took part in it. Songs like “James Connolly” (from the first Black Family album), sad personal stories from the Rebellion like the song “Grace“, humorous ditties like “Join the British Army“, have been in the family for years. Shay and Michael have a particular fondness for these songs, having sung many of them since their childhood.

Shay and Michael grew up in Dublin and both moved to England in the 1970s, eventually settling in San Francisco for Michael and Shay in Berkeley. They’ve recorded one album with their brother Martin as The Black Brothers and three with sisters Mary and Frances as The Black Family.

Michael has one self-titled solo album which was produced by guitar virtuoso and fellow Dubliner John Doyle. The Irish Echo, in its review, praised Michael as “a gifted, accomplished, sensitive ballad singer with a discerning taste in songs.”

Shay has recorded and toured with the illustrious Stan Hugill, shanty group Stormalong John, American singer Sara Grey, Irish band Garva, the California Revels, Shira Kammen, and many other local artists. Last year he released the album Singer’s Request with Celia Ramsay.

The Black Brothers Band also features fiery fiddle virtuoso San Francisco-based fiddler Bobbi Nikles, whose luscious fiddling and driving rhythm add fuel to every performance. Bobbi is an acclaimed force in the Bay Area music scene, and her presence abounds with projects ranging from creating the successful music camp Fiddlekids to performing in a wide array of bands and styles,. She has also played with Wake the Dead, Melanie O’Reilly, Aishling and many more. Bobbi has been a contributor to Strings magazine with articles on bowing technique and instrument evaluation. A sought after teacher at camps, workshops and in her private studio, Bobbi’s creative and nurturing style naturally incorporates her depth of knowledge and her experience as a teacher for over 30 years.

Also from Dublin is piano player Eamonn Flynn, His driving piano style adds excitement to the Black Brothers jigs and reels. Eamonn was the keyboardist on the 12 million selling movie soundtrack The Commitments. Now living in San Francisco, he has gone on to record and tour worldwide with such luminaries as Michael Franti and Spearhead, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Elvin Bishop, Pee Wee Ellis, Donald Harrison, Bernard Purdie, Grant Green Jr., Coco Montoya, Michelle Shocked, Maria Muldaur, Tony Lindsay (Santana), and a 10 year stint with legendary New Orleans drummer Zigaboo Modeliste.

With many Irish musical options in the month of March, don’t miss The Black Brothers Band at Trinity Cathedral. Their joy in performing, their love of a good story, and their charm and wit make an evening spent in their company one to savor.

For more on Trinity Cathedral, check the website at www.trinitysj.org or call at (408) 293-7953. This performance is made possible in part by the Harold R. Hayes fund and the proceeds benefit our Pat McMahon Scholarship Programs.

For more on the Black Brothers Band, check www.black-brothers.com or on facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Brothers-Band/143426742350651