MP3 The Beggarmen - Newry Town

"This hard-charging quintet stirs up a passionate, crowd-pleasing whirlwind of traditional and "in-the-tradition" Celtic folk". Jim Musser, Press-Citizen

14 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Celtic, FOLK: Celtic Folk



Details:
The Beggarmen find their roots in the traditional music of Ireland and other Celtic regions. Brad, Jose', and Keith supplement the rich variety of traditional tunes with their own original music. All of the Beggarmen lend their voices as well as their fine playing to the mix.

Brad Pouleson - Originally from the Chicago area, Brad began playing guitar at the age of 14. In high school he was given a mandolin and has been an incorrigible flirt when it comes to musical instruments ever since. He often says that he never met an instrument he didn't wish he could play. In the mid-nineties he fell under the spell of traditional Irish music and taught himself the tin whistle and low whistle. More recently, he has also become a student of the uilleann pipes. Brad has been composing music since he began playing instruments, working in many different genres, including classical, rock, jazz, and of course traditional Irish. His song 'Part of Me' will appear on the upcoming cd by Indonesian jazz singer celeb Anissa. He has also appeared as a guest performer on Nic Arp's cd 'Face and Words.'

Jose' Manaligod - In a remarkable coincidence, Jose' grew up in the same town as Brad, but on the other side of the tracks. Years later, they ended up in Iowa City with sons the exact same age, which is a short explanation for how a Filipino boy ended up playing Irish music. Jose' is a classically trained pianist who originally took up accordion to play French cafe music. He tried violin in junior high. but never made it past Twinkles. He now also plays Irish music on both the piano and button accordions, taking his inspiration from accordionists such as Sharon Shannon and John Williams. In addition to recordings by The Beggarmen, Jose is also featured on singer/songwriter Nic Arp's CD 'Faces and Words.'

Keith Reins - The son of a former big band saxophonist, Keith began his musical life at the age of five with piano lessons. In junior high and high school, he played clarinet and saxophone in concert and jazz band. At fourteen, he started playing professionally at country clubs and dance halls with his father and older brother. After a brief flirtation with rock'n'roll piano in high school, Keith started hugging guitars and quickly became obsessed with traditional music. At various times throughout the past three decades or so he has played bluegrass, old time, classic country, country blues, all manner of American folk songs and most recently, traditional Irish music. The eclectic, improvisational nature of Irish guitar accompaniment allows Keith to synthesize all of his diverse musical influences.

Tara Dutcher - A fiddler from the age of 3, Tara's unique style blends her Irish and bluegrass family roots with her classical and jazz training from The University of Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2000. Fiddling is a family tradition for Tara. Her mother, Carmel Vrable (nee McGovern), is a fiddler from Swalinbar, County Cavan, Ireland and her paternal great-grandfather, Homer Rayburn, was a bluegrass and old time fiddler in a family band in Michigan and Indiana. Tara and her sister Amelia began their musical studies at an early age and both continue to perform actively in a variety of classical and contemporary ensembles. In addition to performing and parenting, Tara owns and operates the Cavan Fiddle Studio out of her home in Coralville, Iowa.

Joe Dutcher - As a child, Joe was encouraged by his parents to take up any instrument that his heart desired...except the drums. He heeded their wishes until 2003, when he discovered the bodhran, the Irish frame drum. For Joe's first foray into Irish drumming he used a cardboard box and a stick he fashioned from a fallen branch. The instrument he plays today, handmade by Albert Alfonso, is a far cry from such humble beginnings. In addition to the bodhran, Joe is a student of the tin whistle and Irish flute.