www.wgbh.org/celtic

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special concert of traditional and contemporary Irish music, song and dance by joining Brian O’Donovan at WBGH’s 4th Annual A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn. The show will take place on March 14th at 8pm at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Tickets for the Berklee Performance Center show will be available online at www.wgbh.org/celtic, at the Berklee Box Office or by phone at 617-931-2000.

For the first time ever, A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan will be performed at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, on March 15th at 5pm. Tickets for the Worcester show will be available online at www.wgbh.org/celtic, at the Hanover Theatre Box office or by phone at 877-571-7469. Tickets for both shows go on sale February 2.

For the past four years, WGBH’s A Celtic Sojourn has introduced a wide range of both traditional and contemporary musicians, dancers and artists to enchant audiences eager to celebrate the holiday in true Irish style. A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn features familiar performances by some of the principal Celtic performers who, through their performances, invite you in to experience the Irish holiday in a way like never before. Coinciding with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, WGBH Radio is also launching A Celtic Sojourn Radio, a 24-hour online radio stream, featuring the best of A Celtic Sojourn, at www.wgbh.org/celtic.

This year, Brian O’Donovan welcomes the iconic voice of Maura O’Connell. Born and raised in County Clare, Ireland, Maura began her professional musical journey in 1980, as vocalist for the traditionally-based Celtic group DeDanann. >From her first recorded appearance as a lead vocalist to her tenth and latest solo disc, Don’t I Know, O’Connell has married an unmistakable rich and beautiful voice. Maura will pull the listener right along with her to the heart of a song.

In addition, this year’s show will feature the extraordinary multi-instrumental sound of touring ensemble, Lóchrann, who consist of talented young musicians from around Ireland; the legendary Celtic harp duo Grainne Hambly and William Jackson; and former Riverdance performers and husband/wife team of award-winning Irish step dancers, Geraldine Reidy and Donnacha Howard.

“St. Patrick’s Day is a time for many in the Irish Diaspora to celebrate our root. For many others, with no ethnic connection to the country, it is a time to discover the brilliant music and dance culture of Ireland, while tracing its origins back hundreds, even thousands of years. Everyone is welcome to join our party on St. Patrick’s Day,” said producer and host, Brian O’Donovan.

As an ongoing tradition of A Celtic Sojourn concerts, special guest musicians and dancers will also make a surprise appearance during the performance. The show will follow the format established for the burgeoning A Christmas Celtic Sojourn series, which played to over 11,000 people in Boston, Providence and Worcester this past December.

The concert is lively, diverse and reflective of Brian O’Donovan’s informal style of presentation that is the hallmark of his radio program, A Celtic Sojourn, airing weekly on WGBH 89.7 each Saturday at 12 noon. On Saturday, February 7th, O’Donovan will preview this year’s St. Patrick Day’s Celtic Sojourn concerts with a selection of music by featured talent, including singer Maura O’Connell and harpist, Grainne Hambly. Broadcast details and A Celtic Sojourn Radio can be found at www.wgbh.org/celtic.

Brian O’Donovan and A Celtic Sojourn