MONROE - On Saturday, May 1, Monroe Arts Center will bring Milwaukee-based group Áthas and its combination of traditional and newly composed Irish dance tunes to the local stage.
The group's blend of music and attitude quickly earned them a following among Milwaukee's Irish and Ceili dance communities, as well as audiences throughout their hometown.
Áthas also has become a favorite act at Milwaukee's Irish Fest
The band found each other and their voice as an ensemble while playing in Irish sessions around Milwaukee throughout 2005. Spending their time between tunes laughing and joking inspired them to make music together, as well as giving them a name for their group.
Áthas is a band firmly rooted in the traditions of Irish music, constantly seeking inspiration from the past masters and passing on their knowledge by teaching throughout Milwaukee and Chicago.
The band, comprised of musicians Jeff Ksiazek, Amy Richter, and Heather Lewin-Tiarks, constantly are receptive to new influences, and continue to develop new compositions to convey their passion, energy, and love for making music.
Jeff Ksiazek plays guitar, octave mandolin, Irish flute, and whistle. Since discovering Irish traditional music, Jeff has studied flute with Shannon Heaton, Mike Rafferty, Sean Ryan, and Harry Bradley, and guitar with Matt Heaton.
He is very active in Milwaukee's Irish community, working as the archivist at the Ward Irish Music Archives and teaching flute and whistle at the Irish Fest School of Music. Bodhrán, djembe, and whistles player, Amy Richter, was the bodhrán champion at the 2006 Midwest Fleadh and competed in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na h...ireann. She's been playing Irish music since 2003 learning her craft from Jackie Moran, Colm Phelan, Paul Phillips, Paul Marshall, Pat Roe, Brian Morrissey, and Rob Forkner. She teaches bodhrán at the Irish Fest School of Music and was the 2008 recipient of the Ed Ward Irish Music Scholarship.
Heather Lewin-Tiarks creates the sound of fiddle, viola, and cello. Heather has been playing stringed instruments for 26 years and took up Irish fiddle in 1999, as a result of her involvement in Irish Ceili and Set dancing.
Reserved seat tickets for Athas are $25 and $20, and may be purchased by calling the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700 or in person at the box office,1315 11th Street. Additional information regarding this performance and other MAC events can be found online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio.
Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Paul & Sue Barrett; Art & Patt Carter; Tom Gorlinski & Karen Stollenwerk; Rural Insurance Company/Mike Hutchinson; Deb Thompson, and Audrey Hein.
The group's blend of music and attitude quickly earned them a following among Milwaukee's Irish and Ceili dance communities, as well as audiences throughout their hometown.
Áthas also has become a favorite act at Milwaukee's Irish Fest
The band found each other and their voice as an ensemble while playing in Irish sessions around Milwaukee throughout 2005. Spending their time between tunes laughing and joking inspired them to make music together, as well as giving them a name for their group.
Áthas is a band firmly rooted in the traditions of Irish music, constantly seeking inspiration from the past masters and passing on their knowledge by teaching throughout Milwaukee and Chicago.
The band, comprised of musicians Jeff Ksiazek, Amy Richter, and Heather Lewin-Tiarks, constantly are receptive to new influences, and continue to develop new compositions to convey their passion, energy, and love for making music.
Jeff Ksiazek plays guitar, octave mandolin, Irish flute, and whistle. Since discovering Irish traditional music, Jeff has studied flute with Shannon Heaton, Mike Rafferty, Sean Ryan, and Harry Bradley, and guitar with Matt Heaton.
He is very active in Milwaukee's Irish community, working as the archivist at the Ward Irish Music Archives and teaching flute and whistle at the Irish Fest School of Music. Bodhrán, djembe, and whistles player, Amy Richter, was the bodhrán champion at the 2006 Midwest Fleadh and competed in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na h...ireann. She's been playing Irish music since 2003 learning her craft from Jackie Moran, Colm Phelan, Paul Phillips, Paul Marshall, Pat Roe, Brian Morrissey, and Rob Forkner. She teaches bodhrán at the Irish Fest School of Music and was the 2008 recipient of the Ed Ward Irish Music Scholarship.
Heather Lewin-Tiarks creates the sound of fiddle, viola, and cello. Heather has been playing stringed instruments for 26 years and took up Irish fiddle in 1999, as a result of her involvement in Irish Ceili and Set dancing.
Reserved seat tickets for Athas are $25 and $20, and may be purchased by calling the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700 or in person at the box office,1315 11th Street. Additional information regarding this performance and other MAC events can be found online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio.
Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Paul & Sue Barrett; Art & Patt Carter; Tom Gorlinski & Karen Stollenwerk; Rural Insurance Company/Mike Hutchinson; Deb Thompson, and Audrey Hein.