MONROE - Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack, known as Switchback, have performed their music for more than two decades. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Monroe Arts Center will present this duo, whose sound is a mix of mandolin, percussive acoustic guitar and bass work, with vocal harmonies.
Music Connection Magazine said of Switchback: "The words "American Roots and Celtic Soul' only begin to describe this unusual act, whose vocal prowess is as pure as it is unique ... there is no denying the stunning vocal blends that are achieved by this duo." The group mixes up the selection and tempo of the songs they play, including ballads, rabble-rousing, original and traditional.
In 1986, FitzGerald was a mandolin student of Jethro Burns and had already been touring with Clifton Chenier when he met McCormack, an award-winning voice student of Whelma Oshiem at the American Conservatory of Chicago and a member of the Star Search selected band Beyond Blue. They were both chosen by County Kerry composer and concertina master Terrence "Cuz' Teahan to join his traditional Irish group. Teahan taught FitzGerald and McCormack the old country techniques of Irish musical entertainment, making them one of the last generations to be directly influenced by Teahan.
By 1988, the duo continued Teahan's musical legacy with the Wailin' Banshees, joining forces with banjo artist Bert McMahon of Woodford, County Galway and Chicago fiddle player Mary McDonagh. The Banshees flourished, but it was seeing such Texan performers as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Ely and Rodney Crowell that fueled FitzGerald's and McCormack's songwriting and ultimately led to the formation of Switchback in 1993.
Switchback tours throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands. Their television specials "The Americana Sessions" and "The Celtic Sessions" have aired on PBS stations around the U.S. They have opened for such acts as The Moody Blues, Leon Russell, Lee Greenwood, John Hartford and Beausoliel, and have performed with Celtic musicians like Cherish the Ladies, Gaelic Storm, Liz Carroll and Star Wars theme composer John Williams.
On top of their tour schedule, Switchback regularly presents outreach programs for schools, community events, senior citizen groups and special needs audiences. Annually they offer outreach programs on Celtic music, songwriting and music appreciation, tours to Ireland, and in January 2016, they will embark on their first-ever tour to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Reserved seat tickets to see Switchback live in concert are $25 and $20, and student (18 and under) tickets are $10. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office,1315 11th St.; by calling 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This performance has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC, and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this performance has been provided by Duxstad and Bestul, S.C.; Monroe Clinic; Monroe Publishing; Mike and Norah Sanders; Andy and Julie Wilke; Tom and Jodi Ganshert; Tom and Sue Nelson; Chris and Julie Sachs; Deb Thompson; and Tom and Karen Vale.
Music Connection Magazine said of Switchback: "The words "American Roots and Celtic Soul' only begin to describe this unusual act, whose vocal prowess is as pure as it is unique ... there is no denying the stunning vocal blends that are achieved by this duo." The group mixes up the selection and tempo of the songs they play, including ballads, rabble-rousing, original and traditional.
In 1986, FitzGerald was a mandolin student of Jethro Burns and had already been touring with Clifton Chenier when he met McCormack, an award-winning voice student of Whelma Oshiem at the American Conservatory of Chicago and a member of the Star Search selected band Beyond Blue. They were both chosen by County Kerry composer and concertina master Terrence "Cuz' Teahan to join his traditional Irish group. Teahan taught FitzGerald and McCormack the old country techniques of Irish musical entertainment, making them one of the last generations to be directly influenced by Teahan.
By 1988, the duo continued Teahan's musical legacy with the Wailin' Banshees, joining forces with banjo artist Bert McMahon of Woodford, County Galway and Chicago fiddle player Mary McDonagh. The Banshees flourished, but it was seeing such Texan performers as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Ely and Rodney Crowell that fueled FitzGerald's and McCormack's songwriting and ultimately led to the formation of Switchback in 1993.
Switchback tours throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands. Their television specials "The Americana Sessions" and "The Celtic Sessions" have aired on PBS stations around the U.S. They have opened for such acts as The Moody Blues, Leon Russell, Lee Greenwood, John Hartford and Beausoliel, and have performed with Celtic musicians like Cherish the Ladies, Gaelic Storm, Liz Carroll and Star Wars theme composer John Williams.
On top of their tour schedule, Switchback regularly presents outreach programs for schools, community events, senior citizen groups and special needs audiences. Annually they offer outreach programs on Celtic music, songwriting and music appreciation, tours to Ireland, and in January 2016, they will embark on their first-ever tour to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Reserved seat tickets to see Switchback live in concert are $25 and $20, and student (18 and under) tickets are $10. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office,1315 11th St.; by calling 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This performance has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC, and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this performance has been provided by Duxstad and Bestul, S.C.; Monroe Clinic; Monroe Publishing; Mike and Norah Sanders; Andy and Julie Wilke; Tom and Jodi Ganshert; Tom and Sue Nelson; Chris and Julie Sachs; Deb Thompson; and Tom and Karen Vale.