Longs Center for the Performing Arts was the latest stop on the We Banjo 3‘s Rise & Shine Tour, adding an Irish flare to the active college town of Lafayette, IN on a chilly March evening.
The center, with its theater like seating, played host to the group with a relatively small crowd, creating a more intimate setting. A husband/wife fiddle duo, Spencer & Rains opened the evening with their blend of folk art and old time music. The couple are multi-instrumentalists keeping the traditions of old time music alive. Their beautiful harmonies and amazing fiddling created the perfect opening to a night filled with live music!
After a short break, WB3 – featuring 2 sets of brothers Enda & Fergal Scahill and Martin & David Howley – stepped on stage to an array of claps and cheers. The quartet who hail from Galway, Ireland and based in Nashville, TN are steeped in the strings that are a standard in traditional Irish music, but have created a new aged style that combines Americana, Bluegrass, and Celtic music, thus dubbing it Celtgrass.
Through the first few numbers, the guys let the strings serenade the crowd with instrumental numbers while the vocals of David were strong with harmonies from the rest flowing effortlessly. The songs were storied and the instrumentation created electricity, making fans clap along and get up and dance.
The night may have been a cool one in regards to temperature, but this group and their eclectic mix of tunes from first to last, upbeat to melancholy, created a warmth of fun and friendship. They played music from previous albums, like Marry Me Monday, Happiness, Haven, to name a few and 2 new ones that were oh so good! These guys are a must see. Not only are they amazing entertainers, helping folks enjoy a fun evening, but they’re also amazingly gracious in their need to give back.
One such gift is raising awareness for mental health. Throughout the Rise & Shine Tour, $2 from each shirt and CD sold will go to organizations that solely provide mental health. The group has partnered with Backline, a group that provides mental health support to music industry professionals and their families.
For more information on We Banjo 3, including an updated touring schedule due to COVID-19, visit www.webanjo3.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.