Legendary Irish Fiddler Frankie Gavin to Perform with Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello

Legendary Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin will perform at Frostburg’s Mountain City Traditional Arts, Monday, November 4, at 7 pm. He’ll be joined by world renown musicians Tommy McCarthy on fiddle and Louise Costello on banjo. The event is open to the public, with a recommended donation of $15.

Known as a founding member of the Irish supergroup, DeDannan, Frankie Gavin has been fixture in the traditional Irish music scene for more than half a century. In his time, Gavin has played for four American presidents, starting, as a seven-year old, when he played for John F. Kennedy on his 1963 visit to Ireland; and he holds Guinness Record as the world’s fastest fiddler.

Originally influenced by some of the great Irish and American-Irish fiddle players, James Morrison, & Michael Coleman, he later found himself playing with stars such as The Rolling Stones, Stephane Grappelli, Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs & Yehudi Menhuin as well as with some of the great contemporary players & singers of traditional Irish music. All have left their mark on his eclectic approach to music.

Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello both grew up in families steeped in Ireland’s rich music history. McCarthy, was born in London to Irish parents, who emigrated from the west of Ireland in the early 1950s. His father Tommy Sr. was a well known piper & concertina player from Co. Clare, so Tommy grew up listening to traditional music and playing with all of the legendary Irish players who were living in London.

Louise Costello hails from Galway, in western Ireland. Growing up she played with her father Denny & local fiddlers. In her late teens she broadened her musical horizons & became part of Galway's vibrant session scene. It was there that her banjo playing was influenced by Charlie Piggott.

In 1996, the duo opened The Burren in Massachusetts, which quickly became a premier venue for Irish music. Together, this powerful trio will perform an unforgettable show.

Dedicated to the sales, education, documentation and perpetuation of regional traditions, Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University in partnership with the Maryland Traditions Program of the Maryland State Arts Council and FrostburgFirst. For more information call 301 687 8040 or look for us on Facebook.