Monday, June 9, 2014


Irish musicians John Blake, flute, and Ruairy McGorman, bouzouki, will perform at Mountain City Traditional Arts, 25 East Main Street, Frostburg, Sunday, June 29th at 3pm. The event is free and open to the public, with donations greatly appreciated. The concert marks one of several East Coast stops to launch Blake’s first solo CD endeavor, “The Narrow Edge,” which the Irish Echo touts as “excellent, straightforward and thoughtful,” filled with “brilliant stylish flourishes that reveal [Blake’s} command of his instrument.”

Blake is a traditional Irish flute player, guitarist, pianist, producer and sound engineer. An ex member of traditional group Teada, he has performed and recorded with the cream of Irish musicians including, John Carty, Paddy Glackin, Noel Hill, Liam O’Flynn, Jesse Smith, Harry Bradley, Colm Gannon, The Kane Sisters and James Kelly. Brought up in London, John was immersed in the vibrant Irish music scene that was there at the time, and was tutored by famed teacher Brendan Mulkere. John moved to Ireland in 1998 and developed a reputation as an accompanist of note, racking up several album credits. He joined ‘Teada‘ in 2001 and toured with them for 3 years, at which point he got off the road and settled into a job in Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Pipers Club) in Dublin. These days John is still appearing on many albums, and is to be found in his studio ‘The Lions Den‘ in Raheny, Dublin.

Dedicated to the education, sales, documentation and perpetuation of the traditional arts in the mountain region, Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University, with support from FrostburgFirst, the Allegany Arts Council, and the Maryland Traditions Program of the State Arts Council. For more information contact mountaincitytradarts@gmail.com or call 301-687-8040.

FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.