Mark Bickford (accordion, banjo, concertina, guitar, kora) played sessions in Madison, Wisconsin and Austin, Texas before coming to Ithaca in 1986. He studied the Kora with Mamadou Diabate, and travels regularly to study and play in Ireland with Noel Hill and others.......
Harry Lawless (bouzoukis) can be found playing away in Cork pubs, sessions in East Durham, New York, or at Contra Dances here in Ithaca. He is a regular attendee at Zoukfest where he studies bouzouki with Alec Finn and Roger Landes.......
Matt Malone (whistle, concertina) formed his first working band with his brothers Mike and Dan, his sister Patricia, and Seattle fiddler Kelly Mulford in 1975. After living in Ennistymon, County Clare, London and the borders of Scotland, he returned to America and spent the '80s in various bands in Seattle and Vancouver, including "The Culloden Relief League."......
Ed McGowan (fiddle) grew up in the rich musical life of New York in the '40s and '50s, and studied with James Morrison, Paddy Killoran and John McGrath. Ed gave up playing fiddle at the age of fifteen, when he entered Cathedral College Seminary. He came back to the instrument thirty years later, playing with "The Midnight Court" and "Dalriata" before joining the Ithaca session.......
Scott Whitham (bodhran, fiddle) was seduced away from old-time American fiddle music in the '80s by playing in the Boston and New York Irish sessions, and studied fiddle with John Caulfield. Sitting next to the likes of Johnny (Ringo) McDonagh and Tommy Hayes, he picked up the bodhran around 1986.
Sounds Like
Opening for Karan Casey at the State Theatre, March 17, 2007
State Theatre, with the Grady Girls dancing
TRAONACH
"A deep knowledge and love of the music and a palpable zest for playing."
Dirty Linen Magazine .....TRAONACH is a fortunate meeting of talented session musicians from around the USA who have all, to their own amazement, ended up living in the small city of Ithaca, New York. Over the past two decades they have created a tight, driving sound that has delighted audiences at festivals and concert halls throughout the northeastern states. With Mark Bickford, Harry Lawless, Matt Malone, Ed McGowan and Scott Whitham playing fiddle, whistle, concertina, accordion, banjo, bouzouki, bodhran and the African Kora.
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Hi Folks, thanks for the friendship and for the connection with Celtic Connection across the Great Pond. All the best from Germany, keep on folkin' ;-) The CC's
Hey guys, hope you're all doing well. I can't tell you how much I've missed playing on tuesday nights. I have been making my way to a handful of Philly sessions, but some have been less receptive than you guys; they see the five string and then stop listening to me (but I wait for them in the parking lot). Playing around here has made me understand just how good you guys are. Well, I hope things are going well. PF -I am still trying not to sound like a 5-stringer
Hi guys. Welcome to our little space. You say you met Noel one time in New York. Stop by our space and tell us where and when, intrigued. All the best, Mary
Hi Traonach, It's a pleasure 2 meet you. Thank you 4 ADDing me 2 YourSpace. i'm happy to B. your friend. Keep on the good energy. Have a wonderful day. Peace and Love (-: B. Eitan
thanks for finding us, and great mmusicianship here!Hello Mark from Fiona I don't know that many concertina players+ I play harp as well funny old world isn't it cheers the scuttlers
