UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy and the Celtic All Stars, 7 p.m. Sunday, March 1 at UCSB Campbell Hall.
In an evening of music and celebration, Canada’s Celtic superstars MacMaster and Leahy, and some of the world’s finest musicians explore, Celtic traditions across nations, tracing the music’s ancient roots to its vibrant global force, according to Arts & Lectures.
The Celtic All Stars lineup includes vocalist Karen Matheson of Capercaillie; four-time All-Ireland Champion banjo player Enda Scahill; critically-acclaimed Scottish piper Ross Ainslie and the duo’s multi-talented daughter Mary Frances.
MacMaster is known for her fiery, virtuosic command of the Cape Breton fiddle. Born in Troy, Nova Scotia, in 1972, she was immersed in the rich Celtic musical tradition of Cape Breton Island, the homeland of her musical lineage, which includes her late uncle, the legendary fiddler Buddy MacMaster.
She began playing the fiddle at age nine, and is also an accomplished step-dancer, a skill she frequently incorporates into her dynamic live performances.
MacMaster’s career took off with her first independent album at age 16, and her subsequent work has earned her multiple Juno Awards for Best Instrumental Album, a Grammy nomination, and numerous Artist of the Year honors.
Her signature style is rooted in the Scottish-influenced traditional music of Cape Breton, which she blends with contemporary elements like American bluegrass, jazz, Latin and rock.
Since marrying fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy in 2002, they have become one of Celtic music’s most captivating duos, often touring and recording together while raising their seven children, Arts & Lectures said.
“Leahy has cemented his reputation as one of the world’s finest fiddlers and a peerless instrumentalist capable of synthesizing traditional influences with contemporary Celtic/folk sensibilities,” A&L said.
Hailing from Lakefield, Ontario, and rooted in Irish and Cape Breton heritage, he began playing the fiddle at age three and has spent his life mastering the instrument, which he has described as an “extension of his body.”
He is known for his aggressive, quick-moving, and high-energy playing style.
For more than 15 years, Leahy served as the principal fiddler and musical director for his family band, Leahy, which included eight of his 11 siblings.
Under his leadership, the group achieved significant success, including three Juno Awards and the honor of opening for Shania Twain on her world tour.
Donnell Leah also contributed the distinct fiddle line to Twain’s hit “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You).”
The Leahy family’s musical journey was also the subject of an Academy Award-winning short film, “Leahy: Music Most of All.”
Since marrying MacMaster in 2002, Leahy has collaborated extensively with her, forming Canada’s “reigning couple of Celtic music.”
The Celtic All Stars ensemble features Celtic artists from various traditions, including Scottish vocalist Karen Matheson (lead singer of Capercaillie); Ireland’s four-time All-Ireland Champion banjoist Enda Scahill (known for the band We Banjo 3); Scottish piper and multi-instrumentalist Ross Ainslie; and master guitarist Tim Edey.
The lineup also includes the next generation of the headliners’ musical legacy, with their daughter Mary Frances Leahy performing on fiddle and piano. This collective band provides an international exploration of Celtic music spanning Canadian, Scottish, and Irish influences.
Tickets are $43-$63 for general public; $15 for UCSB students with current student ID; and $18 for youth/
For tickets or more information, call UCSB Arts & Lectures, 805-893-3535 or buy online at www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu.