The fair-trade ticketing company.

Folklife Masters: Kevin Burke & Mark Graham

Empty Sea Studios
Seattle, WA

Master Irish fiddler Kevin Burke joins old-time harmonica wizard Mark Graham for an evening of kindred acoustic music. Kevin Burke and Mark Graham founded the popular group Open House in the 1990s, along with percussive dance master Sandy Silva and mandolinist Paul Kotapish. The group was an instant hit, signed to Green Linnet records, and toured extensively. Their blend of old-world and new-world melodies with Mark's tongue-in-cheek songs, all anchored by Kevin's dazzling fiddling, was a wonderful melange and Open House became a seminal group in the traditional music scene. Following the band's breakup in 1999, Kevin Burke went on to become a National Heritage Fellow (our nation's highest honor for traditional artists) and to tour with Celtic Fiddle Festival and various guitar masters. Mark founded the Kings of Mongrel Folk with Orville Johnson and released a definitive album of Southern old-time music on harmonica.

Kevin Burke's partnership with Mark Graham enabled both artists to explore their diverse influences and their love of the West Coast's musical melting pot. Kevin has made his home in Portland, Oregon for more than 25 years, and Mark was born and raised in Seattle and Renton. Both artists draw from Celtic and Americana sources, as well as Eastern European and South American traditions. Playing together, the fiddle and harmonica blend effortlessly and these masters convey both a deep respect and a great irreverence for their traditions.

Folklife Masters presents one-of-a-kind concerts that bring master musicians from different traditions together to collaborate and inspire on stage. The concerts are held in Empty Sea Studios, Seattle's premier acoustic music venue, with professional sound and lighting and the cozy, intimate atmosphere of a house concert. Michael Connolly, Empty Sea's owner and sound engineer, is a well-known fiddler, and he knows acoustic music inside and out. This is a concert that brings the pure sound of acoustic traditional music to a small audience of connoisseurs. There are only 45 seats in Empty Sea Studios, so be sure to get your tickets now! A portion of the proceeds go directly to Northwest Folklife.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Contact

Who:	Michael Connolly
Phone:	206-228-2483
Email:	michael@emptysea.com
Web:	http://www.emptysea.com/2009/10/folklife-masters-kevin-burke-mark-graham/
Question:	Ask a question...