Chattanooga’s newest Celtic band, Ealaíonta, makes their Rock City Gardens debut performing traditional Irish music during Shamrock City on Sunday, March 15, 2009. The group will perform Irish traditional tunes and songs taken from the pub session repertoire that will be good for the whole family.

Ealaionta (pronounced ah-lee-AHN-ta) is three talented and experienced Chattanooga area musicians with varied musical backgrounds and a love of Celtic music. Mark Pitner, guitar/bouzouki player extraordinaire, says, “Celtic music brings me a lot of joy and mixed emotions ranging from elation to sorrow. I enjoy the camaraderie that playing in the group brings.”

The band is very excited about their work together. “I’ve had the most fun working with Ken and Mark. They bring to the band a magical musical sense that extends and transforms my own musical ideas,” said hammered dulcimerist Rick Davis.

Traditional music fans differ in their views of what traditional music means. Is it copying exactly what was played in the past? Is there room for putting one’s own stamp on the music? Ealaíonta takes the view that the tradition is a living thing, one that develops over the years, decades, and centuries, but remains tied firmly to that which has come before. Flute/whistle player Ken Doyle says about this, “We try to find a rhythmic and harmonic structure that truly resonates with the traditional tunes, blending the pure-drop traditional with some contemporary influences without severing the roots the music comes from.”

Ealaíonta’s performance, which is covered by the cost of admission to Rock City, will be at the Pavilion from 11:30AM to 12:30PM, and other times later in the day on the Front Patio.

For more information: contact Rick Davis, 423-290-2425 or ealaionta@cutedogmusic.com www.cutedogmusic.com/Ealaionta/