Tempest – Celtic Folk Rock Returns to Westport for a Concert on August 8 in Ballard Park

On Thursday evening at 7pm Ballard Park’s Performance Pavilion in Westport welcomes back Tempest – a Celtic Folk Rock Band hailing from California will return for another memorable performance. An added treat will be Griffin Wilkins doing an Irish Step Dance.

This concert is sponsored by Westport Marina and Chazy Westport Communications.

About Tempest

Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 24 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release fifteen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,000 gigs. It’s also enjoyed an evolving line-up that’s enabled musicianship and creativity to rise with each new member.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founding member and lead singer/electric mandolinist, Lief Sorbye, is recognized as a driving force in the modern folk-rock movement. He started Tempest after years of touring and recording on the folk circuit. San Francisco fiddler Kathy Buys brings her international award winning playing to the Tempest stage. Her experience performing world-fusion music with high energy dance bands combined with many years of playing Irish traditional music in America and Ireland makes her a perfect fit for Tempest.

Newcomer Caith Threefires is from Boston. He’s an old friend of the band, with a strong background in both Rock-n-Roll and Traditional Folk Music ~ he brings down the house with his energetic stage presence and skillful bass playing! Born in Colorado and brought up in small town Missouri, Gregory Jones is the latest in a long line of Tempest guitar greats! His fiery licks and hard-rocking approach to the instrument, combined with his experience and understanding of Celtic music is a fast favorite with fans, new and old alike! Cuban-born drummer Adolfo Lazo, an original Tempest member, colors the band’s sound with inventive rhythms, and rock-steady drumming.

Learn more about the band on their website www.tempestmusic.com.

About Griffin Wilkins

Griffin T. Wilkins is an 12 year old Irish Step Dancer, from Walpole, MA and Westport is a past student at the Harney School of Dance. He has successfully competed in many regional, National and International arenas and has performed for the WGBH Celtic Sojourn Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day performances for the last five years In 2011 he was Lumiere in the Boquet River Theatre Festival’s Beauty and the Beast and this year he’ll be participating again as the lead; Harold Hill in Music Man.

About Westport Community Concerts

Concerts begin every Thursday at about 7pm (when the hot setting sun leaves the stage ) at the Performance Pavilion on Main Street, Westport. Bring lawn chairs, a blanket, and/or picnic.

In case of rain concerts will be moved into the Westport Heritage House across the street. Donations are always appreciated.

For more information email artsco@westelcom.com or go to  www.ballardparkny.org.

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