Music ensemble Danú from Ireland comes to the MAC on March 8

The award-winning Irish music ensemble Danú will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., March 8 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

On the photo: Danú. Photo by John D.Kelly

“May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck, brightened by a song in your heart and warmed by the smiles of the people you love,” reads one Irish saying.

In anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day, the McAninch Arts Center presents the award-winning Irish music ensemble Danú, one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles of today. This performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8 at the MAC in Glen Ellyn.

“Danú has delighted audiences worldwide with their high energy award-winning performances, blending the ancient and the new in a glorious authentic celebration of Irish culture. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the magic on Friday, March 8,” the MAC announces in a video on its YouTube channel.

The dancers from the award-winning Trinity Academy of Irish Dance will perform in the MAC lobby at 6:30 p.m. right before this event. This dance school has locations throughout Illinois and Wisconsin including Chicago Northwest, Lakeview, Elmhurst, Palatine, Western Springs, Milwaukee, and Madison. Their performance on March 8 will be a salute to the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday and will set up just the right mood for the concert.

The Danú performers are coming from various counties of Ireland – Waterford, Cork, Dublin, and Donegal. The band formed in 1995 as part of Ireland’s delegation to Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival in Brittany, France, which is the biggest annual gathering of Celtic nations in the world.

The participants of this music ensemble have various skills and talents. At their performances, they masterly use flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals (Irish and English).

Each performance of this ensemble is followed by a standing ovation, as Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, which is touching, exciting, and educational. Audiences around the world admit that attending the band’s performances is a moving concert experience that stays in memory forever. The energy of the musicians is contagious and uplifting. It spreads waves of happiness and joy.

The performers of Danú include Nell Ní Chróinín (Lead Vocals, Flute & Whistles), Benny McCarthy (Button Accordion, Melodeon), Oisín McAuley (Fiddle, Backing Vocals), Éamon Doorley (Irish bouzouki, backing vocals), Ivan Goff (Uilleann Pipes, Flute, and Whistles), Tony Byrne (Guitar, Backing Vocals) and Billy Sutton (Bodhran [Irish Drum] and Mandolin).

Their debut album was entitled 'Danú' and was released in 1997. In 1999 Danú signed a multi-album record deal with the US based recording label Shanachie Entertainment with whom they subsequently released five albums and a live DVD internationally between 2000 and 2006. Over the past few years, Danú has added three independent releases to their discography.

Danú has won numerous awards. They were voted the Best Overall Traditional Act by Dublin’s magazine Irish Music and twice voted Best Traditional Group in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The ensemble has toured throughout Europe and North America with stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Symphony Space in New York City.

Danú's live performances are often broadcasted on RTE, TG4, BBC, NPR, and CBC.

The ensemble attracts the attention of various newspapers as well. The Los Angeles Times called them “compellingly original.” The Washington Post called them “a vibrant mix of virtuosity, energy, and empathy.” And The Irish Times called Danú “a powerhouse band.”

Don’t miss Danú's wonderful musical journey! It will help you to appreciate the beauty of Irish music and to feel the vibes of St. Patrick’s Day.

Tickets are $50-$60. For tickets or more information, please visit https://www.atthemac.org/events/danu/ or call the MAC Box Office at 630-942-4000. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Saturday 12 noon to 6 p.m. and two hours prior to performance.

WDCB 90.9FM Chicago’s Home for Jazz, is the Media Sponsor for the MAC performance.

Natalia Dagenhart