Special WFMA Showcase
Ireland's Four Fields
3412 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC
Saturday, March 31, 2012
featuring
Photo by Bill Adler
The pub (then known as Ireland's Four Provinces, or 4Ps) opened at its current location on Connecticut Avenue in 1976 and has been a mainstay of Celtic music and a proud contributor to the DC community for over 35 years. This DC icon has hosted numerous events: concerts, fundraisers, reunions, receptions, wakes and WFMA Music Americana Showcases.
In the fall of 1986, Dick Cerri and WFMA began hosting monthly showcases at the old 4Ps. Among the many performers who appeared during the five+ years of showcases at the pub were Noel Paul Stookey, Bill Danoff, Steve Gillette and Side by Side.
Several outstanding performers participated in the celebration.
has been singing and writing songs for over 40 years.
He wrote over a dozen songs recorded by John Denver, including the song that catapulted John into national
prominence, "Take Me Home Country Roads" and "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado," which became the theme song of
Colorado.
And with Emmylou Harris, he wrote her hit, "Boulder to Birmingham."
In 1976, he formed the Starland Vocal Band, which quickly gained national fame with the monster hit, "Afternoon Delight".
Bill's songs, "Afternoon Delight", "Baby, You Look Good To Me Tonight", "Late Nite Radio" and "Friends with You" led to 5 Grammy Nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 2 ASCAP Awards and 3 Top 10 country hits.
Bill was one of the featured performers at the very first WFMA Music Americana Showcase and has participated in many 'sWFMA events.
Bill's shows, like his songs, are sparkling with wit, comprised of exceptional music and definitely should not be missed.
An up-and-coming Washington, D.C. area performer and songwriter,
Bill's son, has song in his blood.
At age 16 he wrote his first song, but it was not until he was 20 years old, and soon to be a senior at Berklee College of Music, that he began performing.
Owen's music has been described as a marriage of Jakob Dylan (& the Wallflowers) and Taylor Swift - lots of lyrical consideration, but with a healthy appreciation of pop and rock music.
His other influences are many: Warren Zevon to John Mayer, Johnny Cash to Green Day. In live performance, his lyrical variety is obvious, a tongue-in-cheek number followed easily by a soulful ballad.
His ability to perform, combined with his comfortable, inviting stage presence form a talent that is not to be missed.
is noted for their close vocal harmonies and guitars backing their original songs and original interpretations of the best folk/acoustic songwriters then and now.
and Sean McGhee first met at a Music Americana Showcase in May of 1984 and they started singing together the next evening. The rest is history!
They formed
as the “house band” for the Showcases and have performed at all 25 of the WFMA annual concerts!
Doris Justis and Sean McGhee are now celebrating more than 27 years of performing together as
The duo has shared the stage over the years with a "who's who" of folk performers, including the Chad Mitchell Trio, Bill Danoff, Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Schooner Fare (at Schooner Fare's first Washington area performance - at the 4Ps), Tom Paxton, the Limeliters and Christine Lavin.
They continue to enthrall audiences with their exciting arrangements of new and old favorites.
is a Maryland folk trio with its roots going back to the “folk scare” of the early 60’s.
The group is made up of Fred Cherney, on guitar and banjo, Jim Jones on guitar, and Leslie Smile on violin.
Their repertoire predominantly consists of traditional and 60’s folk standards.
They are also known to throw in a lively mix of Irish, Old Time, and contemporary tunes.
While Jim and Fred have been playing and singing folk music since the 60’s, Leslie, who recently received her Masters Degree in violin performance, provides a more contemporary influence to their music.
have established themselves as one of the best loved Irish bands in the Metro DC area.
From the cozy confines of the DC area’s best Irish pubs to the wide-open stages of the festival circuit, this rocking ensemble has wowed the crowds by wedding old fashioned and newfangled Irish music with straight ahead rock and roll.
Three of the band's members joined us for the showcase.
We enjoyed Dave Dresser's gritty guitar, fiddler Randy Latimer's classically honed, Cape Breton-influenced chops and the Guinness inspired grooves provided by bassist Charlie McNamara.