Down the road: Eileen Ivers brings her show "Beyond the Bog Road" to Miller Auditorium March 13. It uses video, music and dance to explore the experiences of the Irish.KALAMAZOO — Eileen Ivers has
fronted award-winning bands, won fiddling awards and performed with
legendary shows such as “Riverdance.” But she said nothing thrills her
as much as her newest project, “Beyond the Bog Road,” a labor of love
that celebrates her Irish heritage.
“This is the inspiration of a personal journey,” Ivers said in a phone call from her home about 40 minutes outside of New
York. “Both of my parents came from Ireland, and when I was growing up, we went to Ireland two months each summer.
“Seven years ago, we built a house on my dad’s land in West County Mayo. It’s just part of me.”
“Beyond the Bog Road” comes to Western Michigan University’s
on March 13. The multimedia show has video shot in Ireland, music and dancers, including local dancers from the
.
Show reviews have been glowing.
“Whichever fiddle Ivers was playing, she
and her bandmates did irreparable damage to Sunday’s reputation as a
day of rest,” reported The Other Paper in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009.
“They put on a show and a half, packed with medleys that built to
insanely paced reels and raucous clap-alongs. “
The show explores the Irish diaspora — the wave of Irish citizens who left their homeland to live elsewhere — and attempts
to connect Celtic culture with other music traditions.