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Fonn Mor returns to city Thursday night

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:46 AM EDT

The driving fiddle and explosive percussion of Fonn Mor, which made this high-energy Celtic band one of the favorite performers of the Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series, will be featured twice this summer on Dowagiac's outdoor fine arts schedule, performing at the Haggin-Wimberley Bandstand this Thursday, June 12, and again on July 24.

The Celtic influence of Scotland, Wales and Ireland on today's music will be brought to life by these award-winning Irish performers this Thursday during the second segment of the 12-week Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series.

The vocal and instrumental series, co-hosted by the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, is funded by a $6,000 corporate donation from Huntington Bank.

Fiddle, flute, modal guitars and unconventional percussion strategies are used to propel original songs and dance tunes that reflect the influence of Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Ireland and other aspects of the Celtic Diaspora.

"Making its first appearance in Dowagiac in 2005, Fonn Mor quickly won over its audience, becoming one of the most popular performers of that season's line-up," said Vickie Phillipson, DDA and Chamber of Commerce program director, who organizes the outdoor fine arts program. "Fonn Mor, which means great melody, uses electronics and atmospherics to broaden the impact of its music, while its entertaining and entrancing live shows have also helped the group to build its strong reputation."

"Due to its large following, this is the second consecutive summer that Fonn Mor was asked to present two concerts in Dowagiac," Phillipson said. "Its June 12 appearance, during the Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series, will be followed on Thursday, July 24, with an encore performance at the Dowagiac Fun Fest."

In April, while performing at The Livery within Benton Harbor's fine arts district, the southwestern Michigan-based group presented its public début of its CD, "Along the Way."

The Irish band has appeared and performed on the Fox 2 News Morning Show and the Mitch Albom Show in Detroit, as well as the WGN Morning Show in Chicago.

Their festival performances have included the Milwaukee Irish Fest, Chicago Celtic Fest and the Mid-Michigan Irish Fest.

Their signature CD won two West Michigan Awards in 2002 for Best World Music CD and Best CD of the Year. Their follow-up album, "Fragment," was named Best World Music CD in 2003.

Shay Clarke of the Irish American News said, "Fonn Mor rocks the house with its unique mix of traditional Irish and rock. Their album breaks barriers without losing its Celtic foundation. I've enjoyed it so much, I've been playing it constantly."

Music Revue Magazine in Grand Rapids said, "It takes phenomenal discipline and talent to play this genre, and these five musicians do themselves proud. Their CD is a rollicking affair that kicks out the tunes at a toe-tapping rate."

Carolyn Koebel provides a full percussive backdrop to the Fonn Mor sound, with instrumentation ranging from drum set to vibraphone, hammered dulcimer, bodhran and various hand drums from across the globe.

Her background spans the Western classical tradition, Brazilian samba, African tribal drumming, Afro-Cuban percussion and Middle Eastern traditions.

She previously served as principal percussionist with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, including the performance of a percussion concerto.

She works extensively in silent film sound-tracking and modern dance accompaniment and tours regionally and internationally.

She has studied and mentored with Glen Velez and Layne Redmond and continues to pursue advanced techniques with many of today's finest players.

The founding member of Fonn Mor, Curt Tramel, has played guitar and written and arranged music for more than 12 years.

He founded Fonn Mor about nine years ago and also handles most of the management duties for the band. He serves as co-lead vocalist of the group, and also takes a hand at banjo and cittern from time to time.

Rick Stubbs, a native of Kalamazoo, has performed in local music groups for more than 17 years. His steady grooving bass lines provide a stable foundation on which Fonn Mor builds its driving melodies.

Rick Willey has played fiddle and mandolin for many years, and is highly regarded among area traditional musicians. He placed well in regional fiddle competitions, including the 1999 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil and took first place at the 2005 Shady Groove Fiddle Festival.

Willey has also judged several fiddle competitions including the national Old-Time Fiddle Championship in Winfield, Kan.

He conducts fiddle workshops and demonstrations, and has performed for many years with his brothers in the folk-rock group, The Willeys, and in the traditional Irish band, Paddy's Racket. His talents are featured on several CDs by both musical groups.

Katie McIlwee rounds out Fonn Mor.

She started playing Irish music while growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. There she met Tom Byrne, a flute player from Sligo, who took her under his wing. McIlwee competed in flute and won several Midwest Fleadh Cheoils in the 1990s. A former member of Tap the Bow, she has also appeared as a special guest of Paddy's Racket. In 2003, she picked up the buttonbox accordion, which has been a great addition to the Fonn Mor sound.

Phillipson said the Thursday evening concerts, featuring lawn-chair seating, begin at 7:30 p.m. During the July 24-26 Dowagiac Fun Fest, the hours are extended as multiple, back-to-back performances are featured.

Huntington Bank, in conjunction with the DDA and Chamber of Commerce, is also pleased this summer to present: the Keith Scott Trio on June 19, specializing in the blues; Otsego Jazz Ensemble and vocalist Ian Brown on June 26, along with the ice cream social hosted by Forest Glen Assisted Living; Schlitz Creek on July 3, specializing in bluegrass; The Skeletones on July 10, specializing in rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz; Lake Effect Jazz Big Band on July 17; the Goldmine Pickers on July 31, featuring bluegrass, jazz, folk and Irish music; and the tight, four-part harmony of Local Motive on Aug. 7.

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