Celtic Folk Band, 'Switchback' Back By Popular Demand to the Tri-Cities
Thursday, September 13, 2007,
at the Van Buren Street Theatre
September 6, 2007
By: Julie McCallum, Entertainment Editor
The Friends of Celtic Culture (FCC) is a Michigan Non-Profit Corporation of Saginaw Valley residents dedicated to the promotion and presentation of the history, plays, music, literature, art, and dance of
Seven Celtic Nations
Switchback Set To Play At VanBuren St. Theater on September 13th
The dynamic duo of Marty McCormack and Brian Fitzgerald, better known as the Celtic folk band, Switchback, back by popular demand, to the Tri-Cities performing for the
Friends of Celtic Culture (FCC).
Performance time is at 7 p.m., September 13, 2007, at the Van Buren Street Theatre, located one block south of Center Avenue, Bay City.
Tickets are $20.00 and are available at the Heart of Ireland, 914 Washington, Bay City. (989-891-9413)
In live performances, this duo constantly amazes audiences with the musical breadth and energy of a much larger band.
Fitzgerald weaves intricate figures with the mandolin, then moments later, opens the floodgates with powerfully percussive acoustic guitar work. His unique sound has its foundation in his many collaborations with Chicago's blues, jazz, and Celtic music greats.
McCormack contributes pulsing, sinewy bass lines, tying the sound together, while giving room to breathe. Beyond his instrumental work, McCormack possesses a tremendously versatile voice. He is equally at home singing a raucous blues number or a gorgeous Irish ballad.
When the two band members blend their voices, the rich sound is well beyond the sum of its parts.
Over the course of ten recordings, Falling Water River the most recent, Switchback has produced a significant body of work. On their two previously released recordings, The Fire That Burns and Bolinree, they have been fortunate to have Lloyd Maines at the production controls.
While the band's early recordings continue to delight listeners, the sessions with Lloyd have resulted in the most richly textured sound to date. It's no wonder that Performing Songwriter magazine rated The Fire That Burns as one of the 12 best independent releases in 2002.