Maggie’s Wake ready to sing and dance for early St. Patrick’s Day celebration

Southwestern Ontario Celtic band Maggie’s Wake is ready to sing and dance with their ‘most lovely friends and fans’ at Theatre Woodstock on March 14. (Tara Dunphy photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Southwestern Ontario Celtic band Maggie’s Wake will return to Woodstock just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.

They will perform at Theatre Woodstock on March 14 starting at 7:30 p.m. for an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The contemporary folk group’s music blends multiple genres, including country, Americana, and jazz.

“We’re really excited about coming back to Woodstock as we continue to celebrate St Patrick’s Month. Being of Irish heritage, I am legally obligated to celebrate St Patrick’s for the whole month, not just one day,” said Tara Dunphy, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

“So, we’ll be warmed up and raring to go for the 14th, and we know it’ll be the same awesome crowd we’ve come to expect in Woodstock.”

Dunphy said a Maggie’s Wake concert will make people laugh, cry, and dance.

“Celtic music has a way of evoking emotion that is unlike any other genre, and our show is full of original and traditional Celtic folk songs that get you in the spirit of St Patrick’s Day,” she said.

Maggie’s Wake enjoys performing in Woodstock and the band is looking forward to holding its St. Patrick’s Day show again.

“We have the most lovely friends and fans who join us at these shows, singing along, clapping, even dancing in the aisles,” Dunphy said. “It just feels like such a wonderful community experience. And the icing on the cake is heading over to the Dickens pub for a pint afterward and running into everyone from the show.”

Maggie’s Wake is one of the New/Emerging Artists of the Year finalists for the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The week-long celebration will run from April 3 to 6 at Ottawa’s National Art Centre and the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

“We love what we do so much, and in particular, we love being able to do it together, which you can tell at our shows because of the smiles on our faces throughout the whole performance,” Dunphy said. “To be recognized as one of the top emerging artists in Canada is just incredible and we’re looking forward to meeting all of our fellow nominees up in Ottawa this April.”

Later in the year, Maggie’s Wake will be recording a new album and a Christmas EP, as well as performing throughout Canada and the United States. Visit www.maggieswake.com online for the latest updates.

Tickets for the Maggie’s Wake show in Woodstock are $40 each and can be purchased at the box office on 22 Reeve St. or by calling 519-537-2582, and online at www.theatrewoodstock.com.