Concert combines fancy footwork and banjo
Published 11:30 am Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Clawhammer banjo and percussive footwork will be on tap at a concert by Nic Gareiss and Allison de Groot at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Vashon Havurah, 15401 Westside Hwy SW.
The show is the latest offering from Tip the Scales, a Vashon organization that was created about a year ago to present music in intimate settings by nationally recognized artists, as well as raise awareness of the issue of equitable pay for musicians.
The concert will be a celebration of traditional music and dance.
Named one of 2019’s “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine, Michigan-born dancer and musician Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance,” and called “the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene” by the Boston Herald. His work casts movement as a musical activity, with dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears.
Gareiss draws from many percussive dance traditions and has appeared internationally with many luminaries of traditional music including Frankie Gavin, Dervish, Bill Frisell, The Gloaming and The Chieftains. To find out more about his life and work, visit nicgareiss.com.
As a musician, de Groot combines a passion for old-time music, technical skill and a creative approach to the banjo. Although firmly rooted in old-time and traditional music, she has collaborated and created outside this genre, pushing the boundaries of the clawhammer banjo. To learn more about her music, visit allisondegroot.com.
The show costs $20; to reserve a seat, contact kat@kateggleston.com.
