Riverside Concerts and Rochester Parks & Recreation present forWARD 3, a neighborhood park concert at Lincolnshire Park in Ward 3 featuring the Celtic bands RavensFire and Connla on Wednesday, August 21 at 5 PM. Bring the kids down early to enjoy the Go Play! Explore! Mobile Recreation Trailor starting at 3 PM.

3 PM -  Go Play! Explore! Mobile Recreation Trailor
5 PM - RavensFire
6 PM - Connla

The RavensFire band plays Irish traditional music, folk songs, instrumentals and original music in the style of familiar Irish tunes. There’s always much foot-tapping and hand-clapping and many smiling faces. This band is fun to listen to.

Hailing from the cities of Armagh and Derry and are made up of Ciara McCafferty (vocals), Ciaran Carlin (Flute/Whistles) Paul Starrett (Guitar) Emer Mallon (Harp) and Conor Mallon (Uilleann Pipes/Whistles). 

Labelled as the Hottest New Group out of Northern Ireland, (Chicago Irish American News) Connla have been quickly making an impact on the folk/traditional scene. Songlines magazine made Connla their “must see act” for the tour of the UK and stated “A band this young shouldn’t be this good”. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes, have helped them create a sound which is very identifiable as Connla. Irish Music Magazine stated; “Consider this your early warning system, there is something serious on the horizon and that creative storm is Connla” (Irish Music Magazine).

The group is a full mix of musical knowledge, training and performance experience unheard of in a group this young. All are close friends and/or family who go way back together in the Northern musical scene. Each has won several performance awards. The resulting music is satisfyingly complex, yet directly and easily accessible. This is that rare group that is musically attractive to the experienced trad purist, as well as the music fan who knows nothing of the music. There is the mix in all of their music of great lift to the music and deep insights in the songs, all coupled with top musicianship and taste. Truth be told, it may never have been pulled off before by a group this young. Yesterday and tomorrow’s trad today. Here comes Connla!

Brought to you by the Friends of Riverside Concerts with additional support by the Mayo Clinic. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.