Colebrook, NH - On May 3, 2003, the day the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in Franconia Notch, a community summit was being held in Colebrook to decide on new projects for the region. It was at that summit that the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts was conceived.

Sponsored by the Upper Connecticut Valley Community Coalition, the arts center was one of the top ideas to rise to the surface at that gathering of over 100 people from the community.

Now, 15 years later, the GNWCA is alive and well and has hosted over 500 concerts in the Colebrook and Lancaster area. "In appreciation for the continuing support that the region has shown us, we are planning a free concert this month to show our thanks," said Charlie Jordan, GNWCA President. Jordan is also the past Vice President for the Coalition. "Through the generous co-sponsorship of the N.H. Council on the Arts, we are able to bring back to town the super group DuoDuo featuring four of the top performers touring today." The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, at Monadnock Congregational Church in downtown Colebrook. Admission will be free, but attendees will be able to make a donation toward the event if they so wish that night. A total of 200 free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. You may obtain your free pass at Fiddleheads, 110 Main St., Colebrook, NH. For further information, call 237-9302.

DuoDuo features the talents of Natalie Haas, Yann Falquet, Maeve Gilchrist and Nic Gareiss. Their performance will highlight Celtic and Quebecois music on cello, harp and guitar, with Nic Gareiss providing some authentic step dancing.

Natalie Haas is one of the most sought after cellists in Celtic music today. She and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser have toured as a duo for 18 years, wowing audiences at festivals and concerts worldwide with their unique sound. She has appeared on over 50 albums, including those of Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster, Irish greats Altan, Solas, and Liz Carroll, and Americana icon Dirk Powell. Natalie has also toured with Mark O'Connor as a member of his Appalachia Waltz Trio. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Natalie is currently based in Boston, where she is an associate professor of cello at Berklee College of Music.

Montrealer Yann Falquet is one of the most creative acoustic guitarists in today's Québécois music scene. Over the last 15 years, he has recorded five albums and toured the world with French Canadian power trio Genticorum. He also toured for three years with the award-winning Canadian Celtic/world group the McDades.

Two years ago, as a newlywed husband and wife team, Yann and Natalie began performing together as a duo. Don't miss this exciting and rare opportunity to hear them live, performing a mix of Québécois traditional tunes and songs and new takes on folk music from throughout Western Europe.

Michigan-born dancer Nic Gareiss has been described by the Irish Times as "the human epitome of the unbearable lightness of being," and "the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene" by the Boston Herald. His choreographic work re-imagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as medium that appeals to both eyes and ears.

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, and based in Brooklyn, NY, Maeve Gilchrist's innovative folk-jazz fusion approach to her harp stretches its harmonic limits and improvisational possibilities. She is as at home playing with a traditional Irish folk group as she is with an American string band or a contemporary ensemble. She tours and has appeared at such major music events as Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Tanglewood Jazz festival, the World Harp Congress in Amsterdam and the opening of the Scottish Parliament. The percussion and drive of Nic's footwork combined with Maeve's melodic and improvisational sensibilities make for an explosive duet sure to delight both the ears and the eyes.

"This is truly an all-star show," said GNWCA President Jordan. "Don't miss this chance to see these two high-powered musical duos."

This 15th anniversary year will see a continuation of high-quality shows being brought to both the Colebrook and Lancaster area by the GNWCA.




Posted 5/11/18