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Two Voices with
Celtic Harp, Bouzouki,
Accordion, Guitars,
Mtn Dulcimer, Bodhran,
Hammer Dulcimer
And a few surprises!
Willson & McKee Press Release
Press Release/2014
Willson & McKee are... Two Voices with guitars, bouzouki, harp, accordion, dulcimers, bagpipes,
stories, dances and FUN!!!
Press Release/20114-
432 Words:
Willson & McKee, an inter-
Rocky Mountain Celtic… what Celtic becomes when it settles comfortably, three generations in the west! Americans doing what they do best – interpreting their roots music in fresh and original ways!! The combination of their Celtic heritage plus their Montana and Colorado roots gives audiences a distinctive musical experience. Original compositions with an ancient sound, and traditional pieces re-
Another recent tour of Scotland and Ireland found Willson & McKee collecting new songs, stories, and dances to add to the already brimming repertoire. Willson & McKee are afire to share the depth of their remarkable experiences with audiences and students! Stunning landscapes are the brilliant trappings to the ancient stories and myths that they seek to uncover. Between performances and teaching workshops in both countries, they spend valuable time with traditional artists who share the history of each place, dance, song and story. Ken and Kim then bring these gifts back home and rework them into new treasures to give again, in concerts and educational opportunities.
Repeated honors at such events as the Walton’s of Dublin International Songwriting Competition and instrumental awards such as a National Instrumental Championship guarantee audiences the highest quality performances. Averaging ten months on the road, 15,000 student contacts, dozens of performances and countless programs and workshops per year, these veterans bring more than just great music to their work! The combination of blazing instrumentals, warm harmony vocals, a lot of laughter and a ceilidh dance or two translates into sparkle and depth… and never a dull moment! A Willson & McKee concert is a curiously un-
The concert will include material from their TEN recordings and 23 years of making music together!
“Our audiences frequently ask for an encore, but they very rarely give a quick standing ovation, the way they did for you on Saturday night! The blend of music and performing style, which you gave them, was excellent!”
N. Smith, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
“Willson and McKee are better than any review I could write for them.
Together, they create a show that takes you to the past in the present. The tunes are familiar, sad and wonderful all at the same time. Their songs are of full strong lives and unforgettable stories that deserve a special place in our collective memory.”
D.Lerdal, Dahl Fine Arts, Rapid City, SD
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Bios: 132 words
Kim McKee received 15 years of classical training before turning to traditional Irish and Scottish music, 30 years ago! She moves effortlessly between her instruments and her palate includes accordion, folk harp, guitar, dulcimers, and bodhran, and she never passes up an opportunity to teach a Ceilidh dance! Ken Willson is the pulsing folk drive, with an engaging tenor voice, tasteful guitar and bouzouki foundations enhancing the distinctive material. A weaver of wit and tales and a squeezer of the bagpipes, he can also spin a fine Ceilidh swing on the dance floor!
Collecting experiences, stories and humor from 20 years of touring together, this pair has focused on educational programming, concert veneus, college campuses, master classes, workshops, cultural events and festivals, and they have fine tuned their stage performances to be anything but predictable, traditional, or expected.