Cat's Melodeon is a
group consisting of some of the finest Irish
traditional musicians on Cape Cod. They perform at
sessions, concerts,
festivals, and private functions throughout the
year. The group (originally named "Cape Tradition")
was founded in 2005 by
Bill Black.
The group's instrumentation
includes fiddle, guitar, flute, recorder, uilleann
pipes, banjo, accordion, harmonica, concertina, bouzouki,
whistle,
mandolin, and bodhrán (the Irish frame drum). The
group's repertoire consist of the Irish dance tunes
-
primarily reels, jigs, and hornpipes - that have
been the staple of the Irish instrumental tradition
for hundreds of years.
Cat's Melodeon is primarily an acoustic
(non-amplified) group but can supply a sound system
if required.
Here are a couple of sound samples: snip 1 - snip 2
Although the group totals
about fifteen members, they are quite capable of
performing in smaller units depending on the requirements
of
the audience or the venue. The members are also
versatile in that most are capable of performing
other types of
traditional music - American, Canadian, Scots - and
of adding vocals in English and Irish.
Individual members are often
called upon to act as teachers to the growing number
of young (and not-so-young) people who
have
become interested in Irish traditional music. Cat's
Melodeon is also highly supportive of more
formal teaching
efforts such as those of the Irish Cultural Center,
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, the West Bend Music
School, Dave Macadam's
"Back of the House" slow session group, and Nik
Engstrom's "Sonnay" fiddle group.
Recent venues: Atria
Greenbriar (Falmouth), Jack's (Falmouth), Coffee
Obsession (Woods Hole), Grey
Gables Train Station (for the Bourne Historical Society), Beehive Tavern (Sandwich),
Lanes Bowl and Bistro (Mashpee), Beach House
(N. Falmouth), Brookside
Club (Bourne), Gray Gables Market (Bourne),
Tidal Flats Park (Bourne), Titcomb's Bookshop (E. Sandwich), Persy's
Place (E. Wareham) , Maplewood (West
Yarmouth), the Nineteenth Hole (Hyannis), Kelly's on Main Street
(Hyannis), Seafood Sam's (Sandwich), Bourne Library, and the West
Falmouth Library
They also perform at
- the Woods Hole Trad Stroll (May)
- Falmouth's Art's Alive (June)
Putting the concept of a musicians' "tip jar" to good use, the Cats have raised funds for:
- wounded Bourne Patrolman Jared MacDonald
- Project Bread's "Walk for Hunger"
- Ride for MS
- Cape Cod Veterans Inc.
- Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape
Cod
- Bourne Friends Food Pantry
- USMC Toys for Tots
- West Falmouth Library Capital Campaign
- Independence House, Hyannis
- Red Cross Hurricane Relief
For more information on Cat's
Melodeon, contact Bill Black
via email bill@capeirish.com or
at
508.564.8764.
Cat's Melodeon at Gray Gables Market
for the "Project Bread" fundraiser session
4/4/15
session for the Housing Assistance Corp. 9/19/15
