Song and dance are some of the oldest ways that people have celebrated, a tradition that crosses cultural boundaries and traditions. Irish song and dance will be celebrated in Yorkton with Ballyhooley, which brings together the Eileen Laverty Band, Circling Over Shannon and the River City Reelin’ Rockettes for an evening of good times at the Painted Hand Casino.
The evening is a true collaboration between the two bands, Laverty says, and the reason was because they thought it would be a more entertaining and exciting show if they combined forces.
“We didn’t want to make it so each band did its own thing and had half the show. We were very excited about working together, reinvisioning some of our older songs, bringing out some new songs. Then we invited the dancers and it snowballed from there.”
Combining bands does provide some challenges, Laverty says, just coordinating the large group of people on stage and off. She says it’s everyone’s hard work that makes the show happen, whether it’s the people on stage or the technicians who ensure that all of the performers still sound good as they combine forces.
“I think it just makes a well balanced and entertaining show for the audience, and that’s our goal, to entertain them.”
The music is a celebration of traditional music, whether it’s Irish or from Canada’s East Coast traditions, and Laverty says that honoring that tradition was one of the goals both groups had when putting the show together. She says that the traditional music is something people want to hear.
“There certainly are those songs that people know and love and are looking forward to hearing.”
This is the third year for Ballyhooley, and the second year where it will be in Yorkton. Laverty says the show was something that both groups wanted to do over their long relationship. While she admits that it takes a great deal of planning to get the show to happen, it’s something both groups are strongly committed to and are excited to go on the road with each year.
“I know everyone feels very strongly, everyone gets along and everyone enjoys it. This show is so different, we only do it for a short time every year, so it’s very focused and it’s such a pleasure to work with everybody on this project.
It has been a busy year for Laverty, with a new album in 2014 called From This Moment, a collection of some of her favorite songs.
“It’s such a blessing to be able to all these projects.”
Ballyhooley takes place at the Painted Hand Casino on March 12. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.
