Irish quartet We Banjo 3 to perform in Kent

We Banjo 3, a virtuosic, innovative quartet from Galway, Ireland, joins The Irish Rovers for a 7:30 p.m. concert on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Kentwood Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave SE, Covington.

The performance is part of the Spotlight Series is presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

We Banjo 3 blends traditional Irish Music with Americana and Bluegrass affectionately described as “Celtgrass.” Featuring banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals and percussion, We Banjo 3 includes two sets of brothers, Enda and Fergal Scahill and Martin and David Howley. Collectively they are among the most celebrated and distinguished musicians in Ireland today and considered one of the best live bands in the country. The Galway Advertiser recently named them “Galway Band Of The Year 2016.”

The band is so revered in Ireland that in March of 2016, We Banjo 3 was selected to perform at the annual “Friends of Ireland” luncheon on Capital Hill. President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny were all in attendance.

We Banjo 3 released their fourth album, String Theory, in the summer of 2016 to coincide with their U.S. summer and fall tours. The CD received rave reviews, with Elmore Magazine saying, “It’s as if the Punch Brothers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and the Chieftains all got together for a battle of the bands but decided to pool their resources instead. The future of World Music has arrived.”

We Banjo 3 tours year-round, including stints in Japan, Europe and Australia. The band’s current U.S. tour wraps up with a two night stint at The Ark in Ann Arbor on March 19.

The Irish Rovers celebrate 50 years of music and one final world tour. These international ambassadors of Irish music consistently charm audiences with their rollicking and rousing performances.

To learn more about the group, visit webanjo3.com.

Tickets are $30 general, $28 senior and $15 youth. Purchase at kentarts.com, by calling 253-856-5051 or in person at the Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The box office is closed on Sunday.