Open the Door for Three is one of the most exciting traditional and Irish folk bands currrently performing in the United States. Indeed, they have been for many years. Open the Door for Three will be appearing at Albany's most intimate venue, the Irish American Heritage Museum's Flanagan Theater.
Open the Door for Three is Liz Knowles, a fiddler from Kentucky; Kieran O'Hare, a piper from Kansas; and, Pat Broaders, a singer and bouzouki player from Dublin. The implied narratives derived from these points of origin would be only a tiny window into the vast richness of a life in Irish music. Knowing that this richness exists is the starting point for understanding the music of Open the Door for Three - a rare combination of unearthed tunes from collections dating back to the 1700s, newly composed tunes, fresh and new arrangements of songs, old and new, homages to the musicians and bands they grew up listening to, and the signature sound of a trio of good friends playing truly amazing music together.
Having spent nearly four years traveling together overseas, the members of Open the Door for Three formed as a well-oiled machine of crafted arrangements and powerful music. These three have distinguished themselves over the last two decades, having played with Riverdance, Cherish the Ladies, Secret Garden, Anúna, Celtic Legends, and The New York Pops, Don Henley, Paula Cole, Bonnie Raitt, and Josh Groban. Open the Door for Three has performed in venues around the world: on Broadway, at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, at L’Olympia and Palais de Congrès in Paris, Malaysian rainforest festivals, piping tionóls in Ireland, theaters from Shanghai to São Paulo, cruise ships in the Caribbean, and even a bullring in Mallorca.
Their debut release “Open the Door for Three” and second release “The Penny Wager,” were comprised of unearthed tunes, new arrangements of great songs, homages to the musicians and bands they grew up listening to. The new album, “The Joyful Hour,” continues this tradition and is rich in footnotes with tunes from Waifs and Strays, the Goodman, and the MacDonald collections, tunes from Cape Breton and from Planxty recordings, variations sourced from wax cylinders as well as living players, and modern arrangements and textures giving color and context to songs about Wexford, rivers, love, death, and a winning race horse, all with their signature trio sound.
The Irish American Heritage Museum is honored and thrilled at having Open the Door for Three as the next installment in IAHM's Special Event Performance Series. Please join us for an unforgettable night.
We would like to thank our sponsors, the Flanagan Family, ParkAlbany, WEXT and Metroland Now.
