Month: April 2019

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Interview: Six questions for Mairéad Carlin of Celtic Woman

Since its debut, global musical sensation Celtic Woman’s concerts continue to touch the hearts of a huge audience that spans the globe. Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective, Celtic Woman celebrates Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage, while continuing its remarkable legacy of introducing some of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians onto the world stage. 

On Tuesday, April 16th, the Wharton Center will welcome Celtic Woman’s newest show, “Ancient Land,” which celebrates the group’s 13th studio album of the same name. East Lansing is one of almost 70 U.S. cities that are a part of this tour.

I interviewed Celtic Woman member Mairéad Carlin about the “Ancient Lands” tour, her musical roots, and her must-haves when traveling across the country and the world.

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Recap: 24 hours in Detroit

Last week was a pretty rough week for me. It started with getting hit by my daughters’ stomach bug on Sunday, which had me the sickest I’ve been in a long time. It wasn’t until Thursday that I felt more like myself again. Then, it was also Stella’s spring break. Not having the routine of school and ability for her to get her energy out led to a lot of frustrations, especially when I wasn’t feeling 100%.

It was a rough week for a lot of my friends, too, between sickness, spring break, and job stress. Thankfully, we had a light at the end of the tunnel: a quick weekend getaway to Detroit to celebrate our friend Tessa’s birthday. How the group of us were all available and able to settle on a weekend of activities on two weeks’ notice was a miracle. The other miraculous component was the string of absolutely gorgeous spring weather, which always makes any situation better.

There are so many great things to see and do in Detroit, but often I find that I only make it there for a concert or special event. The opportunity to explore and spend the night in the city was long overdue, and we had the best restorative 24 hours ever.

Here are a recap and list of recommendations from our weekend in Detroit!

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Interview: Taking Ten with Take 6’s Alvin Chea

The Wharton Center will welcome two legendary a cappella groups on April 10th with The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6. With 20 Grammy Awards between the two of them, it’s certain to be a celebration of music from multiple genres, including jazz and gospel.

While you might not recognize Take 6 bass singer Alvin Chea’s name, you have certainly heard his voice. From the ubiquitous Chili’s baby back ribs jingle to the “Glee” theme to Michael Jackson’s “This Is It,” Alvin’s bass is a household voice.

Alvin Chea

I spoke with Mr. BassLines about his musical influences, career highlights, and favorite moments from The Summit.

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