The Princeton Theater Group/Festival 56 presents the STEAM Irish Quartet at Grace Theater on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 7:30 PM. The STEAM Irish Quartet combines traditional Irish and Celtic music with modern rhythm and chord structures. Tickets are $25. The Grace Theater is located at 316 S. Main Street in Princeton. You can purchase tickets at the door, by calling 815-879-5656 or at festival56.com. This concert is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The STEAM quartet takes its name and inspiration from Chicago native (by way of Doolin, County Clare) John Williams’s 2001 ground-breaking album of the same name. STEAM carries this forward even further, exploring the themes passed down to John from a family deeply rooted in Irish traditional music and Irish dance by incorporating musicians with backgrounds in the classical and jazz genres.
STEAM is composed of John Williams (concertina, flute, button accordion), Katie Brennan (fiddle), Steve Morrow (bodhrán), and Jeff Lindblade (guitar, uilleann pipes, Irish flute, tin whistle, as well as vocals). This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
John Williams is internationally regarded as one of the foremost players of Irish music today. With five All-Ireland titles to his credit, John is the only American-born competitor ever to win first place in the Senior Concertina category. His additional talents on flute, button accordion, bodhran, and piano distinguish him as a much sought-after multi-instrumentalist in the acoustic scene around the world.
Katie Grennan’s traditional fiddle playing carries the articulation of a gifted classical musician, tempered by the soul of a champion Irish dancer. Her wide-ranging experience as an international touring performer in both live stage productions and television has given her a unique platform as an ambassador for the music of her heart.
Steve Morrow brings genre-bending, multi-instrumental experience to the bodhrán (Irish drum) as he blends modern and traditional rhythms into the heartbeat and backbone of his music. He has performed at national festivals and events with STEAM, BackWest, and áthas, and is a regular in the rich Chicago Irish session scene.
Jeff Lindblade is a multi-instrumental performer (guitar, uilleann pipes, Irish flute, tin whistle) and vocalist with a passion for traditional and contemporary Irish music. Based outside of Chicago, he is known for his energetic live performances and his ability to blend traditional Irish melodies with modern influences.
Upcoming spring events for the Princeton Theater Group include two different shows by the Chicago vocal trio Girls Like Us on Thursday, April 11th, and Friday, April 12th, and return appearances by David Casas Magic on Saturday, April 27th, and John “Elvis” Lyons and the Jailhouse Hound Dogs band on Saturday, June 8th. Tickets and additional information can be found at festival56.com.
