Athas and University of Limerick Partnership - Set

Milwaukee Irish band áthas lights the dance floor on fire with a combination of traditional and newly composed Irish dance tunes. Fierce fiddle, driving bodhrán, and funky guitar riffs come together to lift listeners' feet, drinks, and spirits. The band found each other and their voice as an ensemble while playing in Irish sessions around Milwaukee throughout 2005. Spending their time between tunes laughing and joking inspired them to make music together and their name, which is the Irish word for joy and happiness. áthas is: Heather Lewin: fiddle and vocals Amy Richter: bodhrán and percussion Jeff Ksiazek: guitar, bouzouki, tin whistle Sarah Sheehan is a concertina player from County Clare, Ireland. She began playing concertina at a young age under the tutelage of Tim Collins and her playing is greatly influenced by Noel Hill, Pádraig Rynne and Caitlín Nic Gabhann. She grew up immersed in traditional music and is regularly attending and performing in sessions around Ennis. Sarah has since become an accomplished performer, playing at gigs and festivals across Ireland and also in the UK. She has competed successfully in Fleadh Cheoil competitions both as a soloist and as part of grúpa cheoil and céilí band competitions. Sarah has recently completed her final year of undergraduate study at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick studying Irish Music and Irish. Kevin Shortall plays Irish bouzouki, electric and acoustic guitar, 7 string Brazilian guitar, cavaco, and tenor banjo. He grew up in Brazil to an Irish father and a Brazilian mother, under the influence of both cultures and has a BMus (Hons) degree in Jazz Guitar from the Birmingham Conservatoire, a BA in Arranging for Brazilian Music from UNIRIO, and is currently doing an MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick. Together they perform as part of the Milwaukee Irish Fest and University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance partnership.