A solid gutsy affair … Roaring Mary's music is well grounded in traditional values and displays a sense of quiet authority and collective skill. Roaring Mary is as fine an example of quality American Celtic music as one could wish for. (John O'Regan, Rock & Reel) The new CD, produced brilliantly by Bobby Read, is a strong collection of traditional Irish instrumentals that serves as testimony to the band's exquisite musicianship ... It would take a trip to the Land of the Wee People itself to get any closer to the Celtic heart from which this music springs. (Keith Morris, The Charlottesville Progress) ... An impressive debut album combining sweet fiddle duets with strong flute playing and energetic accompaniments. Watch for them as Roaring Mary takes the local festival scene by storm this summer. (Philippe Varlet, An Nuaideact)
We play traditional Irish music. Our group was formed from the countless sessions in pubs and kitchens that constitute the history of our deep musical friendship. We have been playing concerts, dances and sessions in the mid-Atlantic for over two years, including shows at the Prism Coffeehouse in Charlottesville, the annual Saint Patrick's Day concert at Georgetown University's Gaston Hall, and the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage. Roaring Mary performances range from driving reels and dance sets to elegant waltzes and deeply felt slow airs. Fiddles and wooden flutes dominate the melodic sound, mingling tight unison playing with solo and harmony arrangements. Guitar and percussion combine to create a powerful sound that is both original and traditional. Equally at home on stage, playing for dancers, or at an informal pub session, Roaring Mary brings skillful playing, a love of the music, and fun to every performance. Contact us at info@roaringmary.com for bookings and other information.
 In his native Atlanta, Georgia, Rob Greenway (flute, guitar) played in several bands (The New Road, Nine-Fingered Liam, Fishes Will Fly), composed and/or performed music for productions by local theatre companies (The Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Theatre Gael, Soul-stice Rep) and spent countless nights staying out too late playing in sessions. He moved to Washington, DC in 1997 and became an active presence in the Irish music scene there, performing at the Supreme Court, the White House, the National Press Club, the Irish Embassy, and innumerable ceilis and set dances. In addition to Roaring Mary, Rob performs regularly with noted ethnomusicologist and fiddler Philippe Varlet. He is a well-known flute teacher and maintains a popular Irish flute website. Sara Read (fiddle, guitar) learned to play Irish fiddle in her hometown of Washington, D.C. from Philippe Varlet. She has performed for listeners at the New Zealand Embassy, the Supreme Court, and the Birchmere, and recorded with hammered-dulcimer player Maggie Sansone. She is known in the Charlottesville area as a teacher and fiddler for contradances and sessions. Formerly an apprentice to master flute-maker Patrick Olwell, Sara now teaches and works in the recording studio with her husband, producer Bobby Read. With over twenty years' experience on her instrument, first as a classical violinist and later as a traditional fiddler, Tes Slominski is no stranger to the music. Her abiding devotion to Irish traditional music and love of playing for dancers bring depth and understanding to her teaching and performances. Recipient of a 1999 CCE Living Tradition award, Tes is in great demand as a teacher in Washington, DC and in Central Virginia, where she and Sara co-direct the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. Tes may also be heard on WTJU Charlottesville and is an avid fan of Middle Eastern music. Recently located to Charlottesville, Justin Murphy (flute, whistle, bodhran guitar) has earned recognition as one of the most talented flute players in the country. His focus has been playing with the critically acclaimed Poor Clares, whose touring roster includes the prestigious Milwaukee Irish Festival, the National Geographic concert series, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the last six years in a row. Justin is a house musician at the famous O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub in New Orleans’ French Quarter and has also played at many other landmark venues in the city, including Snug Harbor, the Howling Wolf and the Kerry Irish Pub. Justin is a seasoned live performer and a much sought after musician for festivals, studio work, and teaching. Equally proficient on the tin whistle and bodhran, his crisp, rhythmical style is full of innovation, creativity and power.  To Top Have a look at our show at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage! Click here (56k modems or better) or here 28.8k modems. You'll need RealPlayer, which can be downloaded for free via the Kennedy Center's Tools page. Upcoming Performances: Our last concert gig: June 6, The Starrr Hill Music Hall, Charlottesville, Virgina. September 14-16, American Dance Weekend, Buffalo Gap Community Camp, Capon Bridge, West Virginia. Don't miss this weekend of contras, squares, couple dances, workshops and great food!
 To Top  Our CD includes 50 minutes of traditional music; original tunes by Paddy and Sara; recent compositions by Bela Fleck, Aran Olwell, and Michael Dugger; a beautiful waltz by Josephine Marsh; and really incredible production by Bobby Read. Streaming previews and mp3s from the cd are now available from efolkmusic.com. You can also order the cd online there, or from our friend Philippe Varlet at Celtic Grooves Imports. Or send a check or money order for $15 to: PO Box 57 North Garden, VA, USA, 22959 Track List:
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