Frank Shopen, has been long time player of cittern and fiddle in a local duo/trio, "The Boys of the Prairie." Frank spent most of 1976 in Inishbofin, Connemara where he developed a deep love of the poetry and mirth of Ireland's music in the pub as the older folks [mostly] came in the evening to converse, sing, and play.
The impetus to play the music however came much later after a year or two in the beautiful but stark landscape of North Central Kansas. Having some prior guitar experience in early years, he put his efforts toward cittern and later took up the traditional Celtic fiddle, admiring Kevin Burke, Frankie Gavin, Scartaglen, The Battlefield Band, and other musical influences.
Randy plays both 6- and 12-string guitar in addition to bouzouki and
mandolin. Randy, Frank and Willy, meeting up in Lawrence as KU
students/alums, have played together as a trio and in various session
lineups since the mid 1980s, and the Boys of the Prairie emerged from these
informal trio sessions. A two-month trip to Ireland by Randy and his wife
in 1989 brought many tunes and much inspiration to his playing. Randy has
an innovative guitar and bouzouki style influenced from a variety of
diverse sources, including Eastern Europe, Brittany, Canada and Ireland
all the way to the western swing he heard growing up in Oklahoma.
The addition of Chris on flute and whistles to the BOTP in 2002 rounds
out the sound of BOTP and adds another exiting melodic dimension to the
group's sound. Chris Carr started playing flutes in 3rd grade and has received many youth honors, playing with the Kansas City Youth Symphony for two years, in which he was principle flute in 1995. He started playing celtic music around 1997 and found the style very easy and natural and has been hooked ever since.
As well as flute, Chris plays whistles of all sizes, bodhran, and guitar. He has a weak spot for playing traditional flute styles from around the world, is becoming well known as an accomplished and inspired player in the Midwest.
Willy Peterson, pictured bottom right, had been with the Boys and lends exciting syncopation and drive with his bohdran in the larger venues.
Though Frank and Randy have been busy with a new businesses and special projects at their homes, they have been working on a CD, hopefully to come out in Spring 2004.
On the ST Pat's day 2004, "The Boys of the Prairie" will be performing for parade watchers the Celtic Fox, a new irish venue in Topeka, Kansas, and later that evening at The Red Lyon [10th and Mass st] in Lawrence, Kansas.
Contact the Red Lyon [interior pictured above] for info on the music and ask about the imported beers on tap, of which Guiness is only the tip of the iceberg! 785-832-8228
.
To contact the "Boys of the Prairie,"
e-mail
VERY Special Thanks to fine furniture and instrument maker Max Wardlow for making Frank's cittern. The Boys of the Prairie sadly are not playing future gigs except the occasional private one just for fun. We are all so busy, it's been difficult to arrange for everyone to commit to getting together. We wish to thank all who have supported us in the past and hope to see you around at jams in the Lawrence and Topeka area! Please regard the info below as historical, and feel free to contact Randy who will may be playing with his sons and others in other bands. Frank is taking a hiatus. Great thanks to Chris Carr for playing with us the last few years, and good luck to Willy Peterson who we hope will be heard playing bohdran soon.
Randy Brown and Frank Shopen as "The Boys of the Prairie" have been playing traditional acoustic Celtic music in the Lawrence, Kansas City area for more than 10 years. Randy Brown's (above left) exciting style of bouzouki, 12 string, and six string (dadgad) guitar fires up Frank's (above middle) reels and jigs on fiddle, cittern, mandolin).
Frank Shopen at frankshopen@yahoo.com(785)842-0833, or
Randy Brown at
rbrown@kdhe.state.ks.us (785)836-2452
This Celtic Traditional Music Ring site is owned by
_The Boys of the Prairie_.
Want to join the Celtic Traditional Music Ring?
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