Last Night’s Fun features Seán Burke, David Clopp, and Ellen Redman. As members of bands such as Banish Misfortune, BlackSheep, and Spancil Hill, they bring decades worth of songs and tunes to audiences throughout western New England.
PERFORMERS
Seán Burke, mandolin, Irish bouzouki and vocals, was born in Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland. He immigrated to America with his family when he was a child and joined other relations in the Holyoke area. Seán was surrounded by the stories and music of the land he left behind and his strong affection and connection to Ireland remains. He has made regular trips back to his hometown, where he maintains a close relationship with family and friends, and always with his mandolin in hand. Seán has been involved in the traditional Irish music scene for over 45 years and is a longtime regular at local trad sessions. An original member of the groups Spancil Hill and Banish Misfortune, and now Last Night’s Fun, Seán is never at a loss for a heartfelt song or two.
David Clopp, Irish Bouzouki and vocals, grew up in a house full of music and discovered a passion for traditional Celtic music in his early teens. As a result of 34 years in the Navy and traveling the world, he learned to love the various forms of folk music he encountered all over the globe. Upon retiring and moving to Western Massachusetts, David started participating in weekly Irish sessions and honing his skills. But it was discovering the grounding drone and percussiveness of the bouzouki that took his passion to a new level. Influenced by players such as John Doyle, Eamon O’Leary, Donal Lunny, and Steve Cooney, David brings rhythm and drive to sessions throughout New England, and as a member of both Banish Misfortune and Last Night’s Fun.
Ellen Redman, Irish flute, tin whistles, concertina, and vocals, is both a classically trained flutist and accomplished traditional Irish flutist and whistle player. Inspired by the flute playing of Kevin Crawford and by the encouragement from Boston fiddlers Larry Reynolds and Seamus Connolly, she found a new direction and passion in her musical life – and in 2006 and 2007, she qualified for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. Ellen is an instructor of classical and Irish flute at Smith College and teaches Irish flute and whistle at the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music. She is a flutist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, co-hosts a weekly session at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, and guest-hosts sessions around New England. She is also the director of The Wailing Banshees, a traditional Irish group she formed at Smith College, and frequently appears in and around the region with the band Banish Misfortune and her newly formed trio Last Night’s Fun.
Saturday, March 22, 2024 8:00 PM
52 Sumner
52 Sumner Avenue
Springfield, MA
Buy your tickets here
General Admission $30.00, Students $10.00
Springfield Chamber Players Chamber Music Series is funded, in part, by the Mass Cultural Council.
