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THE CHIEFTAINS WITH RETURNS TO IU AUDITORIUM Subhead about the local groups

WHAT: WHEN: Tuesday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: IU Auditorium TICKETS: $19-$40 for IU Bloomington students with a valid ID and $40-$55 for general public, on sale now. Individual tickets may be purchased online at IUauditorium.com, in person at the IU Auditorium Box Office, as well as through Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 800-745- 3000. The IU Auditorium Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The internationally-acclaimed Irish folk ensemble The Chieftains will be performing at IU Auditorium Tuesday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.

This six-time Grammy Award winning ensemble, which includes founding members Paddy Moloney and alongside a myriad of Irish vocalists, instrumentalist, and dancers, is highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and international scale. Their ability to transcend musical boundaries, blending tradition with modern music, has led to a renowned reputation and performances all over the world.

As cultural ambassadors, their performances have been linked with seminal historic events. They were the first Western musicians to perform on the Great Wall of China, they participated in Roger Water’s “The Wall” performance in Berlin in 1990, and were the first ensemble to perform a concert in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. In 2010, their experimental collaborations took their sound out of this world, when Paddy Moloney’s whistle and Matt Molloy’s flute travelled with NASA astronaut Cady Coleman to the international space station.

Although The Chieftains’ early following arose from folk enthusiasts, the range and variation of their music and accompanying musicians quickly captured a much broader audience. In 2012, in honor of The

Chieftains’ 50th anniversary, they were awarded the inaugural National Concert Hall Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their tremendous contribution to the music industry worldwide and the promotion of the best of Irish culture.

Much of The Chieftains’ music has been a product of collaboration. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, The Chieftains invited friends from all musical styles together for their latest album, —a work that features modern music’s fastest rising artists, including , , and .

The Chieftains are not afraid to shock purists and push at the confines of genre. But the trappings of fame have not altered The Chieftains' love of, and loyalty to, their roots. They are as comfortable playing spontaneous Irish sessions as they are headlining concerts at . After more than 50 years, The Chieftains' music remains as fresh and relevant as when they first began.

For their performance at IU Auditorium, The Chieftains will be featuring musicians and dancers from the regional and IU communities, including select vocalists from the Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers, and the Fountain Trust Pipe Band from Covington, Indiana.

“The Chieftains are long-time friends of the Auditorium, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them back in celebration of our 75th anniversary,” said Doug Booher, IU Auditorium Director. “These tremendous musicians highlight the influence and importance of international cultures in the arts. They always provide an exciting evening of entertainment that evokes the spirit of Irish heritage. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this lively performance.”

For more information on The Chieftains and the rest of the Auditorium’s 75th anniversary season, visit IUauditorium.com. The website features video clips and a selection of songs from this season's performances, in addition to a direct link to the IU Auditorium Facebook and Twitter pages, whose members receive exclusive benefits throughout the year.

The Chieftains at IU Auditorium is sponsored by Lamar Outdoor Advertising. IU Auditorium’s 2015–2016 season is presented by Curry Auto Center, The Herald-Times, B97 Radio, and French Lick Resort.

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