Finvarra’s Wren profile picture

Finvarra’s Wren

About Me

"Plays traditional Celtic music so heartachingly well that even Finn McCool would be impressed." Detroit Metro time "Irish folk band Finvarra's Wren .... making the kind of music you'd only hear on the west coast of Ireland." Detroit Metro Times , March 2007

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Oh the wren, oh the wren... This powerful, Michigan-based, Irish band, plays addictive Irish, and Celtic-American folk music with all their hearts. The members of the Wren band have all earned their own bragging rights and become highly visible in the competitive midwestern U.S. Irish Trad scene. They often play such exclusive venues as The Ark, The Goderich Celtic Festival, and Bliss Festival..
We are proud members and teachers of Detroit Irish Music Association - Comhaltas in Michigan and Windsor Ontario.


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/09/2006
Band Website: http://www.finvarraswren.com
Band Members: Jim Perkins: "The Head Wren" Jim has played guitar for Paddy Keenan, Sean Keane, Tom Paxton and more. He is the Wren band center stage guy, as well as a wonderful singer and guitar player.

Cheryl Burns: "The REAL Head Wren" Cheryl adds gorgeous vocals, bodhran and mountain dulcimer.

Asher Perkins: "The Mute" Often considered one of the best concertina players North America despite his young age, Asher brings in concertina, button accordion, and tin whistle.

Alison Perkins: "The redhead... I mean, the blonde... no wait, brunette... no, now she's a redhead!" Alison has won multiple fiddle championships in the United States. She adds brilliant fiddle, tin whistle, vocals and constantly changing hair.

Terence McKinney: "The Octopus Trainer" One of the best Uilleann pipers you'll ever hear. He also adds tin whistles, vocals and sarcasm. Terence is also a 2002 honoree in the Midwest Irish Music Hall of Fame (seriously!)

Influences: Traditional Irish Music. Traditional Irish singers.
Sounds Like: Very, traditional Irish music and songs with some Scottish, American and English thrown in for flavoring.
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

It's a lonely and endangered breed of music.

Happy Father's Day to you all.We will be doing a concert with the exquisitely talented Mississippi Irish Trad band - Legacy - at the Ancient Order of Hibernian's Hall in Detroit on Sunday, July 19...
Posted by on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:59:00 GMT

Traditional Music

Finvarra's WrenTraditional Irish Music is alive and well in Michigan. Well at least it was last weekend. We were over-run with glorius players from all over the country for this year's Midwest Fleadh....
Posted by on Sun, 24 May 2009 06:39:00 GMT

sad

This week we note the closing of the Detroit pub and restaurant Baile Corcaigh.The Owners put tremendous amounts of love and work into this place. They often hired and suported very traditional Irish...
Posted by on Fri, 01 May 2009 09:42:00 GMT

For real.

We all know that life can move at a very fast pace. This week the Swine Flu headlines are reminding us of just how fast life can change. Perhaps it's a good time to give some thought to what is impor...
Posted by on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:02:00 GMT

Support our local Trad scene - Chulrua!

Chulrua has unfortunately had to cancel their tour through Michigan.We are sorry for any disappointment.
Posted by on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:51:00 GMT

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hi All!We'd like to wish you all a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day.Have fun and try to seek out some good trad music. Thanks to those of you who have made it to the Guinness shows. Check our main web...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Oh Boy! Solstice Celebration with the Wren & Owain Phyfe too!

Happy Holidays to you all. It's Solstice time again! We are so excited to bring you a very special seasonal show. All the usual Wrenfoolery and special guest Owain Phyfe too!Our Annual Solstice Conce...
Posted by on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:07:00 GMT

Finvarra’s Wren at The Ark with OWAIN PHYFE

Seems impossible that another year has come and gone.Happy Holidays to you all.Our Annual Solstice Concert will be at the Ark in Ann Arbor Mi. again this year. SONGS,TUNES, STORIES AND SEASONAL REVEL...
Posted by on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:50:00 GMT

Craic in the catskills.

Some of us wrens are just back from the Catskills Irish Arts week.http://www.east-durham.org/irishartsweek/The roster was truly stunning. And the formal list doesn't include all those who showed up ju...
Posted by on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:08:00 GMT

Living Legend

This past Wednesday Jim was a fill in guitar player for the legendary Paddy Keenan. of Bothy Band fame. What a thrill to see Paddy work his incredible art in the small venue where the concert took pl...
Posted by on Fri, 30 May 2008 17:40:00 GMT