Ceili Rain brings Celtic rock to Norwich in Friday concert

NORWICH – Ceili Rain (say “KAY-lee”) presents its acclaimed show of Celtic flavored pop rock at the Chenango County Council of the Arts – Martin W. Kappel Theater, 27 West Main Street in Norwich, at 7 p.m. on Friday. A tight band comprised of solid vocal harmonies, tin whistles, and Highland pipes, this six-piece group is led by Syracuse’s Bob Halligan, Jr. The performance will conclude Halligan’s five-day residency in Chenango County working with local students and the community at large. The performance and residency have been sponsored by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Ceili Rain is the winner of the 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2003 Unity Awards and the group has sold out concerts internationally, from World Youth Day (Canada and Italy), to England’s Standard Triumph Club, to crowds of 25,000 in Houston, Texas. They have received stellar reviews from the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, and were selected “Most critically acclaimed indie pop/rock band” by Billboard Magazine who raves, “These guys deserve to be heard by the entire world. Their potential is limitless because they have an appeal that knows no boundaries.”

With the exception of two miserable days as an electrician’s assistant, Bob Halligan, Jr. has never held a “day job” in his life. The lead singer, songwriter, guitarist and creative force behind the Celtic-flavored rock band Ceili Rain has earned his living – and reputation – as a working musician and songwriter for most of his life. Halligan has parlayed that well-deserved acclaim as a writer into a recording career that has seen the release of seven highly praised albums for Ceili Rain and awards such as the Unity Award for the Group and the Music Video of the year in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.