Ever seen a show where one man performs the harp, organ, piano, keyboard, the flute and sings? All while mixing in Celtic dances? Yeah, I haven’t seen it done either. However, that will all change after this weekend!
On Saturday, July 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Russell Patrick Brown will perform to a crowd of up to 10,000 people for only $10 each (gate fee not included).
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, the 28 year old has been dancing his entire life.
“I’ve really be dancing since the womb,” Brown explains “my mother was always dancing and when I was a baby my parents would hold me while they were out on the dance floor.”
At 3 years old, Brown started to waltz and at 5 he started learning other kinds of dances, including Irish dancing.
Later on after fighting dancing for so long, Brown decided to embrace it and went to Baldwin-Wallace Music Conservatory where he learned many of the instruments you will be able to hear this Saturday.
“I believe in a very liberal arts way of life,” Brown said. “I feel like there is a place for this today where people can wear lots of different hats. For instance, I may not play like the best harpist in the world, but I play it very well.”
While at college, Brown learned the techniques he needed to be a great dancer but he realized that during that time, he had lost his connection to dancing and entertaining.
“(After college) I began stripping away the ‘I should’ or ‘I oughta do’ and just take in the world around me and express what I feel,” Brown said. “I work really hard to connect with every piece I do … I work hard to feel what I’m singing and not many people can do that.”
“An evening away with Russell Brown, Harpist” as Lily Dale has called it, will feature music that not only incorporates folk but rock and electric, too.
Through the concert Brown tells the story of how he became the first Celtic Bard dancer in over 250 years. Bard refers to a way of setting a story to rhythmic meter.
Brown meshes the realms of reality and fantasy in this upcoming performance, introducing to many for the first time the Irish Banshee and the Seal Woman – both of Irish mythology.
The show includes songs like “The Lady of Shallot” as well as many older classics, but does contain a few more recent songs such as “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohn and "Missing" by Everything but the Girl.
The entire concert performance errs on the side of mystery, especially with the use of the harp, Brown said. And the fact that the concert takes place in Lily Dale, a place known for it’s spiritualist leaning, adds to the performance’s impact.
“Since it’s a live performance it’s really important,” Brown said. “I get to create the show with all of the people. I’m creating it with the audience.”
Brown has even been known to pull people from the audience and take improvise a bit to really get everyone involved.
Brown said this performance is hopefully its last stop before settling off Broadway in New York City where Brown currently lives.
People can find out more information about the show or purchase a seat by visiting lilydaleassembly.com and searching “Russell Patrick Brown.” You can even purchase your tickets the day of at the auditorium.
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