BRANDON — Daymark is an international trio performing traditional Irish music infused with infectious energy, raw power and Northern swagger. The group performs at Brandon Music on Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. Fusing the talents of Will Woodson (flute, border pipes), Dan Foster (fiddle) and Eric McDonald (guitar, vocals), the group presents a classic blend of wind and string as driving flute meets virtuosic fiddle, underpinned by well-considered and expertly delivered guitar.
Sharing a love for the music of generations past, the trio’s sound echoes that of Irish-American dance halls from the 1920s and ‘30s, alongside the lonesome tones of Donegal country fiddlers and the rollicking smoky pubs of Northern England’s immigrant neighborhoods. Taken together, these influences merge into a sound that’s very much part of the present; a sound that’s urgent and wild, held together by camaraderie that’s quite audible. This is the foundation of their music. What emerges is intimate enough to feel at home down at the local pub, big enough to fill a festival stage or a concert hall.
Each member of the trio had carved their individual musical pathways and style from diligent listening and study, extensive travels and numerous performances in Ireland, Scotland, England and America before meeting at the Northern Roots Festival in Vermont during the winter of 2015. Over a long night of music, they discovered a natural and complementary fit of individual styles, as well as a mutual interest in the same corners of the Irish tradition.
All three musicians are well established in their own right, and collectively the three have lived and studied traditional music across Ireland, Scotland, England, America and Canada, in the cities of Limerick, Glasgow, Newcastle, Montreal, Boston and New York. Dan Foster hails from Northern England, and developed his music in the lively session scene there, studying at Newcastle University’s Folk Degree course before honing his fiddle style in Limerick under master musicians. Will Woodson holds a master’s degree in traditional music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and in addition to his musical work is an established pipemaker, performing on an instrument of his own construction. Eric McDonald is a native of Boston, and learned his music in the city’s sessions and folk clubs before studying at the famed Berklee College of Music. All three have spent the first decade of their musical careers performing with countless projects and recording a number of albums; they’re road hardened, stage seasoned and altogether full of music. Together as Daymark, the collective experiences of the three coalesce into an altogether compelling musical force.
Concert tickets are $20. A pre-concert dinner is available for an extra $25. Reservations are required for dinner and recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB. For reservations or more info call (802) 247-4295, email [email protected] or visit www.brandon-music.net. Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Road in Brandon.