Danny Knicley, Riley Baugus, and John Flower with Kurbasy

The Center for Cultural Vibrancy returns to Clifden Arts Festival with a trio showcasing Appalachian musical traditions. The group features Danny Knicely, a revered multiinstrumentalist known for his virtuosity on mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and his unique singing and flatfoot dancing style. A favorite in Clifden, Danny has collaborated with legends like Vassar Clements and Tim O’Brien.

Joining him is North Carolina’s Riley Baugus, an Appalachian banjo master and ballad singer. Raised in a home steeped in old-time music, Riley is celebrated for his skill on the banjo and has toured extensively with Dirk Powell and Tim O’Brien. His work is featured on albums by Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, and others.

Named after Les Kurbas, one of the 20th century most influential theater directors, Kurbasy is based in Lviv, Ukraine, a cultural hub of Slavic cultures and practices. Conceived and directed by the band’s actress-singers Natalia Rybka-Parkhomenko and Maria Oneschak, Kurbasy sonic-theatrical explorations of Ukraine rich trove of calendar song cycles, lullabies, and legends, conjure the natural world, beliefs, and rituals, tracing contemporary connections to an archaic past.