Rory Makem comes from a long lineage of Irish musicians. His grandmother, Sarah Makem, was sought after for her vast collection of Irish songs. His father, the legendary Tommy Makem, who died in 2007, is widely known as the modern Bard of Armagh. So, it should be no surprise that Rory would turn out to be one of the leading voices in the Irish song heritage in his own right.
The County Louth, Ireland-born singer/songwriter who has been touring for more than 25 years will bring his “A Christmas Tradition” concert to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center’s beautifully decorated Hallamór (2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.) on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Makem—who is well known to Milwaukee audiences through frequent performances at Irish Fest—captivates audiences with his skilled musicianship, his charisma and passion for the songs, his extensive knowledge of poetry and history, and his sense of humor. An adept interpreter of folk songs, he is also a multi-instrumentalist.
Not limiting himself to the stage, Makem has performed on movie soundtracks and his compositions can be heard woven into a number of PBS programs. He has recorded with many of the luminaries in folk music including Noel Paul Stookey, Tom Paxton, Schooner Fare and Gordon Bok.
The Celtic Christmas Boutique and bake sale in the ICHC Parlour will begin prior to the concert at 6 p.m. and remain open during the concert and intermission.
Concert tickets are $25 in advance, $29 on concert day, $10 for students with ID and free for children ages 12 and under. For more information and to order tickets online, go to www.ichc.net or call (414) 345-8800.
Watch Rory Makem perform "That Land I Love so Well.”
