Beoga coming to San Juan Capistrano

Beoga features Niamh Dunne, Damian McKee, Seán Óg Graham, Eamon Murray and Liam Bradley.

With St. Patrick’s Day less than a month away, there are a number of Irish music concerts coming to Orange County.
One of the most anticipated Celtic concerts is coming courtesy of Beoga, a five-member traditional group based in County Antrim, Ireland.

Beoga (an Irish word meaning “lively”) will perform two shows in San Juan Capistrano as part of the Music at the Library concert series on Saturday evening, March 1.

The group traces its inception to a music jam session in August 2002, which brought together button accordion players Seán Óg Graham and Damian McKee with bodhrán master Eamon Murray and pianist Liam Bradley.
That foursome released the wonderful “A Lovely Madness” CD in 2004, which was greeted with critical acclaim throughout Ireland, as well as Europe and America.

With the later addition of Irish singer Niamh Dunne, the group continued its artistic climb with the recording of 2007’s “Mischief.”
Beoga’s sophomore CD features thrilling jigs (“Kick’n the Box,” “Ryan’s Air”), instrumental reels (“Cu Chullain’s Despair”), traditional folk songs (“Factory Girl,” “A Delicate Thing”) and even a reworked cover of the Steely Dan classic “Dirty Work” and the 1920s swing-styled standard “Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone.”

It’s no wonder that “Mischief” was praised by Irish Music Magazine and the U.S. publication the Celtic Connection as one of the best albums of 2007.
Beoga is truly able to blend a wealth of traditional folk styles together whether performing original material or revised classics.

Beoga will perform at San Juan Capistrano Regional Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, playing at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on March 1.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12.
Information: 949-493-1752.