Also this issue:

A Man Up
Father and Lilys frontman Kurt Heasley takes responsibility for the band he keeps rebuilding.
-Brian Howard

The Couple That Plays Together
Megan and Mason Wendell run Canary Publicity all day and make music all night in The Method and Result.
-Patrick Rapa

Al Green
-Paul Burress

Mondo Generator
-Sam Adams

Fog/Dosh/Beans/ The Majesticons
-A. D. Amorosi

Simply Jeff
-Sean O’Neal

DAT Politics
-Chris Nosal

Cobra Verde
-Brian Howard

May 22-28, 2003

musicpicks

Karan Casey

Though it may seem a bit of a stretch to pair the fiery bluegrass band Blue Highway with fragile, will-o'-the-wisp Irish singer Karan Casey, there is a definite link. The film Songcatcher dramatizes the connection. It takes us to the southern mountains, where bluegrass originated, building on the old Scots-Irish songs that came over with the settlers. Bluegrass/Americana lovers will know Karan from touring with Tim O'Brien, another bluegrasser who loves to make bluegrass' roots come alive for the audience. The original vocalist with innovative Irish band Solas, Karan Casey is no stranger to blending. Witness her choice of a Billy Bragg song, "Distant Shore," for the title of her new Shanachie recording. The core musicians from the CD, Niall Vallely (concertina/low whistle), Robbie Overson (guitars) and Paul Meehan (bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, guitar) will support her art museum set.

Wed., May 28, 5-8:45 p.m., $7-$10, with Blue Highway, and a screening of Songcatcher, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and the Parkway, 215-684-7500.

—Mary Armstrong