Switchback: American Roots & Celtic Soul Plays at the Egyptian

On Saturday, September 15^th, do not miss the concert that everybody is going to be to talking about the next day, Irish/American band Switchback at the Egyptian Theatre.  The fun begins at 7:30 p.m.  Wear your green and celebrate the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day.  For over two decades, the musical partnership of Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack, known as Switchback, has been entertaining audiences around the world with their unique American Roots music blended with Celtic Soul.

By 1988 the duo performed as the Wailin’ Banshees, joining forces with banjo great Bert McMahon of Woodford, County Galway and Chicago fiddle legend Mary McDonagh. The Banshees flourished, but it was the power of seeing such Texan greats as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Ely, and Rodney Crowell that fueled FitzGerald and McCormack’s songwriting and ultimately led to the formation of Switchback in 1993.

Their first album was literally a commercial success, with Chevrolet using one of the songs to promote their Chevy Blazer. Their music eventually reached the ear of Grammy-winning producer Lloyd Maines, who then produced several albums for the band, with The Fire That Burns being selected as one of Performing Songwriter Magazine’s top choices for 2003. Throughout this time, the duo managed a heavy touring schedule, opening for such acts as The Moody Blues, Leon Russell, Lee Greenwood, John Hartford, and Beausoliel.

Playing over 200 engagements a year, Switchback can be heard at festivals ranging from the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Nova Scotia to the Summer Celebration in Michigan where they performed for an audience of 15,000. Their concerts take place at such venues as the intimately famous Bluebird Café of Nashville to the 3,400-seat Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, Indiana.

Switchback’s music is frequently played on radio stations such as RTE Radio One with Pat Kenny in Dublin, Ireland and can also be seen on Public Broadcasting Television stations throughout the United States. Winner of the 2008 Irish Music Association’s Top Duo Award, Switchback opened for Gaelic Storm and their performances can be seen on Chicago PBS WTTV Channel 11 from time to time.  Sample the original music of Switchback at:  waygoodmusic.com.

For anyone who cannot wait until the next Gaelic Storm concert or St. Patrick’s Day, get your tickets now!  Tickets are now on sale on the Egyptian’s Website. This event is for a fund-raiser for the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County.