Melanie Beth Curran is a New York City-based folklorist, traditional musician, Irish American Song Saver, and writer.
She is the author of “Happy Within: An Irish American Songbook”. Her live performance “takes you on this journey through the evolution of Irish American music” -Rick Steves Monday Night Travel, by “pulling field recordings through the annals of time and sharing them with a new generation of folk music enthusiasts.” -Courtney Fox (@thefoxandtheivy).
Curran’s performance transports listeners back and forth over centuries of musical history and landscape, all while “shifting narratives around the Irish-American experience through music” -Hannah Mayree, Black Banjo Reclamation Project. Fans of traditional American song, hidden histories, and Irish musicality will delight in Curran's performance of forgotten traditionals and “rousing originals” -The Irish Echo. Melanie was a Fulbright recipient for her work documenting the living musical traditions of Bretagne, France.
“We had the privilege of catching one of Melanie’s shows in Rhode Island a few months ago and were blown away. Her Irish American songbook is incredible, as well as her deep research and commitment to keeping these songs alive.” -Jason Principi, Thee Phibbs
Featured Projects
Do Me Justice: The Mary Wallopers, Arena and Vaudville Clairsentience
Welcome to New York City, where the Ghost of Tin Pan Alley still lurks.
Collection of Lyrics and Commentary on 38 Irish American Songs.
Happy Within: An Irish American Songbook
Like “Irishness” Papyrus is in an invocation, deployed at strategic moments to lull the audience into a comforting but benign and apolitical nostalgia
Papyrus and Irish [American] Men
This zine is about the power of Brigid, Goddess and Saint, in my own life.
How Bridgid Built The Fire
Living Folklore + Music That Heals
Support Melanie Beth Curran’s Irish American Song Project.
Events
Sunday February 8th at The Burren Public House, Woodlawn Bronx - 8pm on
