Categories
The Band

The Band – The Beggarmen

mandolin, tin whistles,

uilleann pipes, vocals

Keith Reins

guitar, tin whistles, piano, vocals

Tara McGovern

The son of a former big band saxophonist, Keith began his musical life at the age of five with piano lessons.  In junior high and high school,  following in his father’s footsteps, he began playing clarinet and saxophone in concert and jazz band.  At fourteen, he started playing professionally at country clubs and dance halls with his father and older brother.

After a brief flirtation with rock n roll piano in high school, Keith started hugging guitars and quickly became obsessed with traditional music.  At various times throughout the last three decades or so he has played bluegrass, old time, classic country, country blues, all manner of American folk songs and most recently, traditional Irish music.

The eclectic, improvisational nature of Irish guitar accompaniment allows Keith to synthesize all of his diverse musical influences.  He is now one of the top Irish-style guitarists in the region.

A fiddler from the age of 3, Tara’s unique style blends her Irish roots with her classical and jazz training from The University of Iowa.

Tara’s mother, Carmel, is a fiddler from Swanlinbar, County Cavan, Ireland and her paternal great-grandfather, Homer Rayburn, was a bluegrass and Old-Time fiddler.

In addition to performing and parenting their two sons with her husband and bandmate Joe Dutcher, Tara runs theMcGovern Music Studio, located in theWest Music Conservatoryin Coralville.

Since 2012, Tara also frequently partners with songwriter and performerJeffrey C. Cappsto deliver their unusual Iowish-by-way-of-Memphis groove.

Originally from the Chicago area, Brad began performing on guitar at the age of fourteen.  In high school he was given a mandolin and has been an incorrigible flirt when it comes to musical instruments ever since.  He often says that he never met an instrument he didn’t wish he could play.

In the mid-nineties he fell under the spell of traditional Irish music and has since become proficient on five instruments, including the whistle, low whistle and uilleann pipes.

Brad is also a noted composer working in many diverse genres. Many of his compositions can be found on Beggarmen recordings.  His jazz song “Part of Me” was recorded by Indonesian singer-celeb Anissa.  In addition, he performs his “non-Irish” songs as a solo artist.

In 2005 he appeared as a guest musician on Nic Arp’s CD “Faces & Words”.

In 2010 he composed and arranged music for the play “A Rogue’s Dance” by playwright Janet Schlapkohl.

bodhrán, vocals, flute

Joseph Dutcher

fiddle, vocals

Joe discovered the bodhrán, the Irish frame drum, in 2003.

For Joe’s first foray into Irish drumming, he used a cardboard box and a stick he whittled from a fallen branch.  The instrument he plays today, handmade by Albert Alfonso, is a far cry from such humble beginnings.

4517851894.gif4517851910.gif4517851913.gif4517851902.gif

Brad Pouleson

Categories
Buy Music

Buy Music – The Beggarmen

Buy Music – The Beggarmen

“I Shall”, released 2005“Newry Town”, released 2007“A Soft Day” released 2010iowa_arts_council

“A Soft Day” was made possible by generous funding from the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

asoftdaycoveredit 1

Click the album covers for more details and to purchase securely online (CD or mp3)

Cover

Categories
About

About – The Beggarmen

In 2011 The Beggarmen celebrated their tenth year as one of the region’s best Irish music ensembles.   Since their first performance at a small pub in Iowa, the band has gone on to headline at folk festivals and concert halls throughout the Midwest, greeting audiences with their unique style of Irish folk music.  

 

Critics have said

 

–  “This Iowa City-based quartet are experts with their craft and wield their instruments with the confidence that comes only with ability,” Catherine L. Tully – Celtic MP3 Music Magazine

 

– “The Beggarmen combine technical precision with a sense of playfulness,” Kent Williams – The Little Village

 

– “The ensemble playing is organic, buoyant and graceful,” Jim Musser – Iowa City Press Citizen.

 

-“The Beggarmen are out to change the way people listen to Celtic Music.  And they’re doing it right.” – Marc Gunn of Celtic MP3 Music Magazine

 

 

Categories
The Band

BEGGARTUNES

“i shall”, released june 2005

“i shall”, released june 2005 Click on our CDBaby button below to listen to clips of “I Shall” or to purchase it securely online. Featuring Anil Datar on tabla and Keith Reins on guitar for “I Shall”

Joseph Dutcher on bodhran for "Bonfire Fly"

Keith Reins on guitar for "I Shall" Composer credits 1. Beggarmen Reel Set: "Beggarmen Reel" by Brad Pouleson, "Brenda Stubbert's" by Jerry Holland, "Maire Breathnach's" by Maire Breathnach

2. "Galway Girl" by Steve Earle

3. Galician Set is traditional

4. "Song of the Seal" is traditional

5. "Souer D'Autumne" by Jose' Manaligod, "Reel Beatrice" is traditional

6. New Custom House Set: "New Custom House", "Bucks of Oranmore", and "Merry Blacksmith" are traditional, "Alice's Reel" is by Frankie Gavin

7. "I Shall" by Brad Pouleson

8. Last Chance Set: "Last Chance Reel" by Brad Pouleson, "Old Mother Logo" is traditional, and "Munster Hop" by Sharon Shannon

9. "The Bridegroom" by Brad Pouleson

10. "Music for a Found Harmonium" by Simon Jeffes

11. "Pouleson's Lament" by Brad Pouleson

12. "The Holy Ground" by Gerry O'Beirne

13. Bonfire Fly Set: "John Henry's" is traditional, "Neath the Weeping Willow" and "Bonfire Fly" are by Brad Pouleson

Beggarmen on CDBaby

Categories
The Band

BEGGARFANS


beggarfans

To leave a message, click on a topic below and then click on New Post. If you’d like to be added to our mailing list, drop us an e-mail at: thebeggarmen@yahoo.com

Categories
The Band

BEGGARBAND

   
 

Brad Pouleson

mandolin, whistles, guitar,

uilleann pipes, vocals Brad Pouleson Keith Reins guitar, whistles, vocals Jose’ Manaligod button & piano accordions,

vocals Tara Dutcher   The son of a former big band saxophonist, Keith began his musical life at the age of five with piano lessons. In junior high and high school, he was a band geek, playing clarinet and saxophone in concert and jazz band. At fourteen, he started playing professionally at country clubs and dance halls with his father and older brother.

After a brief flirtation with rock n roll piano in high school, Keith started hugging guitars and quickly became obsessed with traditional music. At various times throughout the last three decades or so he has played bluegrass, old time, classic country, country blues, all manner of American folk songs and most recently, traditional Irish music.

The eclectic, improvisational nature of Irish guitar accompaniment allows Keith to synthesize all of his diverse musical influences. A fiddler from the age of 3, Tara’s unique style blends her Irish and bluegrass family roots with her classical and jazz training from The University of Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2000.

Fiddling is a family tradition for Tara. Her mother, Carmel Vrabel (nee’ McGovern), is a fiddler from Swanlinbar, County Cavan, Ireland and her paternal great-grandfather, Homer Rayburn, was a bluegrass and old time fiddler in a family band in Michigan and Indiana. Tara and her sister Amelia began their musical studies at an early age and both continue to perform actively in a variety of classical and contemporary ensembles.

In addition to performing and parenting, Tara owns and operates the Cavan Fiddle Studio out of her home in Coralville. In a remarkable coincidence, Jose’ grew up in the same town as Brad, but on the other side of the tracks. Years later, they ended up in Iowa City with sons the exact same age, which is a short explanation for how a Filipino boy ended up playing Irish music.

Jose’ is a classically trained pianist who originally took up accordion a few years ago to play French cafe music. He tried violin in junior high, but never made it past Twinkles. He now also plays Irish music on both the piano and button accordions, taking his inspiration from accordionists like Sharon Shannon and John Williams. In his spare time, he is the piano accompanist for his children, who have all managed to accomplish more on the violin than he ever did. Originally from the Chicago area, Brad began playing guitar at the age of 14. In high school he was given a mandolin and has been an incorrigible flirt when is comes to musical intruments ever since. He often says that he never met an instrument he didn’t wish he could play.

In the mid-nineties he fell under the spell of traditional Irish music and taught himself the tin whistle and low whistle. Recently he has also become a student of the uilleann pipes.

Brad has been composing music since he began playing instruments, working in many different genres, including classical, rock, jazz and of course traditional Irish. His song ‘Part of Me’, will appear on the upcoming cd by Indonesian jazz singer celeb Anissa. bodhran Joseph Dutcher fiddle, vocals As as child, Joe was encouraged by his parents to take up any instrument that his heart desired…except the drums. He heeded their wishes until 2003, when he discovered the bodhran, the Irish frame drum.

For Joe’s first foray into Irish drumming, he used a cardboard box and a stick he whittled from a fallen branch. The instrument he plays today, handmade by Albert Alfonso, is a far cry from such humble beginnings.

In addition to the bodhran, Joe is learning to play the tin whistle and the Irish flute.

link to the Cavan Fiddle Studio

 
   
BEGGARMEN
BEGGARBAND
BEGGARPICS
BEGGARNEWS
BEGGARTUNES
BEGGARFANS
BEGGARSPECS
BEGGARGIGS
BEGGARLINKS
Categories
Buy Music

BEGGARLINKS

beggarlinks Irish Music Festivals Some Favorite Local Musicians Tara’s Studio

St. Louis Tionol

Milwaukee Irish Fest

Donnybrook in the Park

Changeling

Nic Arp

Patrick Bloom

The Tornadoes

Ushers Ferry Celtic Fest

Cavan Fiddle Studio

Categories
The Band

BEGGARSPECS

promotion & booking

promotion & booking e-mail usthebeggarmen@yahoo.comdownload performance agreement electronic press kit

Performance Agreement

Sonic Bids

BEGGARMENBEGGARBANDBEGGARPICSBEGGARNEWSBEGGARTUNESBEGGARFANSBEGGARSPECSBEGGARGIGSBEGGARLINKS
Categories
About

The Beggarmen

The Beggarmen are an Iowa City-based quintet of traditional Celtic musicians comprised of Jose’ Manaligod, Keith Reins, Brad Pouleson, and Joseph and Tara Dutcher.

The Beggarmen find their roots in the traditional music of Ireland and other Celtic regions. Brad Pouleson and Jose’ Manaligod supplement the rich variety of traditional tunes with their own original music. All of the Beggarmen lend their voices as well as their fine playing to the mix.

You can find the Beggarmen performing all over Iowa and Chicagoland. Their album “I Shall” was released June 5th, 2005 and is now available online at cdbaby.com. Our Iowa City Beggarfans can find the album at a number of independent stores, including Textiles and the Artisan’s Gallery in Iowa City and West Music in Coralville.

The Beggarmen are also available for weddings and special events. E-mail for more details: thebeggarmen@yahoo.com

Photo by Paula Bradbury

front page