The unique instrumentation of the Blackbirds, and their innovative approach
to arrangement and performance, provide an excellent vehicle for the intensity
and lyricism of the traditional music from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Brittany.

Paul Wehling's attraction to Irish music began at a session in County Clare, during
a trip to Ireland in 1987.  With his brother Matt, he was a founding member of Clumsy
Lovers, a band which dominated the Minneapolis-St. Paul Irish/Celtic music scene in
the early Nineties, making two recordings and winning a Minnesota Music Award. In
addition to playing with the Blackbirds, he is a highly sought after accompanist,
performing with such well known Irish musicians as Sean O'Driscoll and Paddy O'Brien.

Sam Adams brings a body of beautiful but seldom heard Welsh songs, airs and
dances to the Blackbirds' repertoire. He grew up playing Welsh hymn tunes on the
piano, later switching to piano accordion. In Minneapolis, he has been a member of
the Welsh singing group Cerdddoriaeth Ceiniog ("Penny Music") and the Celtic duo
Heaven and Hell, and took top honors in the vocal competition at the Minnesota
Celtic Festival. His playing can be heard on recordings by harper Kathryn Mannyng
and pianist-composer George Maurer.

Sean Egan first began playing Celtic music with Noel Rice and Sean Cleland in the
seminal Chicago Irish band Baal Tinne, while studying music at DePaul University.
He became known to Minneapolis and St. Paul audiences through his work with the
popular Irish/Celtic group Field Day, which featured Kate and (Clumsy Lovers) Jode
Dowling on whistle and fiddle, and appeared on the Irish Music and Dance
Association CD "Hunger No More". He can also be heard on recordings by
Sean O'Driscoll,  Kathryn Mannyng  and Dan Newton, among others.

The Blackbirds have performed at numerous ceilis and festivals and have appeared on
Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO and KFAI.  They have appeared on two compilation CDs of
Irish/Celtic music from Minnesota, The Ice Palace and As They Pass Through.

The Earth and the Gravel, the Blackbirds' debut CD, is now available on CDBaby.com!

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