The Irish band Slide will be performing at Skye Theater South Carthage and Lakeside Theater in Rangeley March 11 and 12 respectively. (Photo courtesy the band) RANGELEY & SOUTH CARTHAGE — New England Celtic Arts will host the highly acclaimed Irish band Slide at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage on Wednesday, March 11, and at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley on Thursday, March 12 with the concerts starting at 7 p.m. at both theaters. A pre-show jam will start at 6:15 p.m. at Skye Theatre — bring your instruments and join in. Reservations are strongly suggested at both venues.

The Irish Times calls Slide "traditional musicians with attitude" and credits the group with "bringing drawing room grandeur and high spirits together" with it's diverse songs, which range from soulful and sorrowful to contagiously energetic. Folk Roots Magazine proclaims, "There's plenty of action and flamboyance in Slide's music," which merges "swagger with traditional expertise."

This rollicking band's origins date back to Ireland in 1999, when Slide performed in various pubs for a local music festival in Bandon, Co. Cork. The group's intoxicating music easily won over the crowd, which demanded more of the unique and colorful sound.

Slide consists of concertina virtuoso Aogan Lynch, fiddler guitarist Diare Bracken, bouzouki and mandolin player Mick Broderick, pianist-flautist Eamonn de Barra, and vocalist Andrew Murray.

Overneath, their third studio album, sees the band hone their creative abilities. It is an exciting addition to Slide's previous two recordings with many critics hailing it as their best to date.

Skye Theater is located 3 miles west of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd. and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. Lakeside Theater is on Main Street in Rangeley.

Ticket price is $10 at the door. Call Skye Theatre at 562-4445 or Lakeside Theater at 864-5000 for reservations and directions. More information is available at: http://www.necelticarts.com.