Arvel Bird Concert to Benefit Gathering at the Heart of Niagara

Arvel Bird will appear at the NACC on April 10

Arvel Bird, a Scottish and Native American violinist, known for connecting Celtic and Native American traditions, and dubbed “Lord of the Strings,” along with Mohawk Joseph Michael Mahfoud's blues and light rock offerings, will perform in concert on April 10 at the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center 1201 Pine Street, Niagara Falls, New York, to benefit the 2nd Annual Gathering at the Heart of Niagara.

The Gathering at the Heart of Niagara (GATHON), is a Haudenosaunee cultural event that takes place on June 22 & 23, 2013.

GATHON, a local grassroots effort, will host the Haudenosaunee cultural event on Goat Island at Niagara Falls State Park, New York.

Bird plays violin and performs Bluegrass, Appalachian, Folk and Celtic music.

He won the Indiana State Fiddle Contest four times and toured with pop singer Glen Campbell in the 1980's for six years. He also toured with Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Louise Mandrell and Clay Walker.

In 2001, he started his own unique fusion of the music of both his Scottish (Clan Kennedy) and Native American (Southern Paiute) roots.

Bird has released 20 CDs and two DVDs. In 2009, he won Best Instrumental Album and Best Producer/ Engineer at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards for Tribal Music Suite: Journey of a Paiute.

In 2007, he was voted Artist of the Year at the Native American Music Awards.

Bird led with six nominations at the 2010 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and took home honors for Best Traditional Instrumental.

His most recent album, Titanic Centennial: Commemorative Special Edition released in January 2012, is a fusion of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, and a tribute to the passengers, crew and musicians aboard the RMS Titanic.

Tickets for the April 10th concert are $20 General Admission/$15 Students and Seniors. They are available online at www.thenacc.org or at the door on the day of the concert.

Contact Jill Morris for more information at 716-480-4418 or gather.niagara@gmail.com.

The stated mission of  GATHON is to “Promote and share Haudenosaunee culture and living traditions with all people; to hear our voices through our Elders and youth to continue for the next seven generations.”

GATHON is currently working as a coalition with Native American Community Services.