I Lift My Lamp

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Please join Coppers & Brass and the sister schools of Champagne Academy of Irish Dance and McGovern Music Studio for an Irish music and dance spectacular on Saturday, November 16th at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

I LIFT MY LAMP is the first of several events presented by Coralville Center for the Performing Arts inspired by “I lift my lamp beside the golden door” from the sonnet inscribed on the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty – “The New Colossus” by American poet Emma Lazarus.

The aim of the series is to highlight the immigration stories that enrich our nation and to celebrate our immigrant friends and neighbors.

One more haunted evening with Coppers & Brass

Tara McGovernLeave a comment
One more chance for haunted Irish music with Coppers & Brass! We’re delighted to have our special guests Champagne Academy of Irish Dance with us this evening at the wonderful Kalona Brewing Co.

We will be playing from 6 to 8 pm. Delicious scratch kitchen open all evening and let’s not forget the marvelous brews.

A new moon tonight means a dark and mysterious evening awaits.

Haunted Irish Music with Coppers & Brass

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Join Coppers & Brass (Frank Claudy, Joe Dutcher, Tara McGovern and Keith Reins) for our second annual Halloween Haunted Irish Music shows.

We’ll feature grisly songs and happy tunes for an early show (5 pm at the Sanctuary on Saturday and 6 pm at Kalona Brewing Co. on Sunday that will let you get home before the vampires wake up.

The Sunday version of the show at Kalona Brewing Co. is their annual Drink or Treat Halloween-themed night. We’ll provide haunted music from across the pond and the Champagne Academy Irish Dancers will be joining us for a bit of extra fun!

On tap for this event will be KBC’s Trick or Treat Pale Ale, made with actual Jolly Ranchers – available in-house only.

No cover for this special event; heavenly beers on tap and scratch kitchen open till close (8pm). Join us…if you dare!

Coppers & Brass with Champagne Academy of Irish Dance performing the music of David Hicks

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Coppers & Brass is honored to be performing the original music of our friend David Hicks from his wonderful collection The Storms of May in gratitude for his life and legacy.

We will be playing Dave’s music to accompany my McGovern Music Studio’s sister school, the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance, at the Iowa Dance Festival at The Englert Theatre this Saturday night October 19 at 7 pm.

David Hicks (1953-2016)
The Storms of May, available online
Tréa Champagne, director of Champagne Academy of Irish Dance

This just in: music and sleep need not be mutually exclusive!

Tara McGovernLeave a comment

Between my Irish trad band Coppers & Brass and my folk-rock duo with Jeffrey C. Capps The Soft and Low, I have an October filled with performances that one could attend and still get home in plenty of time to watch at least half a season of something (might I suggest Derry Girls?)

October 13 (Sunday) Kalona Brewing Company with The Soft and Low. 6 pm.

October 19 (Saturday) Iowa Dance Festival at the Englert with Coppers & Brass, accompanying Champagne Academy of Irish Dance. 7 pm.
This is a really special event for us. Not only are we accompanying our very favorite dancers, we will be playing the music of our friend David Hicks who died in 2016.

October 26 (Saturday) Haunted Irish Music with Coppers & Brass at Sanctuary Pub. 5 pm. 

October 27 (Sunday) Haunted Irish Music at Kalona Brewing Company with Coppers & Brass. 6 pm.