The Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series

Dog Mountain | St. Johnsbury, VT

Sunday, August 11 @ 4:00 pm

Realta thrills audiences with uplifting Irish dance music performed by young, dynamic musicians on traditional instruments including the uilleann pipes, bouzouki, whistles, wooden flute, banjo and bodhran. A standout of the Celtic music scene, this five-member band of classically trained artists infuses jigs and ballads that have been passed down through the generations with modern takes on harmony and chord structure. The Belfast band began as a trio in 2011 and has released two albums, Open the Door for Three in 2012 and 2016’s Clear Skies, described by Irish Music Magazine as one of the best Irish albums of the year. The band features familiar notes from piano, guitar and double bass, as well as dueling uilleann pipes (similar to bagpipes), bodhran (a type of drum) and the stringed bouzouki. The musicians showcase their individual instruments with solos, while also harmonizing to create a lively tapestry of sound that leaves their hand-clapping, foot-stomping audiences breathless.

In addition to touring Germany, Switzerland and Greece with traditional Irish music legends Altan, Realta has played concerts throughout Europe, as well as in India and South Korea. The band earned the prestigious “Danny Kyle Award” at the Celtic Connections Festival and has broken into the American scene this year with performances at clubs and festivals alike.