Smith Opera House World Music Series

Enjoy some of the hottest musical artistry from around the globe this winter without ever leaving the Finger Lakes when the Smith Opera House brings back its "Passport World Music Series." Now in its second year, this exciting concert series, spotlighting four different world beat music artists, promises to heat up even the coldest night.

The riveting and charismatic Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams kicks off the series on January 25. In 1998 The Circus emerged from the misty hills of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. and exploded upon the Hudson Valley music scene with their stunning self-produced debut release, "A Good Thief Tips His Hat". The music of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as "Hillbilly-Floyd, folk-pop", "alt-country roots- rock, and "surreal Americana". Dancing freely between existing religious and philosophical mythologies, their music is not only uplifting and empowering, but a lot of fun.

Heavily influenced by Celtic music from Ireland and Brittany, Quebec's Le Vent du Nord brings its traditional Quebecois music to The Smith on April 5. Made up of Réjean Brunet (vocals, accordion), Simon Beaudry (vocals, guitar), Olivier Demers (vocals, fiddle, foot- tapping), and Nicolas Boulerice (vocals, hurdy gurdy, piano- accordion, piano). Their music is both fresh and bound to tradition. One of the group’s strength’s is their stage presence: energetic, dynamic, generous and in touch with the audience.

The Santa Cruz River Band (Gilbert Brown, Michael J. Ronstadt and Ted

Ramírez) performs its unique blend of traditional Mexican and American styles with textures of country and blues rhythms to create a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly different on April 12.

Punching through the walls of tradition on April 26, The McDades’

Celtic-rooted music fuses the spontaneity of jazz improvisation with infectious global rhythms. Their cutting edge sound is the perfect complement to their fiery performances. With vocal harmonies that can only come from a family, and an obvious love for each other and their music, The McDades’ sound is immersed in the spirit of improvisation. Featuring both energetic instrumentals and sensitive vocals performed in English and French, this compelling and dynamic group “find their groove somewhere between a down-home kitchen party, a jazzy after hours club, and a folk festival.

All shows start at 8 p.m., doors open at 7:30.

Individual tickets and series subscriptions go on sale November 26 at noon. Tickets are $15. Subscriptions are $45 – four shows for the price of three. Series subscribers also enjoy the benefit of the "Passport Ticket Exchange" whereby if you are unable to attend a particular performance, you can use the ticket for another performance, give it to a friend, or invite someone to attend a future performance with you. Call The Smith box office at 315-781- LIVE (5483) or toll-free 866-355-LIVE (5483) to reserve your passport. Individual tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.TheSmith.org.

The Smith Opera House is located at 82 Seneca Street in Geneva.

The "Passport World Music Series" is sponsored by the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors. The Smith is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the City of Geneva, the Town of Geneva and by contributions from individual supporters