The Celtic band Bean Sidhe (ban shee) will perform a concert of traditional Irish and Scottish music at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.

Immediately following the concert there will be a reception for Waynesville mixed-media artist Silvia Cabrera Williams, whose artwork will be on exhibit in the lobby of the Arts Center from Nov. 19 through Jan. 18.  

Bean Sidhe has been playing together for more than eight years and has developed an extensive repertoire of jigs, reels, ballads and other traditional music. The group was started out of a desire to study and explore the uplifting traditional music that came to America from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Bean Sidhe keeps alive the musical heritage that informed much of contemporary music, especially bluegrass and country.

Members of Bean Sidhe include: David Russell playing guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo and bodhran; Amanda Burts playing recorder and accordion; Karin Lyle playing harp and fiddle; and Ralph Murphy singing vocals and playing bodhran and guitar.

Russell is a well-known Bryson City musician and storyteller who has built a number of instruments from wood. Burts lives in Brasstown and is one of the original members of Bean Sidhe. Lyle lives in Balsam, is a professionally trained violinist and stringed instrument instructor and is a member of the Western Carolina Community Orchestra. She is regionally recognized and is in great demand as a soloist. Murphy lives in Bryson City and is a classically trained baritone and a soloist with the Western Carolina Community Chorus.

Following the concert, everyone is invited to attend the reception in the lobby of Swain County Center for the Arts for mixed-media artist Williams. Almost 80 original paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil and mixed media will be on exhibit through Jan. 18. his retrospective exhibit chronicles Williams’ journey from realism to abstract with the use of increasingly bold colors and textures.  Most of the artwork is for sale and additional smaller pieces, prints and cards will also be available.

For more information call Eugenia (Jenny) Johnson at 828.488.7843 or visit www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta to view the current calendar of events.