Cherish The Ladies Brings Celtic Musical Gift to East Hampton for Christmas

Irish Step and Celtic melodies arrive in East Hampton on Thursday when Cherish The Ladies presents A Celtic Christmas at . The 10-member all-female group will perform what they're famous for: harmony-drive music and accordion, fiddle, and penny whistle, while the audience sings-along to Christmas carols.

"There's something about traditional Christmas carols that are Celticistic," said Joanie Madden, the group's leader and a Grammy-winner known for her flute and whistle playing. "They blend with our whistles, our flutes, our accordions. Our concerts are a way to build excitement for the holiday. Everyone has a great time."

The group recently released its second Christmas recording, "A Star In The East." The album contains Christmas songs to get the toes tapping. There are jigs, reels, polkas and singalongs with Celtic flavor. "A Star In The East" is the group's seventh recording. Separately, Madden has multiple award-winning records of her own.

Madden's been with Cherish The Ladies since they began 25 years ago. All the members are accomplished musicians, she said. So are the Irish Step dancers who add drama and fun to their concerts.

But it's not just the award-winning that makes Cherish The Ladies special. It's the enormous sense of fun and enjoyment each member brings to their concerts.

"We enjoy what we do—that's probably why we've been around for 25 years," Madden said. "We have a lot of fun. I'm very proud of the band. Every one of them is a virtuous at what they do."

More people have heard Madden play than they realize—she's a soloist in the final "Lord of the Rings" soundtrack.

Cherish The Ladies was formed to celebrate the increase of female musicians in the traditionally-dominated male arena of Irish music, according to their website. The group was a hit and decided to keep going instead of disbanding after the initial concert series run.

Celtic music began as an oral traditional that's passed from generation to generation. The music was not written down and is learned by ear.

The musicians in Cherish The Ladies learned Celtic music the same way. All are from the United States (Madden is from the Bronx). Each had fathers who immigrated and were professional musicians. Each passed the music down to their daughters, who then made it their own through the group.

The sense that the music is familiar makes their concerts enjoyable for everyone. Celtic music's haunting melodies and light-hearted tunes has helped shape bluegrass, country, root music and more, Madden said.The fact that concerts feels like a party the audience is a part of creates lots of fans, Madden said.

"It truly is music for everybody," she said.

The performance starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $23 for Guild Hall members and $25 for non-members.