SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 
3:00 p.m.
JLC Mainstage

Travelin’ down an Irish road
Let my worries be
Churches, sheep, the bogs
Tinkers and their dogs
From the mountains
To the sea.

— Switchback

What can be said of the Irish that has not been said before? Plenty, if you’re Brian FitzGerald and Marty McCormack of the duo Switchback. For over 25 years, this award-winning duo has celebrated Ireland, the land of their forefathers, in song and story.  

Especially recognized is a particular part of Ireland: Bolinree. The translation of that word from the Irish means “cow of the King’s herd.” That farmland is the ancestral home of Marty’s family and the Irish “port of call” for Switchback. For at Bolinree (and the other family farm, Ballybrehony) FitzGerald and McCormack were able to complete a circle that is the story of the Irish themselves:  the ancestors leaving for the New World, the diaspora making good in the New World, and their coming back home with treasures from that New World. In this case, it is the musical treasures of Switchback that are being opened up and shared here tonight.  

Switchback is no ordinary Irish band.  FitzGerald and McCormack have written many Irish songs that ring as true as the ancient ballads of Finn McCool’s time and yet, as Irish-Americans, their sound carries a musical distillation that rings Irish but with a slight bluegrass resonance. Indeed, Brian FitzGerald was taught mandolin by none other than the great Jethro Burns, whose own musical prowess earned him the simple nickname “the world’s greatest mandolin player.” Burns taught FitzGerald bluegrass and jazz standards that would influence his picking style and approach on the mandolin, but it was not until a family friend introduced him to Terry “Cuz” Teahan that FitzGerald began a journey into the world of Irish music.  

Teahan hailed from a part of County Kerry, Ireland called Sliabh Luachra, which means “Rushy Mountain.” He himself was the student of the great Irish fiddler Padraig O’Keefe, who was one of the last old-time traveling musicians and who would travel 20 miles a day to teach his students the old polkas, slides, and reels of Ireland. Teahan emigrated to Chicago in 1928 and from there continued his music career playing concertina and accordion. When he and FitzGerald met, Teahan brought FitzGerald into his ensemble Cuz n’ Friends.  FitzGerald’s fleet mandolin and Freddy Green style of guitar that he learned down on Maxwell Street were easily adaptable to the reels and jigs that were played at various Irish weddings, wakes, and festivals. By 1985, FitzGerald was considered part of the Irish music community, taking part in a major album project that consisted of recording every member of the Chicago Irish Musicians Association.

It was at this time that FitzGerald crossed paths with Marty McCormack. McCormack’s grandfather, Luke Patrick McCormack, emigrated to New York and then went to Chicago during World War I, where he became a military policeman and later a Chicago police officer. As a child, McCormack grew up with his grandfather’s stories of Ireland and had a glimpse of an era that was rapidly disappearing.  His grandfather also taught the McCormack children the Irish jig, having them hold hands with him as they danced across the living room floor to the record Paddy Reilly’s Ceili Dance. That and other Irish albums inspired McCormack to start singing Irish songs. His mother soon had requests for him and his nine siblings to perform throughout McHenry County, Illinois. As The McCormack Family they sang at fairs, retirement homes, private parties, and eventually clubs like Durty Nellie’s in Palatine, where one night they shared a double bill with a band called Cuz n’ Friends. By this time McCormack was an accomplished tenor, having studied voice at Mundelein College in Chicago and the American Conservatory of Chicago. FitzGerald and McCormack hit it off, and soon McCormack was asked to join Cuz n’ Friends as the group’s Irish tenor. Teahan began to teach McCormack more Irish melodies, some from Teahan’s own experience as a young man near Sliabh Luachra and others from scratchy 78 albums that were part of his collection. McCormack also made his first trip to Ireland at this time and was asked to perform at a crossroads dance by the family home, Bolinree, near Claremorris, Co. Mayo. This Irish homecoming led to him receiving his Irish citizenship upon return.

FitzGerald and McCormack continued to work with Cuz Teahan until 1988, when Teahan’s failing health led him to retire from the Irish music scene. At this time, they formed the Wailin’ Banshees with Mary McDonagh on fiddle and the late Bert McMahon, of Woodford, Co. Galway on tenor banjo. The quartet had a cult following during the late 80’s and early 90’s playing their traditional and bluegrass influenced style of Irish music throughout Chicago and beyond. Both McMahon (who was elected posthumously to the Chicago Irish Musicians Hall of Fame) and McDonagh were taught in the old tradition of Irish music. They in turn imparted their knowledge to FitzGerald and McCormack, who honored the tradition but began to experiment with blending Irish music with bluegrass and Texas style riffs.  

By 1993, the Wailin’ Banshees gave way to the duo Switchback, as McMahon’s health and other factors caused the quartet to disband. Now on their own, FitzGerald and McCormack began a full-time pursuit of their original music and continued to explore the boundaries of Irish traditional music as well as create contemporary Irish music that was just starting to catch the public’s attention with performers like The Waterboys, The Pogues, and a fellow Chicago Irish-American plumber turned dancer, Michael Flatley, who was propelled to fame in Riverdance.

Switchback’s national following soon became international at the first of many tours back to Co. Mayo. Many an evening was spent beside the hearth of Ballybrehony, where Brian and Marty played for Marty’s cousins Nell and Seamus and their friends. But, they also were nationally recognized as part of RTE’s (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) Pat Kenny program in Dublin. Soon the duo were regular guests at the performance room in the pub of the Chieftains’ renowned flutist Matt Molloy in Westport, Co. Mayo, with Malloy himself calling them “first class musicians and singers.”  

Over in the States, their accolades as performers were furthered when the Irish Music Association named them the top entertaining duo for America as well the European Union, Ireland, and the UK in 2009. PBS also took notice, having their concert Celtic Sessions air throughout the US. Along with a second presentation called the Americana Sessions, Switchback’s concert specials are still enjoying airtime.  

With 30 years of life on the road approaching, the music of Switchback continues to grow and hold audiences spellbound. So relax and let the music of Brian FitzGerald and Marty McCormack take you Travelin’ Down an Irish Road.

Welcome Back, JLC Friends and Patrons!

The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts opened back in 1997 and now we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary Season! What a wonderful way to celebrate this incredible milestone ... by re-opening our JLC facility and welcoming our community to come celebrate with us!

Continuing our mission to present diverse, high quality, professional entertainment, we want to once again acknowledge and showcase the power and value of the performing arts.

The Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 season offers some audience favorites from past years in addition to welcoming incredible new performances to the JLC stage. Don't miss this opportunity to once again enjoy live performance close to home.

We have missed you!  Don't miss all the fantastic live arts at CLC!  

Gwethalyn J. Bronner, Executive Director
James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts
College of Lake County

Behind the Curtain:

Come early for a "Behind the Curtain" pre-show lecture to learn more about the history of this iconic production from the creative team, presented at noon and 4 p.m. Lecture is free with ticket purchase, but reservations are required.  

SPRING 2022
Professional Touring Series

 THE NEVERLY BROTHERS
Saturday, January 22 at 8 p.m.

A tribute to one of the most exciting chapters in music history, from 1950’s rock n’ roll to the 1964 British Invasion groups. In the electrifying evening, The Neverly Brothers will perform hits from Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, The Beatles and more, infused with infectious energy, rock history and period-perfect wardrobe.

RYAN & RYAN
Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The dynamic father-son piano duo of Donald and Barron Ryan draws upon classic and contemporary music to create enthralling concert experiences. Their performances showcase not only their virtuosity, but their inventiveness, love of making music and joy of life --irresistibly engaging entertainment for audiences of all generations.

THE MAGIC OF BILL BLAGG
Saturday, March 19 at 7 p.m.

Bringing his own theatrical brand of magic to the stage, Bill Blagg creates the impossible in a way only he can do. His performances leave audiences in complete disbelief, performing never-before-seen illusions, including the world’s only rideable hoverboard, teleporting across the theatre and passing through the blades of an industrial fan.

HIPLET BALLERINAS
Sunday, April 24 at 4 p.m.

This spirited performance group, based out of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, aims to make ballet accessible to all, fusing the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, Hip-Hop, and even classical en pointe. Showcasing their trademark sass, hip movements and struts set to popular music, Hiplet promises to deliver an eclectic evening of dance.

EILEEN IVERS
Sunday, May 8 at 4 p.m.

Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated, Eileen Ivers is hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World music genres, with work so boldly imaginative and virtuosic that it alters the medium. Accompanied by her energetic and impassioned, her performances connect music, cultures, stories and emotions that tie us together.

TICKETS FOR ALL EVENTS

Call: (847) 543-2300 
  Email for Information: clcboxoffice@clcillinois.edu
Print-at-home tickets are no longer available.
Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday, Noon to 5 p.m.

Masks are required for everyone at CLC and the JLC.
Performers onstage will be unmasked.
Audience and venue support will remain masked inside
(backstage and front of house).

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College of Lake County
Board of Trustees

Amanda D. Howland, J.D., Chair 
Julie B. Shroka, M.A., Vice Chair 
Torrie Mark Newsome, J.D., Secretary  
Gerri Songer, M.A. 
Matthew J. Stanton, J.D. 
Robert J. Tomei, Jr., J.D. 
Paul G. Virgilio, B.S., S.E., P.E. 
Daniel Blaine, Student Trustee
Lori Suddick, Ed.D., President 

Trustees Emeriti  

Richard A. Anderson, J.D. 
William M. Griffin, Ed.D. 
Patricia Jones, M.Ed. 
Barbara D. Oilschlager, M.Ed.   

Gwethalyn J. Bronner
Executive Director

Kendell McBride
Office Manager

Judie Katz
Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Leslie Baraboo
Marketing and Communications Analyst

Jeremy Eiden
Technical Coordinator

Matt McNabb
Patron Services Coordinator

Peter Hansen
Technical Production Assistant

Chrissy Flores
Accounting Associate

Jianni Newsome
Box Office Assistant