Join us at The Dreamland as the Nantucket
Arts Council presents a new edition of their long-running Downtown Concert
Series featuring Stanley & Grimm as they share a Celtic celebration of
traditional music through a bounty of classic songs and original compositions.
The duo takes its name from the makers of Nikki’s fiddle and
bow, fiddlemaker and inventor of the Stanley steam engine, F.O. Stanley, and
Grimm, respectively.
Celtic duo Stanley & Grimm entertain with a celebration
of traditional music through old and new interpretations of jigs, reels, and
songs played with lively fiddle, guitar, and voice. Fiddler Nikki Engstrom and
singer/guitarist Sean Brennan create a musical journey through a bounty of
fiddle tunes and ballads of all origins, alongside modern tunes they have
composed. Their second CD, Another Round, was awarded the Celtic Radio Music
Award for the 2008 Album of the Year, and also took top honors in the “Jigs
& Reels” category. Celtic Radio Network describes their music as
“emotionally stirring, exhilarating, perfectly splendid!” The infectious fun
they have on stage and their intense playing have helped them to become fan
favorites on the New England traditional music scene. Their newest CD Stanley
and Grimm, Open the Gate is available now.
Nikki has delighted audiences for over two decades with her
spirited and sensitive playing. Through a broad range of fiddle music
from old and new sets of jigs and reels to slow airs, with Sean's warm vocals
and rhythmic guitar, Stanley & Grimm capture the essence and energy of
great traditional music.
Fiddler Nikki Engstrom and guitarist and singer Sean Brennan
have been playing throughout New England as the duo Stanley & Grimm at
concerts, house parties, pubs and festivals. Having met and played together at
local sessions on Cape Cod, Nikki and Sean made their debut appearance as
Stanley & Grimm at the 2005 Cape Cod Celtic Festival where they opened for
the internationally known Cape Breton group Beolach. In the following
years they have recorded three CDs of traditional material and original compositions
and arrangements, opened shows for Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Liz
Carroll & John Doyle, and traveled throughout New England playing concerts,
house parties, festivals, weddings and pubs to a growing base of fans.
Nikki Engstrom is an accomplished, award-winning fiddler and
teaches many workshops at festivals throughout the year while maintaining more
than 30 full-time private students on Cape Cod. She has performed, competed,
and taught throughout New England and Canada. In addition to her inspired and
intense fiddle playing, Nikki has composed many original tunes, including
“Little Hawk” and “The Huntress.”
Sean Brennan has been playing in sessions and entertaining
in pubs for many years in Boston and on Cape Cod, performing as guest
accompanist for well-known artists such as Eamon Coyne, Patsy Whelan, and the
late Jerry Holland, as well as regular performances with Dublin balladeer Dave
Hickey. In addition to the diverse ballads and songs Sean has collected in his
extensive repertoire, he has also written many of his own songs, including fan
favorites “Galway Senorita” and “Last Night’s Fun.”
Tickets: $30 General Public + $2 per ticket service fee / $25 (and no service fee) to Dreamland Members