Timbers of Shorewood host Irish music group Switchback

The duo Switchback will perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, in the ballroom at The Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.

For more than two decades, the musical partnership of Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack, known as Switchback, has been entertaining audiences around the world with their unique American Roots music blended with Celtic Soul. At the Timbers’ performance, the two will tell stories of Ireland as well.

In 1986, FitzGerald was a mandolin student of Jethro Burns and had already been touring with Clifton Chenier when he met McCormack, an award-winning voice student of Whelma Oshiem at the American Conservatory of Chicago and a member of the Star Search selected band Beyond Blue.

They were both chosen by legendary County Kerry composer and concertina master Terrence 'Cuz' Teahan to join his traditional Irish group. Teahan taught FitzGerald and McCormack the old country techniques of Irish musical entertainment, making them one of the last generations to be directly influenced by a master of this musical genre.

The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit http://www.timbersofshorewood.com/calendar/2011/august/18/switchback-brings-sounds-ireland.