Come join the festivities as Dublin-born singer-songwriter Melanie O'Reilly returns with her band Aisling to celebrate the release of her new CD, Dust and Blood. The performance spotlights Melanie's unique melding of jazz and bossa nova with the Irish vocal tradition, and explores a wide variety of themes from the romantic to the historical and mystic. The group of stellar musicians backing Melanie's sensuous voice features guitarist Sean O Nuallain, Rebecca Kleinman on flute, and special guests on percussion, wind, and strings. Tonight's program will also include contemporary Irish instrumentals rooted in tradition.

Acclaimed by the Irish Times for "breathtaking and amazing emotional intensity and sheer virtuosity," Melanie was named Ireland's international ambassador by Downbeat magazine, and her songs recently featured on one of PBS's Frontline documentaries. She has also captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with her powerful and haunting soundscapes. Come prepared to be spellbound!