Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts: Band with Americana roots and Celtic Soul, Switchback, returns to THELMA

Contact: Jacqui Corsi, Director of Marketing, jacqui@thelmaarts.org

The Midwest-based duo Switchback returns Feb. 27 to perform at Thelma Sadoff

Center for the Arts.

Playing everything from bluegrass to country to blues to jazz and rock ‘n’ roll, with Celtic

thrown in as well, Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack of Switchback have been on

the road since 1993, stopping only long enough to create albums and DVDs.

The pair’s album “The Fire that Burns,” was named one of the top choices for 2003 by

Performing Songwriter magazine, a national publication. For three years in a row, the

pair was named the Top Irish Group by the Irish Musicians Association. Their admirably

ambitious 2005 album, “Falling Water River,” a tribute to fallen soldiers in contemporary

wars, was called by Robert Tomaro, music director of the Beloit/Janesville Symphony,

“beautifully conceived, beautifully orchestrated and performed. It’s an instant American

classic.”

Playing about 200 shows a year, Switchback has opened for the Moody Blues and Leon

Russell, shared stages with Gaelic Storm and Chicago’s Liz Carroll. They tour Ireland

every year.

Fitzgerald and McCormack love to play small towns like Fond du Lac.

“It is a good thing to get off the beaten path,” says FitzGerald. “There are a lot of small

towns where people have a real hunger for live music.”

The concert begins at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27. Doors and the bar open at 5 p.m.

because there is a free artists’ reception for two new solo exhibits. Marian University

professor Shane McAdams and New York-based artist Erik Benson bring their works to

THELMA. In addition, a group show with Marian University art students will also be on

display.

Viewing the exhibits is free. Tickets for Switchback start at $12. Visit thelmaarts.org and

click “tickets.”

THELMA is located at 51 Sheboygan St., in the heart of Downtown Fond du Lac’s Arts

and Entertainment District.

Learn more about THELMA at thelmaarts.org, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.