Celtic Roots Only Part of Irish-born Tenor’s Repertoire

Although Gavin Coyle may be a new name to Door County, he owns an impressive resume. He’s been featured on WGN Radio, at the Irish Fest in Oak Forest, singing the national anthem at Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears games and in performances throughout Chicago’s western suburbs. The Irish-born singer/songwriter performs in concert at Third Avenue Playhouse on Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 pm.

As a “wee kid” in Derry in Northern Ireland, Coyle says he had a fondness for America, fostered by endless TV programs. From the time he was very young, he also had a beautiful singing voice, enabling him at age 14 to win the title of All-Ireland Singing Champion. He went on to perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem and has also performed on the BBC both in Northern Ireland and in England. Now, he’s here, living in the Chicago area, sharing that beautiful voice and a repertoire of Irish songs with American audiences.

Coyle’s musical range covers pop and folk music as well as traditional music from his homeland. In addition to being an excellent guitarist, he plays several other instruments including the bodhran (an Irish drum) and the flute.

At 32, he has a number of CDs to his credit including Three, a collection of Irish songs. His newest recording, Footlights, was released in February of 2009 and features songs of the stage and screen.

Tickets for Gavin Coyle are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and $8 for children under 12. Tickets are on sale at the theater box office, 239 N. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, 920.743.1760. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm and one hour prior to performances. Tickets are also available at Dancing Bear, 13 N. Third Avenue, Java on Jefferson, 5th & Jefferson and online at http://www.ThirdAvenuePlayhouse.com.