Katie Grennan, John Williams and Friends!

It wouldn’t feel like a Rendezvous season without Katie Grennan and John Williams.

Two longtime audience favorites return to close out Season 7. This time, they’re bringing friends.

Together, they’ll share an entirely new program celebrating the music, energy, and irresistible spirit of Ireland.

Katie is one of today’s most exciting Irish fiddlers. She pairs the precision of her classical training with the instinct and energy of a champion Irish dancer. A former member of Gaelic Storm, Katie now performs with Reverie Road, The Bow Tides, and STEAM Quartet. She has also appeared with Aoife Scott, Trinity Irish Dance Company, Michael Londra, and the Gardiner Brothers.

John is internationally recognized as one of today’s foremost players of Irish traditional music. A Chicago native and five-time All-Ireland champion, he is the only American-born musician to win first place in the Senior Concertina category. John was also a founding member of the groundbreaking ensemble Solas. He toured internationally with the group and earned Grammy nominations. Over his remarkable career, he has collaborated with artists ranging from The Chieftains and Riverdance to Mavis Staples and the London Symphony Orchestra.

For Rendezvous Arts, Katie and John are creating an evening filled with traditional Irish music, extraordinary musicians, great stories, and plenty of surprises.

Expect the kind of spontaneous energy that makes it nearly impossible to sit completely still.

After a season of unforgettable music, we can’t think of a better way to bring it home.

A few “whews” are practically guaranteed. Dancing may be unavoidable.

Featured Visual Artist: Kathleen Newman

Our featured visual artist for this program is Kathleen Newman, a Chicago-area painter whose award-winning landscapes are shaped by close observation, atmosphere, and a deep sense of place.

Working in pastel and oil, Kathleen draws inspiration from the Impressionist and Tonalist traditions. She often begins with small studies painted outdoors, then develops larger works in the studio, capturing the light, color, and mood of places ranging from Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes to the streets of Chicago.

Kathleen has received numerous national honors, including the Eminent Pastelist designation from the International Association of Pastel Societies. Her work has been exhibited widely and is held in private and corporate collections across the country.

Like traditional Irish music, her paintings find something enduring in place, memory, and the experience of paying close attention.