Adopting their name from an informal Gaelic Irish greeting meaning “come here,” Goitse (pronounced go-witcha) “) was lauded as Live Ireland’s Traditional Group of the Year.

The group comprises Colm Phelan, an All-Ireland Bodhran champion, guitarist Conal O’Kane, lead singer/fiddle player Aine Mc- Geeney (named best female vocalist of 2016), Alan Reid on banjo and bouzouki, and Tadhg O Meachair on piano and accordion.

“We play a lively mix of old and contemporary traditional Irish music with a focus on high energy and unique arrangements,” reports O’Kane. “Our music is influenced by a range of musical genres and our instrumental pieces are interspersed with some vocal numbers where Aine’s distinctive style of singing takes center stage.” 

All graduates from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick in Ireland, they have released four critically-acclaimed albums. Over the years they have recorded music from Brazil, Scandinavia, Canada and the U.S., and they have collaborated with bands from all over the world including from Malawi and Guinea.

Known for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows and wry observations, John Craigie will play MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater on Friday. BRADLEY COX photo

Goitse’s latest album, “Ur,” features songs dating from the 18th century to new, original instrumentals based on traditional melodies, some of which have never been recorded before.

* Goitse performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight in MACC’s Castle Theater. Tickets are $35 and $45, with a 10 percent discount for MACC members and half-price for kids under 12 (plus applicable fees). Tickets are available at MACC box office, by phone at 242-SHOW, and online at mauiarts.org.

*****

British soul star Joss Stone will make her Maui debut at MACC on June 27. This brilliant artist rose to prominence with her debut album “The Soul Sessions, which sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. When Mick Jagger was looking for a female vocalist for the supergroup SuperHeavy, he chose Stone.

In an attempt to perform in every country in the world, she embarked on a five-year Total World Tour that included the Kurdish-controlled part of Syria, a refugee camp in Djibouti, a bar in North Korea and a public park in Libya.

Encouraged by Damian Marley, her most recent album, “Water for the Soul,” mixed reggae roots and soul, with Marley singing on a couple of tracks, followed by a “Dub For Your Soul” EP, featuring Jamaican poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and funk master George Clinton. A remixed version came out in 2019.

“For me, the whole power of music is to connect, to communicate and to put a smile on your face,” she says.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday. Tickets are $15, $35, $55, $75 and $125 for gold circle (plus applicable fees).

*****

Huge news that superstar Diana Ross is returning to MACC’s Castle Theater on May 10 and 11 for a Mother’s Day celebration. Her 2015 Maui concert was a dazzling love fest with a superb 12-piece band and sound, and perfect voice and video accompaniment. Tickets are on sale to MACC members and to the general public on March 7. Tickets are $755.50 (first row), $255.50, $155.50, $95.50 and $65.50, plus service fees.

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Hawaii’s ukulele virtuoso, Taimane, will perform on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk concert on March 6. She is the first Hawaii artist to play the music show. Previous performers include Lizzo, Adele and Dave Mathews. In the summer, Taimane will play the legendary Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Headliners include Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and Taylor Swift.

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The Baldwin Home Museum’s free Hawaiian music series will feature Robi Kahakalau and Kala’e Camarillo today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the museum lawn in Lahaina.

One of Hawaii’s most successful female artists, Sister Robi became famous as a vocalist with the Hawaiian Style Band. Later pursuing a solo career, her albums earned multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year.

Born and raised in Kihei, Camarillo entered the local music scene as the lead ukulele player and vocalist for the band Simply Sedd. His album solo “Working Man,” was nominated for a Hoku in 2018.

*****

Texas blues rocker Chris Duarte performs on Friday at Maui Coffee Attic and on March 7 at Casanova with the Vince Esquire band. Citing Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Coltrane as prime inspirations, the Austin-based musician was named Best New Talent in Guitar Player’s 1995 Reader’s Poll. He finished fourth in the magazine’s Best Blues Guitarist category behind Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

Reviewing his latest album, “The Fan Club,” Rock and Blues Muse noted that Duarte has a “well-deserved reputation for blazing honky-tonk style SRV-esque blues.”

“I’m here to try and further my craft,” Duarte told Rock and Blues Muse. “That’s what gives me solace because I’m still out there trying to get better. That’s my goal in life, not just to get better and better, but to have more peace with myself for my accomplishments and my efforts toward reaching that nirvana in music.”

Admission at Maui Coffee Attic is $25 and $30. Call 250-9555. Casanova tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Call 572-0220.

*****

Known for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows and wry observations, John Craigie will play MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater on Friday.

Continuing the legacy of the classic singer-songwriter, the Portland, Oregon-based musician has been compared to John Prine, with influences of Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie.

Craigie was initially inspired by Guthrie and how he used his hands and body to illustrate a song’s tall tale.

“I grew up in the Los Angeles area, and 1990s rock meant a lot to me, but so too did folk music,” he reported. “At that time, the Beatles and Bob Dylan were not cool; it was what your parents or grandparents listened to. I heard Arlo Guthrie at age 19, and it changed my perspective on performance. Arlo proved that the singer could be very attentive, talking to us and making us feel like we were all a part of it.”

Craigie has released six studio albums, two live albums and two cover albums.

In 2018, he released the studio album “Scarecrow,” which was praised by New Noise: “The album, taken as a whole is devastatingly beautiful. Craigie’s earnest vocals paired with little more than an acoustic guitar is melancholy songwriting at its best.”

Also in 2018, he released the live album, “Opening for Steinbeck,” recorded during his sold-out shows at Mississippi Studios and The Doug Fir in Portland.

* John Craigie performs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater. Tickets are $20 and $25 (plus applicable fees). Prices increase on show day.

*****

With Mick Fleetwood off in London celebrating Fleetwood Mac’s phenomenal founding guitarist, Peter Green, with an all-star show, the Mac tribute band Fleetwood Mask play Fleetwood’s on Front St. on Saturday.

The San Francisco-based group is known as the ultimate Fleetwood Mac tribute act. They perform the greatest hits from the 1960s blues band era with Green, through the most popular lineup featuring Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie. 

They are even endorsed by Fleetwood in a promo video. “I’m glad to know the music of Fleetwood Mac is in good hands indeed,” he says.

Fleetwood Mask includes Claudette Rodriguez, Barbara Martin, Mark Blasquez, Paul Jones and Don Oberempt.

“Mick has been supportive of the Mask at its earliest onset,” Martin (who performs as Christine McVie) reported. “My brother Chuck Bergson lives on Maui and has become great friends with Mick. When we first started exploring the idea of this tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Chuck showed him some video we shot. He loved us instantly and wanted to know how and what he could do to help us. He was the one who suggested recording and videotaping himself so that we could use it however we wished.”

* Fleetwood Mask perform on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Fleetwood’s on Front St. Tickets are $50 per person for a shared booth, or $200 for the entire booth with 5 to 6 guests. Standing room is $20. There is a dance floor. Call 669-MICK.