Chasing Abbey

Chasing Abbey play Underground Arts on Sunday, October 18, bringing their blend of electronic and traditional Irish music to Philadelphia. They're an award-winning trio from Ireland, and this is their one night in the city.

If you're not familiar with the name, the sound is exactly what it describes: traditional Irish music meeting electronic production. It's not a case of one sitting on top of the other, but the two working together. The traditional side brings the melodies and the folk roots, and the electronic side adds the textures and the beat. It's a combination that puts the music in a different light than you'd find in a standard folk set.

They've picked up an award for their work, which is a good shorthand for how it's been received over there. As a trio, they handle the whole thing themselves, so the sound you hear on record is the same one they bring to the stage. It's a specific kind of crossover—traditional music that doesn't lose its roots even when it's plugged in.

Underground Arts is at 525 South 4th Street in Philadelphia. The show starts at 8 PM, and doors open around 7 PM, so you've got a bit of a window to get in and settle before they start. If you've been following the Irish scene or just like the sound of folk and electronics in the same room, this is the one.