KINGSTON, R.I. — March 23, 2001 — The Poor Clares will grace the stage at the University of Rhode Island’s Edwards Auditorium on Thursday, April 5 at 8 p.m. Their concert, the last performance in the Pangaea Musical Roots series, is free and open to the public. Based in Ireland and New Orleans, The Poor Clares are acclaimed not only for their traditional Irish music, but also for their occasional blending of New Orleans flavors into their hearty Irish stew. They present a slice of culture that’s hard to beat, covering music from the ancient to the modern, from the heart-touching ballads to the foot-stomping reels and jigs. The group has performed at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the National Geographic Society’s concert series, and at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, the largest Irish festival in the world. In addition, they have toured Europe and North America and have performed with the Baton Rouge Pops Symphony. The Poor Clares will be joined on stage by Mance Grady, a Rhode Islander with national recognition as a Celtic musician and instrument maker. Grady is one of the earliest and highly-respected promoters of the bodhrán in North America. His beginnings in percussion date back to the early sixties when he was studying classical snare with Walter Tokarczyk, a percussionist with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Mance possesses a deft mastery of the bodhrán. He is on the faculty of The Music School in Providence and has taught workshops at many festivals over the past 25 years. For Information: Michael Lapointe, 874-5162 or 874-5883, Jan Sawyer, 874-2116