Music and touring a success story for Men of Worth duo

Cold it may have been on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 15, but an expectant audience turned out for a night of warm music and storytelling by the incomparable duo, Men of Worth.

Donnie MacDonald and James Keigher, a duo that performs music reflecting each of their respective Scottish and Irish heritage, failed not to entertain a wide age range of appreciative audience members.

The young, and the young-at-heart alike, filled the church’s pews and by no stretch were any of the attendees disappointed by the evening’s performance. MacDonald and Keigher included storytelling and anecdotal tales with their finely-honed musicianship that mixed instrumental prowess with richly blended vocals.

The duo is now in their 27th year of performing their mix of traditional and contemporary Irish folk music, a journey that has included multiple albums of recorded music and scores of live performances globally.

A key element to the effort is in their commitment to tradition and a simple approach to their performances. MacDonald and Keigher regale the audience with a folksy, humor-laden rapport that patrons visibly appreciate.

MacDonald noted that one of their most prominent recent musical venues was a six-concert performance as guests with the Sacramento Master Singers in December. Audiences were large and appreciative there, as well.

“That was a new experience for us,” he said.

Coming up in March, they will be performing in Montana for 10 days, and community concerts in the Midwest usually demand a three-week block of travel time, MacDonald said.

Musically, the duo is working on learning songs by the widely regarded Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns, as well as bringing back from songs from Men of Worth’s 1980s era.

“We don’t play all the time,” MacDonald said. “We’re not constantly on the road.”