FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT – Celtic Folk & World Music
SUNDAY: SEPTEMBER 28, 2025
3:00PM to 5:00PM
Celtic, Folk & World Music Concert with Four Shillings Short
@CHARLENE LARSEN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
588 16th Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Tickets $20.00
Purchase tickets online at: https://www.CharleneLarsenCenter.org or Call 503-338-9132
ABOUT FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT https://www.4shillingsshort.com
Four Shillings Short are the husband/wife duo of Aodh Og O’Tuama from Cork, Ireland and Christy Martin from California. They are international touring multi-instrumentalists who perform Traditional and Original music from the Celtic lands, Medieval & Renaissance Europe, India and the Americas on a fantastic array of instruments (over 30) including Hammered & Mountain Dulcimer, Mandolin, Mandola, Bouzouki, Recorders, Tinwhistles, Medieval and Renaissance Woodwinds, North Indian Sitar, Charango, Bowed Psaltery, Banjo, Native American Flutes, Bodhran, Guitar, Ukulele, Doumbek & Darbuka, Spoons, vocals and even a Krumhorn. Touring in the US & Ireland since 1997, Four Shillings Short are independent folk-artists who perform up to 100 concerts a year, have released 13 recordings and live as full time Troubadours traveling the globe, performing at music festivals, theatres & performing arts centers, folk societies, libraries, house concerts, retirement communities, churches and schools.
“The finest Music transports, teaches, entertains and conveys the Magic around us….
Four Shillings Short has it all.” (Mary Lou Philbin-Clarke/Ossian USA, Concord, NH 2019)
“Four Shillings Short are indescribable in how they infuse their audiences with a delightful blend of music,
culture and storytelling. The afterglow from one of their shows will last days.”
(John Busbee/The Culture Buzz, Des Moines, IA 2019)
Aodh Og O’Tuama grew up in a family of poets, musicians and writers. He received his degree in Music from University College Cork, Ireland and received a Fellowship from Stanford University in California in Medieval and Renaissance performance. He plays Tinwhistles, Medieval & Renaissance woodwinds, Recorders, Doumbek (from Morocco), Darbuka (from Egypt), Medieval Bowed Psaltery, Native American Flute, Wooden Spoons and sings both in English, Gaelic & French.
Christy Martin grew up in a family of musicians and dancers. From the age of 15, she studied North Indian Sitar for 10 years, studying with Tony Karasek (a student of master Sitarist Ravi Shankar) and Rahul Sariputra (a student of Allaudin Khan). She began playing the Hammered Dulcimer in her 20’s and has studied with Maggie Sansone, Dan Duggan, Cliff Moses, Robin Petrie, Tony Elman and Glen Morgan. In addition she plays Mandolin, Mandola, Bouzouki, Banjo, Guitar, Bodhran (Irish frame drum), Andean Charango, Medieval Psaltery, Ukulele and sings in English, Irish and Sanskrit.
WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT
“Eclectic and unpredictable are apt descriptions of this beguiling duo. Their repertoire joins together traditional Celtic tunes, Indian ragas and American mountain music into an intoxicating mash. Through their many albums and constant touring, they’ve become known for thwarting listeners’ expectations and finding common ground in genres not often associated with one another.” (Connect Savannah, Savannah GA)
”The delightfully surprising collection of songs and sounds this husband/wife act create, stretch the limits of Celtic and Folk music by stirring in generous amounts of Indian Ragas and Medieval flavorings via some of the tastiest sitar playing this side of Ravi Shankar. ” (Valpariso Times, IN)
“Their music is a global potpourri.” (New Times, Miami FL)
Yours was truly one of the best shows I’ve been to on “any” level & it’s pretty broad: Michael Jackson, Celtic Women, James Taylor, John Denver & Four Shillings Short!!! I enjoyed not only the musical talent, but the education regarding instruments, origin etc. storytelling & mix of genuine passion, love & humor. In that regard you beat out all the others. (Louisville, KY 2012)
“Sunday nights’ concert featured a husband and wife duo called Four Shillings Short. They are astounding. They both have wonderful singing voices. They play an incredible variety of music from Indian Ragas to Celtic, Traditional folk and about anything else you can think of. They are very charismatic with great stage presence.” Columbus Folk Music Society,OH)
“Their musical virtuosity makes old songs sound new and new songs sound like time-worn Celtic spells.” (CITY PAGES, Wausau WI)
“They are not the Clancy Brothers or Jean Richie or Ravi Shankar but a combination of all three, laced with Irish humor. Their collection of instruments is museum-like and I’ve never seen the place so packed.” (San Gregorio General Store, CA 2005)
“Four Shillings Short are the ultimate in coffeehouse entertainment. The variety of musical instrumentation really keeps me interested. Equal amounts of male and female energy keep the emotional content well-balanced. Song lyrics don’t get hidden underneath too much accompaniment. Harmonies are sweet; instrumental solos spirited. And best of all, their demeanor belies a commitment to the ideal of rising up singing.” (Chicory House Concerts Forty Fort, PA 2008)
“Stunning performance last night. Folk music at its best. Well sung, well played & I lost count of how many instruments. One of the most inspiring performances I have ever witnessed.” (Berea KY 2011)
“Four Shillings Short, celto-indo fusion duo, is a world class act.” (KMFB – Late night Liz, Fort Bragg, CA 2012)
“These are two of the best musicians that I’ve seen come through. They are authentic, traditional and spontaneous.” (Suburban Exchange, Houghton MI)
“Four Shillings Short takes you on a musical journey through time and across the seas as they perform everything from traditional Irish tunes and airs to Indian Ragas.” (The Foothills Sun-Gazette/ Exeter, CA 2010)
“A husband-and-wife duo of mystical musical abilities. Their sound is haunting, crystalline beauty.”
(Monterey County Weekly, Monterey, CA 2010)
“The Celtic/Folk/World music duo performs on a bevy of unusual instruments and in myriad styles. This is a great show for kids of all ages, who’ll be amazed by the duo’s thematic range.” (Glen Starkey – New Times, San Luis Obispo, CA 2010)