Some of Ireland’s best known musicians will be in Napa tomorrow night to perform at the Opera House in a benefit concert for the Napa Valley Shelter Project.

Dervish, hailing from County Sligo Ireland, is on its fall 2007 tour. The members of Dervish met as strangers in a bar and went on to share stages with the Buena Vista Social Club, Sting, REM and Beck. Dervish also performed at the Great Wall in early 2006, when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern invited the group to accompany him on the country’s biggest trade mission to China.

At the concert Thursday, Dervish will perform music from its upcoming CD “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.”

Also performing is the legendary Paddy Keenan, considered the most accomplished uilleann piper  today and a founding member of the Bothy Band. Donal Lunny, another member of the Bothy Band, once described Paddy as “the Jimi Hendrix of the pipes.” Keenan’s talent for improvisation and counter-melody has also earned him comparisons to jazz great John Coltrane.”

Napa Valley Shelter Project operates the only emergency shelters for homeless men, women and children in Napa County and includes three year-round facilities: Samaritan Family Center for homeless families, the HOPE Resource Center, a day center, and the South Napa Shelter, both for homeless adults. It also supports a rental assistance program to help keep people from becoming homeless and a seasonal emergency shelter during the cold, wet winter months. Proceeds from the concert will be used to support these services.

Sponsors for the concert include Claire and Jeff Mallett and Loren and Barbara Corotto who are underwriting the artists; and First Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Frank’s Janitorial. Artesa Winery and Vineyards, who have hosted an annual event for for the past seven years, are sponsoring an after-show reception.

Premium tickets are $100 and include the after-show reception with the artists. All other seats are $45. There will also be a silent auction before the 8 p.m curtain and during intermission. Tickets are available on the Opera House Web site at www.nvoh.org, at the Opera House box office or by calling 226-7372.

For more information about the Napa Valley Shelter Project, call Charlene Horton, program director at 253-6103.

Information about Dervish is at www.dervish.ie. For more information about Paddy Keenan visit www.paddykeenan.com.

Dervish; Paddy Keenan in Concert

Fundraiser for the Napa Valley Shelter Project

Napa Valley Opera House

Thursday, Sept. 27

Tickets: $45-$100

Box office: 226-7273; www.nvoh.org