On Saturday night, March 14, Carnival of Souls’ capacity audience in Lincoln Hall had a joyous time tapping their toes – clapping in rhythm to the Irish drinking song – and moved by the haunting ballads of this very talented Lowry and Hartman family.
Adults and children were wearing the green – and children joyously danced in the aisles – inspired by the group’s inspiring reels and jigs and bagpipes!
The Wurlitzer Theater Organ/bagpipes on the stirring “Highland Cathedral” performed by Brian Loway and Jonathan Shegog on bagpipes brought a tear to the eye of many!
It was a multigenerational celebration and musical tree of Life with ten members of the expanded CARNIVAL OF SOULS Lowry clan including four from the youngest generation performing – Annie Lowrey who sang a solo with her father Joshua Lowry on guitar and Esther, Gideon and Gillie Shegog playing instrumentals.
A very special musical moment in the second half featured three generations of the Lowry Family beginning with an accordion solo composed and performed by young Esther Shegog with an electric guitar transition performed by brother Gideon Shegog and with brother Gillie Shegog on bass guitar that led to the bagpiping of father Jonathan Shegog joined by mother Caitlin Elizabeth Lowry Shegog with the Carnival of Souls ensemble in Gordon Duncan’s “Pressed for Time.”
Extraordinary talent in all generations – and such shining young people. As Jonathan Shegog said of his three children joining the band, “We’ve pretty much been waiting to play music with them since they were born.”
This was an ideal family concert and joyous way to begin ARCA’s 21st season and third decade. Erin go bragh – and with the luck of the Irish, you won’t miss them next year in Lincoln Hall to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts.
The Carnival of Souls concert reminds us that the future of music is all about families – and introducing the younger generations to the experience of inspiring live music. ARCA’s 2026 season offers many concerts for families with affordable prices, discounts for parents and students and children free. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the 2026 season brochure, you may email your request to info@alleghenyriverstone.org
