Irish Christmas cheer rocks the Barns

What is it aboutIrish music — especially during the holidays — that keeps listeners lining up to hear more? Eileen Ivers, the nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, contributes her own thoughts on the subject.

“I think there are a few things that really hit American audiences when they hear the music; familiarity might be one,” she said, after finishing the last rehearsal before her holiday show, “An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas,” taking place at the Barns at Wolf Trap on Friday. “These tunes are the fabric of our American music traditions, like bluegrass and country.”