“Where and whenDale Russ, Kerry Mann and FriendsA concert of Irish and Celtic musicSaturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.The Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, LangleyTickets: $12 and $10; call 221-8268It’ll be a grand evening of music on Saturday at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, when four South Whidbey musicians join the hot Irish music of fiddler Dale Russ, guitarist Dale MacGinty and Hanz Araki on flute in a concert named Dale Russ, Kerry Mann and Friends. The naming of the event reflects the culmination of months of preparation by young musician and Langley Middle School student Kerry Mann, who conceived the idea as part of her eighth grade graduation project.When I learned about the project, I thought a concert would be an exciting thing to do. I’ve always wanted to play at WICA, ever since I heard Martin Hayes and Kevin Burke here, Mann said.So last September she went to the theater and talked to Stacie Burgua, who helped her set a date and worked with her on the various forms that were necessary.Then I talked to Dale Russ, who gives me violin lessons, and told him I’d set it all up for him and promote it if he would agree, she said.Russ did indeed agree, with the result that he and fellow musicians Finn MacGinty and Hanz Araki will be appearing with Mann and her own fellow musicians: best friend and music companion Katie Campbell, harpist Hannah Wahl, and Randy Hudson, who plays the concertina and has provided help in arranging tunes and mentoring. They’ll open the concert, and all the musicians will play together for the last set, while Mann herself will play several tunes with Russ.I’m really excited, she said. I really want it to sell out.Mann has worked since an early age toward her goal of musical achievement. She and Katie Campbell started fiddle lessons at age four in Linda Good’s Suzuki violin class. Mann’s focus is now on Irish fiddle, while Campbell has become proficient in Scottish fiddle and dance. Hannah Wahl has played harp for six years and presently studies with master harper Laurie Riley of Langley. Mann has performed on the streets of Langley at Choochokam with Campbell and Wahl and attended the Willie Clancy Music School in Ireland. She and Campbell opened the Martin Hayes WICA concert, and she was a featured performer with Hudson’s group, No Band Is an Island. Dale Russ is considered one of the American masters of the Irish fiddle. He has had a prolific recording career, performing with a wide range of artists, including his two bands, Suffering Gaels and Jody’s Heaven. He recorded the CD North Amerikay with Finn MacGinty, a native of County Westmeath, Ireland, whose rock roots are still evident in his fiery style of guitar backup; and Hanz Araki, singer and Irish flute player. They will both join Russ at WICA. A high-energy evening is in store, said Kerry’s self-styled proud dad Frazer Mann. Three budding musical talents, the music and enthusiasm of Randy Hudson, the master musicianship of Russ, MacGinty and Araki — should be good.”