Sharon Shannon @ The Helix & the NCH

As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, The Helix is delighted to welcome legendary accordionist Sharon Shannon for a one night only performance on Monday 7th March at 8.30. Book here >>>

She’s then playing the National Concert Hall on 19th March as part of the St Patrick’s Festival >>>

 

Sharon has recorded and toured with a who’s who of the Irish and Global Music Industry, including Bono, Adam Clayton, Sinead O’Connor, Jackson Browne, John Prine ,Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, The RTE Concert Orchestra, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Willie Nelson, Nigel Kennedy, Alison Krauss and Shane MacGowan – a list that is testament to Sharon’s versatility as well as talentSharon’s previous album ‘The Galway Girl’ has gone 4 times Platinum in Ireland and the title track has won the Meteor Award for most downloaded song for the last two years. This year’s Meteor Awards honoured Sharon as the youngest ever winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sharon will be supported by the DCU trad group.

“Tribute To The Banjo” @ Traditional Harcourt Sessions

The Harcourt Sessions present a Tribute to the Banjo tonight, starting at 9pm.

“Undoubtedly the most important Irish banjoist in History and everbody who plays Irish Banjo will have been influenced by him – taking time out from busy 2011 schedule we are so delighted to present from The Dubliners – Barney Mc Kenna is joined by:
Gerry (Banjo) O’Connor
Eamonn Coyne
Martin Murray
Eoin O’Meachair(Caladh Nua)
Christy Sheridan (The Bards)
Stevie Dunne Banjo (Recent All Ireland Winner)
and Special Guests.

Its rare to see such a Treasure Trove of Banjoists together and with their individual style of play, charisma and passion a great night’s entertainment is guaranteed. Among special guests attending will be accompaniment for the Banjoists.”

Admission €10 on door on night

Susan McKeown’s Singing in the Dark

Just heard Ellen Cranitch mention this & play a song from it, and like the sound of it:

For her twelfth album, Grammy award-winning vocalist Susan McKeown has produced an ambitious and thought-provoking work on the subject of madness. Featuring poets writing through the lens of depression, mania, and addiction, with new music from McKeown, Frank London, and Lisa Gutkin, Singing in the Dark explores creativity, suffering, and pursuit of happiness. The poets include John Dowland, James Clarence Mangan, Theodore Roethke, Anne Sexton, Violetta Parra, Gwyneth Lewis, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and Jeff Buckley.

The opening line of Theodore Roethke’s In A Dark Time beautifully contains the message of the album: In a dark time, the eye begins to see / I meet my shadow in the deepening shade / I hear my echo in the echoing wood. Life’s challenges are opportunities to learn and grow, and that’s evident in the creative works throughout the recording.

In Anne Sexton’s classic work Her Kind, Susan sings of the different moods that have “possessed” her and identifies with each in a powerful, evocative song “I have been her kind. 

The lyrics from Irish poet James Clarence Mangan, who died from alcoholism, is sung as an American folk song, and tells how The Nameless One “saw things that made him, with groans and tears, long / for even death.” Yet its chorus is full of hope: “Roll forth my song, like the rushing river/ That sweeps along to the mighty sea / God will inspire me while I deliver / My soul of thee.”

Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis speaks of The Angel of Depression that “always wears / the face of my loved ones as it tears / the breath from my solar plexus grinds / my face in the ever resilient dirt.” But in the end comes the realization “Oh yes I’m broken but my limp is the best part of me. And the way I hurt.”

And from a thousand years ago comes the voice of the Irish Mad Sweeney who, wandering homeless and friendless, finds solace in nature concluding (in a line translated by Seamus Heaney), “I need woods for consolation.”

An artist who has always defied easy categorization, McKeown’s catalog of recordings spans the realms of rock, folk, and world music. For Singing in the Dark she wanted to present and array of moods throughout the album, and so worked with different groups of musicians for the recording sessions. The result is an exciting blend of arresting arrangements throughout, which Mckeown’s warm, elasticized vocals shine. The musicians include: Eric Della Penna (Natalie Merchant), Doug Wieselman (Antony & The Johnsons, Martha Wainwright), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits, Bonny “Prince” Billy), and Sonelius Smith (Rahsaan Roland Kirk). Read more on Susan’s website >>>

Launch is taking place in Whelan’s this Sunday, 27th Feb at 7.30 pm with special guests Will Hall and Robert Whitaker

Iarla O’Lionaird with Gavin Bryars and ensemble in Leeds

05 March at 19:30 at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds

Opera North present IARLA O’LIONAIRD with Gavin Bryars and Ensemble Anail De – The Breath of God

• “One of the most dramatic voices in contemporary music.” The Guardian
• “Genius’ is the operative word here” Time Out

Best known as the lead singer of the twice Grammy nominated Afro-Celt Sound System and now an acclaimed solo artist, Iarla’s last solo album Invisible Fields was released to widespread acclaim. His music melds the ancient echoes of sean-nós with the future sounds of today’s sonic explorers. Traditional influences are layered with drones, synthesizers and samplers to create defiantly beautiful music. In this one-off concert Iarla is joined by composer and double bass player Gavin Bryars, playing songs from Anáil Dé (The Breath of God) composed by Gavin for Iarla.

http://www.operanorth.co.uk/events/iarla-lionird-anil-d-breath-of-god/

Launch of 2011 National Music Day, love:live music

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Julie Feeney for love:live music 2010

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Julie Feeney for love:live music 2010

 

Music Network is pleased to invite you to the launch of love:live music 2011 at 12 noon on Tuesday 8th March at The Culture Box, 12 Essex St., Templebar, Dublin 2.

love:live music, Ireland’s National Music Day, is a celebration of all forms of music in Ireland though nationwide music events. Following a successful first year, Music Network is encouraging EVERYONE to get involved on Friday 8th April 2011 for the day-long festivities celebrating live music in Ireland.

We will be kicking off love:live music 2011 in style, one month ahead of the big day, with performances by two of Royal Irish Academy of Music’s rising stars: Evin Kelly (accordion) and Leonie Bluett (clarinet). Some very special guests will also be on hand to lend their support and given that it’s pancake tuesday, you can expect some delicious refreshments!

PLEASE RSVP TO info@lovelivemusic.ie

John Carty and Brian Rooney Launch Tour

John and Brian take to the road to launch their new duet album ‘At Complete Ease’ >

Wednesday 23rd February
The Dock, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim
8.30pm
€15/€12
A Rare Opportunity to See Two of Ireland’s Finest Fiddlers Together in Concert

Box Office 071 9650828
Open for advance bookings from
10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 7.45pm – 8.20pm on the evening of a performance.
Contact: The Dock

Friday 25th February
The Crane Bar, 2 Sea Road, Galway
8.30pm
Tel: 353 91 587419
Contact: The Crane Bar

Saturday 26th February
The Micho Russell Weekend
Russell Cultural Centre,Doolin, Co Clare
2pm
The Russell Concert .
Adm. €20 (includes wine and food reception)
Tickets at the door. Doors open at 1pm

Tuesday 1st March
Dublin Launch Reception
The Cobblestone, 77 North King Street, Snithfield, Dublin 7
6pm

Followed by Na Píobairí Uilleann present
Session with the Pipers
The Cobblestone Back Room Venue

• Gay McKeon (Pipes)
• John Carty (Fiddle)
• Brian Rooney (Fiddle)
• Íde Nic Mhathúna (Songs)

9:30pm (Doors 9.00pm)
Admission : €12.00 (concession €8.00)
Contact NPU: 01-8730093

Friday 4th March
The Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre
The Naul, Co Dublin
€16.00 Concession €12.00
Box Office – Ph: 01-8020898
Tickets available online from Seamus Ennis Centre

Saturday 5th March
Corofin Trad Festival
8pm – Concert with John and Brian, At the Racket, Ronan O’Flaherty, Damien O’Reilly & Kevin O’Farrell
Admission €15
Contact: Corofin Trad Fest

Sunday 6th March
The Gathering Festival
Killarney, Co Kerry
SCATTERING CONCERT
Guidewires / John Carty & Brian Rooney + More
€20
Tel: 087 2348824
Contact: The Gathering Traditional Festival

Music Network presents “From Polka to Polska”

Music Network presents Olov Johansson, Gerry O’Beirne, Tom Morrow and (the evidently indefatigable) Conor Byrne in a tour of the country in May this year, “shining the spotlight on a number of lesser known but glorious traditional instruments”, in this case the former’s traditional Swedish nyckelharpa or “key harp”.

Olov Johansson (last seen by me celebrating Dervish at the NCH>>) is the first world champion of the traditional Swedish nyckelharpa or “key harp” and a founder member of Grammy award-winning Swedish group Väsen; and he joined by “some of the finest musicians on this country’s contemporary trad scene explorating old and new music from Ireland and Sweden”.

“Multi-instrumentalist Gerry O’Beirne is a renowned singer and songwriter who has toured the globe with such luminaries as Sharon Shannon, Andy Irvine, Patrick Street, the Waterboys and Marianne Faithful, while former All-Ireland champion fiddler Tom Morrow is a member of supergroup Dervish. Much lauded for his performances with fiddlers Máire Breathnach and Méabh O’Hare, flute player (and County Sessions organiser) Conor Byrne has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in Irish music, including Christy Moore, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Paul Brady, Luka Bloom and Ronnie Drew.”

THURSDAY 12 MAY, FOTA ISLAND, CARRIGTWOHILL, CO. CORK

• Fota House
• 8pm, €20 / €15
• 021 4815543
• Promoted by Fota House

FRIDAY 13 MAY, BAILE MHÚIRNE, CO CHORCAÍ

• Ionad Cultúrtha
• 8:30pm, €18 / €12
• 026 45733
• Promoted by Ionad Cultúrtha

SATURDAY 14 MAY, WATERVILLE, CO. KERRY

• Tech Amergin
• 8:30pm, €15 / €12
• 066 9478956
• Promoted by Tech Amergin

SUNDAY 15 MAY, 69 O’CONNELL STREET, LIMERICK

• Belltable Arts Centre
• 8pm, €15 / €12
• 061 319866
• Promoted by Belltable Arts Centre

TUESDAY 17 MAY, DUBLIN 8

• St. Audoen’s Church, Cornmarket
• 8pm, €15 / €10 / €40 (Family)
• 01 6719429 or online at http://www.musicnetwork.ie
• Promoted by Music Network
• Book Tickets

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY, CLIFDEN, CO. GALWAY

• Station House Theatre
• 8pm, €12 / €10
• 095 21699
• Promoted by Clifden Arts Society

THURSDAY 19 MAY, MANORHAMILTON

• The Glens Centre
• 8.30pm, €15 / €12
• 071 9855833
• Promoted by The Glens Centre in conjunction with Itchy Feet Promotions

Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters

“Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters” is a series of concerts taking place in the Pavilion in Cork City featuring collaborations between some great traditional musicians from around the world.

The first concert takes place on the 7th April and will feature:
- Chris Wood & Andy Cutting
- Michael McGoldrick & Ed Boyd
- Karan Casey & Dónal Lunny
- Buille featuring Niall Vallely, Caoimhín Vallely and Brian Morrissey
- DJ Dolphin Boy

Tickets on sale 1st March from tickets.ie

Other confirmed dates in 2011 are:
5th May
16th June

“Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters” is produced by Niall and Caoimhín Vallely, and is part-funded by the Arts Council’s Deis scheme.

Exhibition ‘Na Péintéiri Ceolhmhara’ at the Teacher’s Club

The painting musicians are: Mick O’Connor (flute), Aoife O’Connor (concertina), John Kelly (fiddle) & Peadar O Riada (concertina etc.).

The exhibition runs at the Teacher’s Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, from Thursday 17th February to 25th February.

A John Kelly image in 'Na Péintéiri Ceolhmhara'

Eithne Ní Chatháin @ Alice’s, Naas

A small, cosy local cafe in the middle of Naas, lit by candles & fairy lights on a Saturday night; 15 tables occupied by 30 people sitting close, all in good form and relaxed, having tea/coffee & cakes served by Eileen, the proprietor.

Eithne Ní Chatháin takes up her position in the corner by the front window, surrounded by keyboard, fiddle, guitar, tamborine, microphone & pick-up. With no nerves showing, she speaks briefly to the audience in the gentlest way, a simple welcome and update on her recent work; no straining, no airs, totally unforced.

Almost imperceptibly, she has finished talking and is singing a new song inspired by a run on the beach, accompanying herself on the guitar. Her songs are direct, almost casual observations of the world around her and how they reflect or impact on human emotions. She introduces one new song by telling us it’s about a particularly good night playing music & singing that she just didn’t want to end: as she was going to bed very late, early the next morning and daylight was heralding the dawn of a new day, she made a plea for it to hold back and let her savour for  a little longer the effects of the night. The song itself is essentially the same as her introduction  to it, but “accompanied” by melody, sung, in her perfectly natural voice, it becomes something more, something worthy of art, a simple experience simply lifted into the universe for anyone to hear. It reminds me of the freedom and confidence of Walt Whitman’s verse: “One’s-self I sing, a simple separate person … Of physiology from top to toe I sing … Of Life immense in passion, pulse and power … I sing.”

Moving effortlessly between her own songs and the sean-nós tradition, between Irish and English, between traditional songs from other cultures and more modern forms (such as a Nina Simone song), between accompanying herself and using just the voice, Eithne’s focus is always on singing pure and simple: the human being’s ability to turn any experience or activity into something rhythmical and melodic by simply adjusting the vocal cords and the flow of air from the lungs.

Her voice is so pure and natural (no wonder Donal Lunny chose it for his ‘Celebration of Irish Voices’ at the Concert Hall last year), and she is gifted with a such big range, you could almost forget the art, and the work that goes on behind that. As with a swan on the surface of the water, only when you know something of the preparation and control required to sing in the sean-nós tradition, do you appreciate the effort being made underneath.

Her musicality comes across not only in the sean-nós singing: her own music writing is never dull and her brilliant accompaniment is always “at a remove” and sometimes difficult, as in jazz-influenced; her playing with the tune of Bog Braon don tSeanduine on the keyboard, for instance, was particularly thrilling.

Perhaps the most apt image for her art is one that she returns to herself again and again in the songs she writes and the ones she chooses to sing: the power of nature (birds, especially), though unfathomably complex, to put us in a simple context and act as a balm for our troubles:

“With the primroses in springtime,
With the golden evening sunshine,
With the bird-song filling your heart,
So let go now, let flow now, let go to allow
The earth to hold you, to carry you …”
(From ‘What’s in the Bag, Love?’)

Her performance over (finished with tunes on the fiddle), others were inspired to sing and – anxieties of our recession forgotten, “mar níl in aon ní ach seal” - we sang songs to each other and together for a good while afterwards.

You can buy Eithne’s CD ‘Eithne’ as MP3 here >>>

7th Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh

PIC: Ceoltóirí Eithne Ní Chatháin, agus Aoife agus Deirdre Grainbhéal

Full details >>>

Céadaoin 23 Feabhra 2011

8pm Oscailt Oifigiúil Official Opening
An Músaem, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Oscailt Oifigiúil le Liam Ó Maonlaí. Ceol & amhráin. Bí ann gan teip!
Deis clárú dos na ranganna ar fáil.
Official opening with Liam Ó Maonlaí. All welcome. Registration for classes opens.

10pm Oíche amhránaíochta Singers night
Tigh Uí Chatháin, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh,
Oíche amhránaíochta. Aoinna speisialta Cathal McConnell & Nell Ní Chróinín
Fáilte roimh amhránaithe agus éisteoirí.
Singers night with special guests Cathal McConnell & Nell Ní Chróinín. Singers & listeners welcome.

Déardaoin 24 Feabhra 2011

9.00am Clárú Registration
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Clárú dos na ranganna go léir
Registration for all classes
€50 for 3 days

10am-1pm Ranganna Classes
Ionaid éagsúla, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ranganna sna huirlisí éagsúla & amhránaíocht.
Classes in various locations in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Canúint Chorca Dhuibhne, le Domhnall Mac Síthigh.
In the Corca Dhuibhne dialect, with Domhnall Mac Síthigh.
€15 for 3 days

2pm Seisiún Oscailte Open Session
Tigh Uí Mhurchú, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

3pm Tionól Píobaireachta Pipers Gathering
Tigh Bhric, An Riasc
Le Con Durham, Cillian Ó Briain, Tomás Ó Canainn, Eoin Duignan, Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, Páidí Casnove, Ailean Domhnallach, Tommy & Pádraic Keane

8pm Oíche Sheán de hÓra
Brú na Gráige
Ceiliúradh ar an amhránaí Seán de hÓra
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
Costas €5

Aoine 25 Feabhra 2011

10am-1pm Ranganna Classes

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

2pm – 3pm Rang Gáidhlig le Ailean Domhnallach
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Feiliúnach do thosnaitheoirí

3pm Tráthnóna Ceoil Recital
Tigh Bhric, An Riasc, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Vincent, Jimmy & Peter Campbell

4pm – 5.30pm Ranganna Máistreachta Masterclasses
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Consairtín – Claire Keville
Bosca Ceoil – Jackie Daly
Costas: €10

5.30pm Seoladh Coiglímis an Tine (Leabhar + 2 CD)
Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Cnuasach Seanchais agus Scéalta Bhab Feiritéar (Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne)
Bo Almqvist and Roibeard Ó Cathasaigh a chóirigh agus a chuir in eagar.
Fáilte roimh chách Everyone welcome

8pm Ceolchoirm Concert
Ionad an Bhlascaoid, Dún Chaoin
Ceol agus amhránaíocht as Éirinn is Albain le Griogair Labhruidh, Kathleen McInnes, Ailean Domhnallach, Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, Cathal McConnell, Tommy & Pádraic Keane, agus ceoltóirí agus amhránaithe eile.
Ticéid: €10

Satharn 26 Feabhra 2011

10am-12pm Ranganna Classes

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

12.30pm Ceolchoirm na nDaltaí Pupils Concert
Sáipéal Naomh Uinseann, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ceolchoirm na ndaltaí leis na foghlaimeoirí go léir & aíonna speisialta.
Informal concert in the Church with the pupils and special guests.

2pm – 3pm Rang Gáidhlig le Ailean Domhnallach
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Feiliúnach do thosaitheoirí
Costas: €5

2.30pm – 5.30pm Ceardlann rince ar an sean nós Sean nós dance workshop
Seanscoil an Chuasa, An Bóthar, Cuas an Bhodaigh
Le Róisín Ní Mhainín.
Costas €15

3pm – 4.30pm Ranganna Máistreachta Masterclasses
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Veidhlín – Jimmy & Vincent Campbell
Feadóg Stán – Cathal McConnell
Costas: €10

3pm Siúlóid Guided Walk
Le Domhnall Mac Síthigh. Ag fágaint ó charr chlós Photadóireacht na Caolóige (3km siar ó Bhaile an Fheirt). Bíodh éadaí & bróga oiriúnacha oraibh.
Leaving from car park at Louis Mulcahy’s pottery (3km west of Ballyferriter). Please wear suitable clothing and footwear.

3pm Tráthnóna Amhránaíochta & Ceoil Music and Song
Tigh an tSaorsaigh, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Leis na Caipíní & aoinna eile.
With Na Caipíní and other guests.

4.00 – 5.30pm Ceardlann Amhránaíochta Gáidhlig Gáidhlig Singing Workshop
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Le Griogair Labhruidh & Kathleen MacInnes
Fáilte roimh chách Everyone welcome
Costas: €5.00

8pm Ceolchoirm Concert
Halla na Feothanaí, Feothanach
Vincent Jimmy & Peter Campbell, Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch, Ben Ó Loinsigh, Eithne & Micheál Ó Catháin, Tomás, Niamh & Nuala Ó Canainn, Claire Keville, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Ticéid: €12.50

Domhnach 27 Feabhra 2011

10am Aifreann na Féile Mass
Sáipéal Naomh Uinseann, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Aifreann Uí Riada le Peadar Ó Riada & Cór Chúil Aodha

10.45am Maidin Chaifé Coffee Morning
An Múséam, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ar son Ospidéal na Leanaí, Croimhghlinn
In aid of Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin

1pm Ceol agus Seiteanna Music and Sets
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ceol le Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich srl!!!!

Caladh Nua’s 2nd album launch

Caladh Nua are playing a few gigs to launch their new CD, Next Stop.

Feb 11 2011, 8.30pm at The Seamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, Co. Dublin

Feb 19 2011, 8pm at Dungarvan Town Hall, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Feb 25 2011, 8pm at The George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow

A dream line-up: Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Iarla O Lionaird & Thomas Bartlett

Pic by Thomas Bartlett http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=651967637&sk=wall

My sense of the word “band” in music isn’t right for a group of friends that play together from time to time, especially when those friends are such significant “figures” in their own right. So I don’t think this is a band in that sense because each member is so well known for other work they do and, I would guess, relishes so much their musical individuality they would never be contained or restrained by such a notion.

But they are using the word themselves and that’s exciting in and of itself – they obviously believe the grouping has some future, and what a dream line-up: Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Caoimhin O Raghaillagh, Iarla O Lionaird & Thomas Bartlett! So let’s hope the grouping gets plenty of airing both live and digitally very soon.

They recently spent a few days at Grouse Lodge writing & recording and Thomas Bartlett got a few photographs to record this historic coming together >>>>.

They’re trying to come up with a name too >>

Great season ahead at Harcourt Sessions

Mon 21st Feb – Frankie Gavin with De Danann 9.15 pm

Limited Special Price Tickets available in advance only €12

Mon 28th Feb - Banjo Extravaganza “Tribute to the Fiddle” with Barney Mc Kenna (Dubliners)

Gerry Banjo O’Connor (Four Men and a Dog)

Stevie Dunne Banno (Recent All Ireland Winner)

Christy Sheridan (The Bards)

Eamonn Coyne

Martin Murray

with various Special Guests….

9pm Adm €12/10

Mon 15th March GOITSE

Mon 28th March “An Evening of Folk and Trad ” with Mick Hanley, Arty Mc Glynn, Nollaigh Casey and Special Guests

Mon 4th April CIORRAS

Mon 18th  April Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Fundraiser All Ireland Fleadh 2011 (Cavan) with various various Guests and Previous All Ireland Winners.

Mon 2nd May BEOGA

Mon 16th May CALADH NUA

The Kane Sisters and Edel Fox @ the Carlow Folk Club

18 February at 09:00 @ The Carlovian Bar, Teach Dolmain, Carlow

Hi All!
We have another great night of music lined up for the club on Friday, Feb 18th. Thanks again to those who came along to our last outing. We had a deadly night of music and craic. This time we welcome back Liz and Yvonne Kane on fiddles and Edel Fox on concertina. The Kane sisters provided a very memorable night in the club many years ago and it still ranks as one of the best gigs so far upstairs!

Liz and Yvonne create a highly exciting and vibrant sound. These sisters come from the outskirts of Letterfrack, a village in Connemara. With a musical tradition on both sides of the family, it was only natural for the girls to play music. They began learning from their grandfather Jimmy Mullin. Along with their grandfather the recordings of the Rainey brothers, travelling fiddle players who visited Letterfrack and the surrounding areas were an influence. Yvonne and Liz consider their style to be heavily influenced by South Sligo fiddle playing, the music of East Galway and in particular the fiddle playing and compositions of Paddy Fahey. In recent years, the sisters have been privileged to meet and play with Paddy whose music plays a central role in their repertoire. The recordings of Michael Coleman, Hughie Gillespie, Andy McGann and Kathleen Collins have also made an impact on their music.

Liz and Yvonne first came to national and international prominence during the three year period in which they toured with accordion player, Sharon Shannon as members of her band, The Woodchoppers. They travelled all over the world with her band and are featured artists on Sharon’s album ‘The Diamond Mountain Sessions’. At that time, a Hot Press review by Siobhan Long confirmed ‘…while ‘Fire in their Bellies’ (with Liz and Yvonne Kane) is ensemble playing at its best and most naked.’

Edel Fox is a concertina player from Miltown Malbay Co. Clare. She began playing at the age of 7 and was fortunate to be brought up in an area and environment where traditional music was in abundance. Edel learnt much of her music from concertina players Noel Hill, Dymphna O’Sullivan, Tim Collins and Tony O’Connell as well as local musicians such as Pete Haugh, Michael Mahoney and Peadar Crotty. Over the years, Edel’s playing has been hugely influenced by the music and recordings of Willie Clancy, Bobby Casey, Junior Crehan and Mrs. Crotty, to name but a few. Edel spent much of her teenage years playing with, and learning from Jackie Daly, who she cites as one of her influences. In 2004, Edel was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana (Young Musician of the Year). Since then she has travelled extensively as both a teacher and performer of the tradition. She is one of the most accomplished Irish musicians of her generation. She is a regular performer on Irish National Radio and has performed at festivals and in concert halls from North America all the way to Asia. . In addition to being an engaging performer, Edel is an insightful and patient teacher, specializing in the repertoire of her native soil. She is on staff at the prestigious Willie Clancy Summer School in her home town, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. She also teaches annually at festivals in the US, including the Irish Arts Week Festival in East Durham, New York and the Elkins Irish Week in Augusta, West Virginia.

We would love to see you come along, not only for the support of the venture that is our traditional folk club, but to create that unique atmosphere that visiting musicians find so special in the Carlovian. The gig is, as usual in Teach Dolmain, Carlow. It starts at 9.30pm and admission is €15. Give me a ring on 086-0877115 if you need any more info.
Thank you, see you there.
Dave

Back & forth between tradition and abstraction @ the Cobalt Cafe

Last night’s fun was a paradox of high-brow variety show mixed with a bill of foot-stompin’ chamber music; it felt a bit like a segment of a John Kelly radio programme, perhaps. Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh brought together a dancer and a few American musicians he loves (who happen to be in Ireland at the moment) for an evening of somewhat uncharted acoustical adventure.

The territory encompassed composed music (at this extreme, Donnacha Dennehy’s name was mentioned by Dan, who he is working with while here), traditional dance music from Ireland (represented by special guest, Mick O’Brien), America and Norway, and (in effect, at least) an acoustical trance music that one might liken to a dance floor remix.

The centrepiece was made up of various Dan Trueman tunes – beautiful, evocative, abstract composed music with links to Norwegian and American folk but with very modern scales and tuning,  played either by Dan himself on fiddle and Hardanger with his wife Monica Mugan (together playing as Trollstilt) on guitar, or with Brittany Haas (of alternative bluegrass band Crooked Still) on fiddle.

In sharpest contrast, the only unstrung instrument of the night was Mick O’Brien’s pipes; with Caoimhín and playing solo briefly Mick represented one extreme of Caoimhín’s musical world – pure traditional Irish music grounded by either song or dance, with nothing abstract or exploratory about it (theoretically). And yet it is abstraction, contemplation and physical meditation that Caoimhín seems to have found in traditional music and to take with him (“remix”!) into more modern forms.

The evening was opened, the scene was set, “the buzz was begun”, by Caoimhín playing a solo set of tunes (and a slow air, I think) performed, in typical O’Raghallaigh style, at a variety of speeds and volumes, that could be compared to a DJ’s mix: playing with the crowd’s emotions; taking them on a journey of highs, lows, drops and lifts that dance floors thrive on, and that displays Caoimhín’s own musical journey back and forth between tradition and abstraction.

But this was no dance floor; rather ’twas the hushed Georgian reception rooms of the Cobalt Cafe filled to overflowing with a hugely impressed audience of fringe music lovers, who, one felt, were regularly on the verge of becoming more vocal and even of getting up and dancing, but were held back by the space and by the mutability of the music.

Nic’s dancing not only added another layer of thrill … but the result was greater than the sum of the parts, a multiple of them, in fact; paradoxically helping one hear more of and in the music. He is a total joy to watch – music embodied in physique, gesture, movement and muscle; an eye-opener for the ear, as it were, such is the precision, detail and adventure of his sense of rhythm.

And Nic’s wasn’t the only dancing either. When Dan & Caoimhin did their duet, on a Caoimhin original tune, one could see it as a dance really – the swaying of their close and faced-off bodies in musical time and the crossing paths of their (matching) bows and pegboxes. Brittany, too, as would be expected, had a strong sense of the dance of her music, walking on the spot or swaying through the more old-timey pieces. When Nic & her did their duet, their interaction had the quality of a tango in its give and take, in its responsiveness and in its self-contained perfection.



All of which – for anyone who doesn’t speak Highfalutin’ – means: it was a mind-blowing night of music. Fair dues to Conor Byrne & Caoimhín for getting it together, to the Cobalt Cafe for hosting, and to the musicians for raising all that money for St Vincent de Paul.

Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden & Séamie O’Dowd

@ Matt Molloy’s

15 February at 20:30

Westport

@ The Crane

16 February at 21:00

Galway

De Barra brothers at the Ark

Billed as Barco, Cormac de Barra on harp & Éamonn de Barra (Slide) on flute and Fionán de Barra on guitar, were joined by two other of their three  other brothers to play a ‘Gig for kids’ during the Tradfest in the Ark. I took my son, and apart from the distraction of the extroverted kids dancing around in front of the brothers, it was really great. Eamonn was really fantastic with the children, and all the music was lovely. Lots of Carolan (which was when the dancing kids were the problem, despite Eamonn’s finger-to-mouth strategy), but also plenty of super tunes.

Eithne Ní Chatháin in Naas

Solo Gig

Saturday, February 12 at 08:00

in Alice’s Restaurant, The Moat Mall, Naas, Co Kildare. (045) 874581

The Long Hard Road CD: Tom McElvogue

Grace Notes’ CD of the month for February is The Long Hard Road from Tom McElvogue. You can win one of five copies on the Grace Notes website here >>>