love:live music 2011 details announced

love:live music 2011, Ireland’s National Music Day, takes place on Friday 8th April and is co-ordinated by Music Network in association with RTÉ lyric FM and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport. For the second year running, there will be lots of free live music events in cities and towns across the land as well as two flagship events in Dublin and Limerick, with live broadcasts from these and other events throughout the day on RTÉ lyric fm. With events taking place everywhere from arts centres to libraries to workplaces, everyone is encouraged to get involved to celebrate live music performance of all kinds! To find out about events in your area, or to register your own event, visit www.lovelivemusic.ie or call 01 671 9429.

To celebrate the day Music Network is presenting two headline concerts. The first is at the Belltable in Limerick from 2.30pm. Renowned international artist Camille O’Sullivan will entertain us with her own unique blend of rock and theatre with a nod to German Weimar Kabaret. She will be joined by Gato Azul (Francesco Turrisi, accordion & percussion, Robbis Harris, bodhran, Michael Coady, double bass, Lucas Gonzales, guitar) performing a blend of jazz and world music and the talented sisters, the Cashell Duo (Sophie Cashell, piano and Anna Cashell, violin) performing works by Debussy, John Cage and Lili Boulanger. This concert takes place at Belltable, 69 O’Connell St., Limerick from 2.30-4.00pm on Friday 8th April and will be broadcast live on RTÉ lyric fm’s The John Kelly Ensemble.

The second headline concert is at the Sugar Club in Dublin from 8.30pm, with singer/songwriter Mick Flannery, “a songwriting force to be reckoned with” (The Irish Times). The unique Dublin Guitar Quartet, will play contemporary works by composers such as Philip Glass and exciting new group, The Listeners, led by multi-instrumentalist Emer Mayock, will be representing the best of the traditional music scene. Finally, award-winning pianist Michael McHale completes the line-up in spectacular style, playing Beethoven and Rachmaninov. This concert takes place at the Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street, D.2 from 8.30pm-10.30pm on Friday 8^th April. For those that can’t make it, the concert can be heard live on RTÉ lyric fm’s The Blue of the Night.

Both concerts in Limerick and Dublin are free but ticketed. Call 01 671 9429 or email admin@musicnetwork.ie to book your place at either of these events.

The response to this year’s love:live music from performers across the country has been fantastic and with over ninety live music events already lined up in villages, towns and cities across the country, more events are being registered every day. There is an electric mix of events, from barbershop choirs in Sligo to rap and rock in the youth centre in Finglas; In Cavan, the African Caribbean Forum are having a celebration of diverse musical cultures; there will be solo recitals from the likes of Annette Cleary in Greystones and Redmond O’Toole in Meath as well as large ensembles like the Singing Flash Mob in Laois; traditional music will be plentiful with performances at the Coleman Traditional Music Centre in Gurteen and the Skerries Trad Music Weekend amongst others; there’s no shortage of jazz and rock concerts in Sligo with live jazz at the Osta Café, guitarist and singer Ricky McDowell with his band, and acoustic guitar band Tucan with their eclectic rock influenced style; last but not least the contemporary music sector has pulled out all the stops with a performance by CoMA Limerick at the Hunt Museum in Limerick and several performances happening at the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin.

Review of Iarla Ó Lionáird at Havana’s Journados Culturales con Irlanda

PERHAPS IT was just the heat, but, as Iarla Ó Lionáird lifted his voice into the rafters of Havana’s venerable Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asis, we felt a shiver run down our spines. To hear Ó Lionáird’s sean nós fill the vast, dim space above our heads, here in the heart of Habana vieja (Old Havana) where music is so vital, was to feel a momentary swell of tír grá. And the standing ovation it received from an attentive Cuban audience confirmed that Ó Lionáird’s nuanced laments touched an emotional chord even for those not raised on its sound.

In contrast to the depth and sincerity of the opening concert, the performance by members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at the National Theatre of Cuba later in the week struck some Irish observers as belonging to an earlier, more self-conscious expression of the Irish tradition. With flowing gowns and impish charm, and a role call of Irish standards including An Poc Ar Buile , this was not a concert for the cognoscenti.

(Times) >>>

Siobhán Long in Times review of This is How We Fly

“Ó Raghallaigh’s own tunes were a celebration of circular motion. Ellipses and What What What delved deep into the heart of recurring chord sequences, as if they were the illicit offspring of Martin Hayes, whose love for unpicking well-worn traditional tunes to unveil their simple essence is almost a trademark by now… Traditional music shot through with the adrenaline of contemporary influences: a lethal but irresistible cocktail… This Is How We Fly is a quartet soaked in tradition, but intent, just as TS Eliot sagely suggested, not to drag it around with them like a dead load, but to harvest fresh bounties from the seeds of their inheritance.” (Times) >>>

Lisa Hannigan and Caoimhín Ó’Raghallaigh to play Mitchelstown caves

Based on a passing reference by Caoimhín on Facebook, I’m wondering could it be true that there will be a gig this July inside Mitchelstown caves featuring these two favourites of mine? Google reveals that the new Chief Executive of Cork Opera House, Mary Hickson told the Cork Independent: “We’re doing a gig in the Mitchelstown caves hopefully early next year with Lisa Hannigan and Caoimhín Ó’Raghallaigh and with James Vincent McMorrow as well.”

Elsewhere, Stranded-Aoife mentions here “an incredible sounding concert in Mitchelstown cave with Lisa Hannigan and Caoimhin O Raghallaigh” as part of Arts Council project grants.

Gerry Harrington – solo recording on the way

Last night’s fun was local and yet global. Local music-lover Pat Conlon organised a re-run of a 2009 concert featuring Peter Browne (uilleann pipes), Gerry Harrington (fiddle) and Phil Callery (voice & fiddle), and whether it was more my state of mind or their playing I am not sure, but I can tell you they ‘made it new’ entirely … as the best artists do. It was ‘electric’ and not for a minute deja vu. The solo airs (especially Gerry’s), the fiddle duets, the songs, and the ensemble tunes were all world class. And there they were in our local Blessington theatre (playing for an unfortunately small, but very appreciattive crowd).

I had a quick word with Gerry Harrington afterwards to say thank you and praise the music, and as well as briefly discussing the way he ‘sees music’ as well as hears it, he also mentioned that a solo recording is on the way – something that he’s been wanting to do for many years and has finally been able to complete. With the wonderful Kerry dance traditions blended with everything he has picked up in Sligo from the likes of Peter Horan, on top of his very individual style fingering, this should be something very special.

Alyth McCormack & Triona Marshall new recording

Their years spent touring with The Chieftains and performing at festivals has culminated in Alyth McCormack & Triona Marshall bringing together the voice of the former with the harp playing of the latter in a recording. The CD is called Red & Gold and features the following tracks:

1. Crazyman Michael
2. Chicago Rain
3. Breisleach (Delirium)
4. The Sea is so Huge
5. An T-Iarla Diurach (The Earl of Jura)
6. One in a Million
7. The Mason’s Apron
8. Mar a tha (The Way It Is)
9. Uamh an Oirr (The Cave of Gold)
10. As Long As You Remember Me
11. The Saw Set (Mouth Music)

The CD is available to purchase on their website here (which is also new and suggests that this may not be a one-off) >>>

 

They are only just finished or finishing a US tour with the Chieftains, so there are no dates for the duo announced as yet.

Máirtín Ó Connor launches his first book of tunes

Musician and honorary graduate of NUI Galway, Máirtín Ó Connor, will launch his first book of tunes on Tuesday, 22 March at 6pm in the College Bar at the University. It will be launched by Director of the Arts Council, Mary Cloake.

’Inside the Box, Outside the Box’ has been compiled by Máirtín himself and it includes transcriptions of some of Máirtín’s popular tunes as well as some tunes that have not previously been recorded and insights into Máirtín’s style of playing.

Máirtín Ó Connor: “This book has given me the opportunity to write down tunes that I relish in playing, so that other musicians can enjoy them as much as I do. I am delighted it is being launched and I would like to thank Mary Cloake for making the trip to do so. I owe a debt of gratitude to all the wonderful musicians I have worked with down through the years and I am privileged to work with so many of them. I would also like to thank my wife and family for their support and of course to all involved with the book including, Garry O Bríain, Tony Corr and Joe Boske.”

The book is funded by Deis, an Arts Council initiative aimed at supporting traditional music initiatives throughout the country.

Niamh Ni Charra on tour

March 2011

15th National Concert Hall, Dublin Ireland (with Carlos Nunez)
18th Villenave-D’Ornon, France (with Carlos Nunez)
19th Juvisy Sur Orge, France (with Carlos Nunez)
21st Madrid, Spain (Part of Irish Presidential Visit to Spain)
22nd Gael Linn Concert Series, Bewleys, Dublin, Ireland (with James Ryan)
24th – 27th Mulligans, Amsterdam, Holland (with The House Devils)

April 2011

14th Brest, France (with Carlos Nunez)
17th – 27th CeltFest Cuba, Havana Cuba

Nonesuch releasing Donnacha Dennehy’s Grá agus Bás featuring Iarla O’Lionaird …

Nonesuch will release its first recording of music by the Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy, Grá agus Bás, on May 3, 2011. The album includes the title piece, which translates as Love and Death, as well as the composer’s song cycle That the Night Come. The Dublin–based Crash Ensemble—which Dennehy co-founded—performs both works, conducted by Alan Pierson. Irish singer Iarla O’Lionáird is the soloist for Grá agus Bás, while American soprano, and longtime Nonesuch artist, Dawn Upshaw is featured on That the Night Come. The album is currently available to pre-order here at nonesuch.com.

Written especially for Iarla O’Lionáird and the Crash Ensemble, Grá agus Bás is inspired by a number of Sean Nós songs. (Sean Nós is a type of unaccompanied Irish vocal music; translated as the “old style” or “old tradition,” it is transmitted from generation to generation orally.) The work explores the themes of love and death in a non-narrative context. That the Night Come, written for Dawn Upshaw and the Crash Ensemble, comprises six settings of poems by W.B. Yeats. Dennehy says: “Yeats’ repeating obsessions with unattainable love, his longing for the fullness of experience, his anger at fleeting happiness, and the certainty of time’s ravage and death are obsessions that I share.”

Triur play Passionfruit Theatre, Athlone

12 March · 8.30 pm
The Passionfruit Theatre
9 Northgate St.
Athlone

Triúr is three prizewinning instrumentalists – Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Brewen Favrau, and Ger Chambers – on harp, pipes and accordion. Highly-respected exponents of their instruments, their music combines the diverse influences of poignant North Clare music, the energy of the Irish céilí bands, and the rich piping tradition of the Celtic nations. Experts in their respective heritages, the members of Triúr make music that is both innovative and faithful to their culture, music full of both soul and dhrive!

Fiona Kelleher & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh – game of two halves tour

9th March The Grain Store Ballymaloe,

10th March The Solstice Arts Centre Navan,

11th March Ionad Cultúrtha Baile Mhuirne,

12th March An Lab Mainistreach Dingle

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin & Gugalaí Gug win gold

Diosca óir Gugalaí Gug

Diosca óir Gugalaí Gug (By Futa Fata) – traditional rhymes album goes gold

including the wonderful Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin for the recording of children’s rhymes from the Conamara tradition, Gugalaí Gug. Also getting a disc on the night were actor Tom Sailí Ó Flaithearta, singer Caitlín Ní Chualáin, and young representatives of Scoil Sailearna, Indreabhán and Scoil an Chnoic, Leitir Mealláin.

Dingle Trad/fusion festival

Just announced:

Save the date 8-11th Sepember 2011

dingletradfest@gmail.com

Dingle Tradfest is Ireland’s newest innovative Trad-Fusion Music Festival. The festival will provide a platform for both national and internationally acclaimed performing artists to showcase modern and original talents within the usually more traditional environment that is the Dingle Peninsula.

Included in the programme is a series of night-time and lunchtime concerts as well as a session trail and some outdoor events including a session on the top of Mount Brandon. The evening concerts will be held at the Hillgrove hotel in Dingle town. The goal of the festival is to promote Irish music in a new and unique way and one of the highlights of this will be a Saturday night Trad–disco.

Buille, Karan Casey and Brian Finnegan in concert

19 March · 8:30
St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral
Market Street
Armagh

Christy Leahy and Caoimhín Vallely in concert

10 April · 8pm
An Cruibin
Union Quay
Cork

15 April · 8.30pm
Ionad Cultúrtha
Baile Bhuirne
Ireland

FREE STATE VI: Crash Ensemble, with Dan Trueman, presents annual concert of fresh new music from young Irish composers

Crash Ensemble

Not LNF’s usual fare but ever since his surprise appearance at Four on the Fringe of Folk, Dan Trueman (much admired by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh) has come into our sights for his amazing fiddle playing and his musical roots in American & Norwegian folk; and anyway I am personally deeply into contemporary composed music. So …

“Crash Ensemble continues its commitment to showcasing the work of Ireland’s brightest composers in Free State VI, paying homage to new talent in this annual concert.

For one night only, the Irish Museum of Modern Art will play host to a full spectrum of Irish contemporary talent, ranging from Judith Ring’s ‘Up to My F-holes’ for solo cello and tape to Andrew Hamilton’s ‘Music for People Who Like Art’ for full ensemble and soprano. This concert will also feature the world premiere of a new piece by Dan Trueman, specially commissioned for Free State VI by Crash Ensemble.

Co-curated by Dan Trueman, Fullbright scholar visiting from Princeton, the programme includes a selection of the most vibrant new music Ireland has to offer. It will introduce you to a whole new realm of talent and present a new music experience like no other.

Audiences can expect to witness a creative fusion of classical instruments and electronic music, true to Crash Ensemble style. Discover ‘Piano Tremors’ for four-hands by Anna Murray, Amanda Feery’s ‘Rattle’ for bass clarinet and ‘Star’ for baroque violin and double bass by Benedict Schlepper-Connolly. Senses will be sent soaring by ‘Eff’ for string quartet and percussion by Francis Heery and ‘Basso Continuo’ for full ensemble by Birmingham-based Seán Clancy. This show, our first in 2011, promises to be a revelatory evening.

Free State VI is a celebration of new Irish composers and their outstanding output and accomplishments. It is also the first concert of an action packed 2011 for Crash Ensemble, with an opera, a U.S. tour, and an album launch in the works. Crash Ensemble is a contemporary music group based in Dublin, which has been attracting enthusiastic audiences for its particular blend of music, video and electronics since 1997.

FREE STATE VI: Friday, April 1st, 2011 | Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 | 8pm | Tickets €20/€15(conc.) available online at www.tickets.ie or by calling Crash Ensemble (01) 858 6645

PROGRAMME

Sean Clancy | Basso Continuo
Judith Ring | Up to my F-Holes
Amanda Feery | Rattle
Andrew Hamilton | Music for People who like Art
Anna Murray | Piano Tremors
Francis Heery | Eff
Benedict Schlepper-Connolly | Star
Dan Trueman| New commission (World premiere of new work specially commissioned by Crash Ensemble for Free State VI, entitled W..)

Music treats @ The Grain Store, Ballymaloe House in March

For starters they’ve got Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (solo fiddle, hardanger) in the first half, followed by a new salad of an ensemble of Fiona Kelleher (voice) with Caoimhín Vallely (piano) and Eleanor Healy (double bass, voice).

Wednesday 9th March, 8pm
Tickets  20euro/18euro concession
To Book call 083 3631468
Early Dinner at 6pm and concert 60euro
Book on 021 4652531 (essential)

Then, once you’ve had plenty of time to digest that, you can come back a few weeks later for the main course and desserts of the SPRING MUSIC WEEK:

Rory, Elly O’Keeffe & Nigel Grufferty
Drawing Room
Tuesday 22nd March

Rory, Pauline Scanlon, Eílís Kennedy & Donagh Hennessy
Drawing Room
Wednesday 23rd March

Martin Hayes, Pauline, Eílís & Donagh
Drawing Room
Thursday 24th March

Martin Hayes
Drawing Room
Friday 25th March

West of The Pecos with East of The Pecos
The Grain Store
Saturday 26th March

‘Session in POC AR BUILE’
Rory and Friends gather for a local pub shindig!
Sunday 27th March

To book Accommodation, Dinner or Saturday Early Dinner & Concert please call 021 4652531

To book Saturday concert tickets only or for any enquiries please call 083 3631468 or email thegrainstore@ballymaloe.com

Donal Lunny, Pádraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou @ An Droichead, Belfast

Sylvain Barou of Guidewires

Friday 11 Márta, Doors 7.45pm

Ticket £12.50

Pádraig Rynne, Donal Lunny and Sylvain Barou are three names that would individually excite any traditional music fan. So this special one off performance is not to be missed. Donal has been at the forefront of Irish music over the last 50 years being a founding members of important bands such as Planxty, Moving Hearts and The Bothy Band. Pádraig and Sylvain are founder members of “Guidewires”.

Together this trio will be performing mostly new sets outing their arrangement skills into action with pieces from Brittany, The Balkans, Middle East, Asturias and of course Ireland.
This promises to be yet another memorable an Droichead concert.
To buy tickets please follow this link: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/105978

Ballina Set Dancing Weekend

Innisfree Céilí Band

Friday 4th – Sunday 6th March @ Downhill House Hotel

Friday 4th March: Country & Western Workshop 8-10pm
COPPERPLATE CEILI BAND 10pm

Staurday 5th March: Workshop with Ger Butler 11am-1pm & 2-3pm
Mass 3.30pm
Country & Western with
THE DUETS 5-7.30pm
ANNALY CEILI BAND 10pm

Sunday 6th March: Workshop with Marie Garrity 11am-1pm
INNISFREE CEILI BAND 2-5pm
Country & Western with
MICHEAL SEXTON 7-9.30pm

Full weekend events ticket €45

The Gathering, Killarney

Karol Lynch & Tóla Custy of Guidewires

See here for full details including ceilis, workshops & sessions >>>

Thursday 3rd March  2011

TBC

Friday 4th March 2011

Shaskeen / Noel Hill, Alec Finn & Tony Linnane / Sean Potts & Sean óg Potts – €20 Tickets on sale HERE

Saturday 5th March 2011

Saturday Lunch Concert

Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul De Grae & Fidil – €15

Saturday Night Concert

De Dannan / Paddy, Seamus & Kevin Glaken / John & Pip Murphy  – €20 Tickets on sale HERE

Sunday 6th March 2011

SCATTERING CONCERT

Guidewires, Brian McGrath, John Carty & Brian Rooney + More – €20 Tickets on Sale HERE