The appointment of three new editors is the latest in a year of changes at The Journal of Music, which has seen the magazine redevelop from a bi-monthly print magazine to an online publication. With a beta website launched earlier this year, the magazine has been publishing regular articles, reviews and news items, documenting and reflecting on a broad span of Irish and international musical life. The next phase of this web development will be launched in the coming weeks.

Each editor will cover a wide-ranging brief, but will specialise in a particular area. Anyone wishing to contact the magazine can email either the editor relevant to their area, or the General Editor at editor@journalofmusic.com

Paul O’Connor is The Journal of Music‘s new Traditional Music Editor. Originally from Sligo, now living in County Wicklow, Paul ran the blog Last Night’s Fun for a number of years, in which he documented the traditional music scene. He recently began contributing to The Journal of Music, with an article on the Gloaming. Email paul@journalofmusic.com

A composer and guitarist, Patrick Groenland is the magazine’s new Improvised Music Editor. Covering a broad range of musical genres, Patrick’s main focus will be jazz and improvised musical practices from around the world. Patrick is now based in his hometown, Dublin, having studied music in Boston, Leuven (Belgium) and Maynooth. He started writing for The Journal of Music earlier this year. Email patrick@journalofmusic.com

Stephen Graham will fill the role of Classical Music Editor, covering the vast gamut of composed music of the last millennium. Originally from Dublin, Stephen is now based in London, where he is completing a PhD in musicology at Goldsmiths College. He previously studied music at University College, Dublin, and King’s College, London. Email stephen@journalofmusic.com

www.journalofmusic.com

I’d recommend signing up for updates over at www.journalofmusic.com and/or following @journalofmusic on Twitter.

You can get me in relation to traditional music news etc. on paul@journalofmusic.com. (Of course, I’m still available for commissioned / commercial / freelance / ghost writing work on music@penhire.ie).

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND ALL WELCOME….

An Bhun Abhainn, Louisburgh, County Mayo

9th, 10th & 11th of September, 2011

The September Sessions is an annual family weekend of Irish Traditional Music which takes place in An Bhun Abhainn pub, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. Now in it’s seventh year, this mini festival has seen a wide range of traditional musicians from Mayo and further afield gather in the beautiful surroundings of Louisburgh.

Although focusing on quality Irish music this year we will be getting out and about around Louisburgh with a free gig in the town-hall on Friday night with the Dartry Ceili Band (All Ireland Champions in 2009) and a foraging afternoon on Saturday for kids and adults too.

Watching the kids come along so well over the years has been wonderful to watch and this year we will continue to focus on sessions for both the young ones and the teens. We have our trusty band of merry musicians as usual in the pub throughout the weekend joined by guests.

All events are free and we look forward to welcoming you to Louisburgh

Core Musicians: Emer Mayock (flute), John Kilkenny (fiddle), Philip Duffy (fiddle), Declan Courell (guitar)

Guest Musicians 2011:  Ciaran Somers (flute) & Dave Sheridan (fiddle)

Friday Night – 9th

Town Hall – Dartry Ceili Band with support from Mike Bartlett – Doors 7.45pm. Followed by Session in the bar from 9.30pm

Saturday Afternoon – 10th

Foraging afternoon with Will Williams. Spending a couple of hours around Old Head foraging for mushrooms and exploring nature. Starting at 11am.

Followed by kids session at 2pm. (Beach or Town-Hall – dependent on weather)

Afternoon session in the pub from 5pm

Saturday Night

Session in the bar from 9.30 til late

Sunday Afternoon – 11th

Teen Session from 2pm followed by music from the core musicians.

Sunday Night

Finishing off the weekend with old-timey and bluegrass songs with Tim Rogers and his band, The Clew Bay Critters

For more on the September Sessions

www.facebook.com/anbhunabhainn

www.anbhunabhainn.com

“Acclaimed choreographer Michael Keegan Dolan and leading musician Liam Ó Maonlaí with a company of musicians and dancers, embark on a journey to explore the tension and harmony between Irish traditional music and modern dance. The Festival is delighted to present this world première, created as a response to the current seismic changes in Irish society.

Ó Maonlaí’s album Rian (meaning Imprint or Trace) was inspired by Seán Ó Riada’s seminal recording, Ó Riada sa Gaiety, and this production combines Rian as part of a live score with new material performed by Ó Maonlaí and leading musicians from across Ireland.

Michael Keegan Dolan and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, acclaimed for Festival hits Giselle (2003) and The Bull (2005), return with international contemporary dancers to explore old and new, collaboration and trust, tradition and invention, Ireland and the world.”

• Directed and Choreographed by Michael Keegan Dolan
• Venue Gaiety Theatre
• Date 6 Oct – 8 Oct 7.30pm + 8 Oct 2.00pm
• Duration 1hr 20mins (approx. no interval)
• Prices €15-€35

Musical Direction by Liam Ó Maonlaí
Lighting Design by Adam Silverman
Set Design by Sabine Dargent
Costume Design by Doey Lüthi
Assistant Musical Direction by Phillip Feeney
Sound Designed by Denis Clohessy
Dancers Anna Kaszuba, Saku Koistinen, Louise Mochia, Emmanuel Obeya, Keir Patrick, Ino Riga and Louise Tanoto.
Musicians Cormac Begley – Concertina, Martin Brunsden – Double Bass, Eithne Ní Chatháin – Fiddle, Maitiú Ó Casaide – Pipes.

• Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick on Thursday 15th September
• The Sugar Club, Dublin on Friday 16th September
• Triskel Christchurch, Cork on Saturday 17th September

From Note.ie:

“Iarla O’Lionáird tours to mark the release his new solo album Foxlight on Realworld Records on September 26th. O’Lionáird grew up and learned his craft in the musical heartland of Cúil Aodha in the West Cork Gaeltacht. From his iconic early recording of the vision song “Aisling Gheal” whilst still a boy, through many recordings O’Lionaird established himself both as a masterful exponent of Sean Nós Song and as a pioneer in its renewal and development.

HIs latest, Foxlight, shimmers with versatility. While it is rooted in certain traditions, it is also unclassifiable and refuses to be located in one genre or another. It’s also one of Ó Lionáird’s most organic, naturalistic records to date. Instrumentation and layers are embedded in each song, but ultimately it’s about Ó Lionáird’s exquisite, sonically unique voice. Foxlight is produced by Leo Abrahams a features Leafcutter John, Geese, Adjagas, Neill McColl and more as guests. All eleven songs are imbued with a sense of time and place, of connections and myths. From ancient rhythms to modern electronics, Ó Lionáird’s exceptional voice is the fulcrum around which everything pivots.

These shows also feature O’Lionaird’s new band featuring amongst others Stephen Shannon of Strands, Donnacha Hoey of Spook of the Thirteenth Lock and Max Greenwood.

Always an artist on his own journey O’Lionáird signed to the prestigious Realworld label in the mid 1990′s he would go on to make many ground breaking recordings with the multi million selling Afro Celt Sound System receiving two Grammy nominations. Solo albums “Seven Steps to Mercy” (1997, produced by Michael Brook) and “Invisible Fields” (2005) brought widespread acclaim confirming O’Lionáird as one of contemporary music’s most ambitious singers and recording artists. His latest

O’Lionáird has always been a collaborator and an artist seeking new fields of engagement. From his collaborations with Peter Gabriel on Ovo, this has taken an increasingly classical form. His song-cycle with Gavin Bryars, Anail De (The Breath of God) reflects a deep artistic collaboration and friendship with the composer. Similarly he has worked extensively with acclaimed Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy and his group The Crash Ensemble. He also featured as a soloist on the Nonesuch debut label release of Dennehy’s “Grá agus Bás” with Dawn Upshaw and Crash Ensemble released in May.

Foxlight is released on Real World Records on September 26th.”

For full details of this inter-connected series of evenings that have been going on through the summer, visit > http://tunesinthechurch.com

Galway:

Situated at the North side’s end of Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge, the Grand Social will host, from September 2011, the Liffey Banks Sessions offering the best of Irish and international acts in the traditional, folk and roots scene.
“This fresh, exciting new club aspires to create the Liffey Banks Sessions as a Meeting Place that reclaims the love and passion of traditional music amongst its many followers throughout Dublin and Ireland.

Club organiser, Conor Byrne all his life has been driven by his deep love of traditional music. It is in his blood, and literally flows through his veins. Over many years he has earned the affection and respect of many people, because of his unselfish commitment to the promotion of exciting musical ventures, such as ‘the County Sessions’ in Dublin through 2009/10. Now Conor’s aspiration is to create the Liffey Banks Sessions, which is all about the music, and guarantees an evening of QUALITY musical entertainment for folk of all ages.

The fun begins on Tuesday the 6th of September with America’s tour de force all female group, ‘Cherish the Ladies’, fronted by the highly entertaining and gifted flute player Joanie Madden. This highly charged band celebrate twenty-five years on the road and are planning on throwing one hell of a do for the Liffey Banks Sessions opening night.”

FORTHCOMING ACTS COMING TO THE LIFFEY BANKS SESSIONS include:
CHERISH THE LADIES; SHARON SHANNON; GERRY ‘BANJO’ O’CONNOR; I DRAW SLOW; SCOIL GHEIMRIDH FRANKIE KENNEDY LAUNCH FEATURING MAIRÉAD NÍ MHAONAIGH & FRIENDS; LÚNASA, CAOIMHÍN Ó RAGHALLAIGH & THIS IS HOW WE FLY; MAIRTÍN O’CONNOR; FIDIL; ANDY IRVINE; DÓNAL LUNNY; PÁDRAIG RYNNE; SYLAIN BAROU; ALAN KELLY; MOYA BRENNAN & CORMAC DEBARRA; KAN WITH BRIAN FINNEGAN PLUS MANY MORE.

Last Night’s Fun will be most keen to get to Cherish the Ladies (6th September) and Fidil + (the deeeeelightful) Nell Ní Chróinín (27th September).

I’m missing Michelle O’Brien & Laoise Kelly tonight, though my family is well represented. (Someone has to mind the younger ones!) And behold what they have coming up … and start your hunt for €30 per week to spare:

Thursday August 25th
Eoin Dillon (uilleann pipes)
Graham Watson (mandola & guitar)
Allison Sleator (songs)

Tuesday August 30th
Michelle Foy (flute & fiddle)
Doireann Nic Mhathúna (concertina & sean nós dancer)
Christine McGowan (fiddle, flute & whistle)
Aimee Farrell Courtney (bodhrán)

Thursday September 1st
Steve Cooney (guitar)
Vinnie Kilduff (whistle & multi-instrumentalist)

Tuesday September 6th
Zoë Conway (fiddle)
John McIntyre (guitar)

Thursday September 8th
Peter Browne (accordion)
Daoiri Farrell (bouzouki & songs)
Michelle O’Brien (fiddle)

Tuesday September 13th
Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich (singer)
Kathleen Loughnane (harp)
Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes)

Tuesday September 20th
Dave Sheridan (flute)
Michael McCague (bouzouki)
Donal McCague (fiddle)

Thursday September 22nd
(Special concert of John Dwyer music)
John Dwyer (fiddle)
Lia Byrne (fiddle)
Siobhan Peoples (fiddle)

Tuesday September 27th
Cormac Breatnach (whistles)
Martin Dunlea (guitar)

Thursday September 29th
Paddy O’Brien (accordion)
Tommy O’Sullivan (guitar)

“Sometimes I felt it sounded like the most traditional music I’d heard in a long time,” he discloses, “and then at others, it sounded like the most modern music I’ve ever heard. We have to trust one another but it’s as much about not being scared to try something that maybe nobody will like.

“It won’t be the end of our lives if it’s outright rejected, which it could be. Because you could live your life trying to get everything just exactly right, but nothing happens – in life or in music – unless you take chances.” (Times) >>>