The Concerts & Players
Tom Byrne
Malin Presbyterian Church, Lagg, Malin
Wednesday 18thJuly
(in association with Earagail Arts Festival)
Tom plays chromatic accordion, chromatic and diatonic harmonica. Traditional Irish music is his main interest although he also plays classical, jazz, blues, French Musette and lately has even been exploring the distinctive rhythms of the music of the Balkans playing with the Derry based band ‘Balkan Alien Sound’.
Much of his time now is given to composition as well as performing. In 2016 Tom received two major music awards: ‘The 2016 Liveireland Male Musician of the Year Award’, ‘Top Tradition in Review Awards Male Musician of the Year 2016.’ Chicago Irish American News. He has released two CDs: ‘Tom Byrne’, a traditional harmonica album featuring Frankie Gavin, the great fiddle player from Galway and the ‘Tom Byrne Band featuring the Henry Girls’ an EP of his and his father’s songs. Tom is delighted to be returning to play in Malin, his father Paddy’s birthplace and an area of great inspiration to Tom through its rich heritage of music, place and people.
Tom will be joined on the night by Kevin Murphy from Derry on piano. Kevin’s performing career began in London where he co-founded groundbreaking groups such as Orbestra and the Portable Museum of Exotic Instruments and was lucky to perform with many leading musicians and in festivals and venues all over the world.
Tickets available: Click here
Liz Doherty & Guests
The Market House, Clonmany – Wednesday 25th July
Fiddle player Liz Doherty from Buncrana, Co. Donegal has performed and recorded with the Bumblebees, Fiddlesticks and Nomos and has two solo recordings – Last Orders (Foot Stompin’ Records,1999) and Quare Imagination (2002, Busy Lizzy Records). Known for her distinctive style and strong Scottish and Cape Breton influences Liz has also performed with Riverdance -The Show and is an occasional member of international all-women band, String Sisters. She has also performed and recorded with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, most recently for Lumen i Luimnigh (2015) and with Fintan Vallely’s Compánach production including at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia in 2018. In 2015 she was artist in residence at the Celtic Colours International Festival in Nova Scotia and is featured on the live recording of the event; she features also on the 2017 CD, with Canadian fiddler/trumpet player, Daniel Lapp and with students from Ulster University, The Doc Flock. In demand as a fiddle teacher she runs the online fiddleclinic.ie and has taught around the world at events such as Valley of the Moon (USA), the National Folk Festival (Australia), Celtic Colours (Canada), Celtic Connections (Scotland), Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (Ireland) and Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy (Ireland). She founded the Acadamh Ceoil/Traditional Music Academy at An Cultúrlann in Derry in 2016 and is co-Director of Scoil Trad Bhun Cranncha in Inishowen.
Liz currently lectures in traditional music at Ulster University, Magee campus, Derry.
Her publications include The Cape Breton Fiddle Companion (Cape Breton University Press, 2016), a comprehensive A-Z guide to Cape Breton fiddle music which follows on from her PhD research in Cape Breton in the early 1990s. She was Co-editor of Crosbhealach an Cheoil/The Crossroads Conference 1 and 2 (Whinstone Music, Dublin, 1999 and 2013) and of Ethnomusicology Ireland (International Council for Traditional Music Ireland, 2015). She is currently leading research on performance-related injuries among traditional musicians in the Safe Trad project. Liz has also been involved in various festivals and events (including Ar Ais Arís in Buncrana) and in 2012 was Director of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Derry/Donegal. As a traditional arts consultant she has worked on various national and international projects, including as Traditional Arts Specialist with the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon (2005-2008). She is currently a member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee.
Liz will be joined for this concert by Jim Woods (accordion/bodhrán) and Jack Warnock (guitar).
Eventbrite Ticket link: click here
Paul Harrigan & Guests
The Wee hall, Culdaff – Wednesday 1st August
An accomplished musician on both Uilleann pipes and piano accordion Paul holds the honour of All-Ireland champion titles on both pipes and accordion. Paul is a respected and versatile musician and has traveled extensively toured and recorded with groups such as Lunasa, Tuath, (Ireland), Dirty Linen, (France) and BlØf (Holland), and with virtuoso solo performers and composers Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, (Ireland), Benoit Guerbigny, Renaud Séchan and Jean-Marc Padovani (France). With friend and colleague Terry Woods, Paul has been a member of the Woods Band and original member of The Hell Fire Club with Shane McGowan. Paul has arranged music for publications such as ‘Anair’, a collection of poetry and translations of the Connemara Tradition, he has performed and appeared in a documentary by Brian Ó Flaghartaigh on the life of James Connolly. Paul has worked with contemporary Irish composers, Brian Bridges, Linda Buckley, and Hugh O Neill, to perform a series of concerts and lectures in Beijing. Paul is also an acclaimed music teacher and has been teaching for the past 20 years. With his wife Una Ni Bhriain he set up Ceol na Coille, School of Music in Letterkenny together they now run the highly successful annual Ceol na Coille, Summer School in July. Paul will be joined on the night by guest musicians from Inishowen.
Paul will be joined by Joleen McLaughlin (harp), Roisin McGrory (fiddle) plus special guests.
Eventbrite Ticket link: click here
Dermot Byrne & Steve Cooney
Moville Presbyterian Church, Moville – Wednesday 8th August
Dermot Byrne, from Buncrana, Inishowen Co.Donegal and is rated as one of Ireland’s finest traditional accordion players this was acknowledged nationally in 2013 when he received the Gradam Ceoil award for his contribution to traditional music. Introduced to the accordion by his father Tomás O’Beirn, a native of Teileann in South West Donegal Dermot met many of the great of Donegal Music music and was influenced by the likes of John Doherty, Con Cassidy, and Tommy Peoples.
Dermot’s effortless, emotive playing combined with his great musicality and flawless dexterity makes him one of the greats of his generation he can turn with ease to other styles and traditions such as French musette, or South American music. He has toured with Altan, collaborated with many such as Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Tim O Brien, Pierre Schryer, The Stunning, Salsa Celtica and the late jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
Joining Dermot on the night is Steve Cooney (guitar) Steve is one of the most dynamic modern performers in traditional music. Not alone is Steve admired for his great mastery of guitar but also for bringing real feel and understanding in accompaniment.
Steve brings to music a deep respect and love of melody adding fun and life to rhythm. He is a noted composer and producer.
Eventbrite Ticket Link : click here
Michael Gallanagh & Jim Mc Farland
Fort Dunree, Buncrana – Wednesday 15th August
Michael Gallanagh
Michael is one of the most innovative and dynamic guitarists in traditional music and his unique versions of old Irish songs have earned him the respect of music lovers far and wide. Appearing in concerts with Phil Coulter and Joseph Locke in the Plaza ballroom in Buncrana he later became a founder member of the Buncrana based legendary band The Pyros. Michael lived for many years in London and Paris playing with many of the leading musicians including the legendary fiddler Sean Maguire, Tom Byrne and Dinny McLaughlin. Michael was guest on a Disney Bluegrass CD a number of years ago and has made many appearances on TV and Radio. Now living in his home town of Buncrana he enjoys music sessions with many local musicians including Roisin Harrigan, Seamus Maguire and Liz Doherty.
Jim McFarland
Jim is one of Ireland’s finest traditional singers, with a voice and repertoire admired by many. He has travelled extensively, guesting in Ireland, the UK, Europe, North America and Canada. His talent also lies in collecting and is no stranger to Inishowen, having co-produced with Jimmy McBride ‘My Parents Reared Me Tenderly’ a collection of Inishowen songs in the 1980s. Jim runs a singing session in Derry and is a stalwart supporter of the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle. He has produced 1 solo CD, 1 CD with Jackie Boyce and has featured on a number of compilation CDs.
Jim and Michael will be joined in song by their daughters Maria and Alice and by musicians
Seamus Maguire (fiddle), Sean Lee (flute) and Edel McLaughlin (piano).
Given that Dunree fort was originally built to defend Lough Swilly during the Napoleonic wars the venue will provide an ideal setting for an evening of songs and tunes that will feature some Napoleonic songs but many local songs and tunes.
Eventbrite Ticket Link: click here
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