www.celticfusion.co.uk

Celtic Fusion 2008 takes place in Castlewellan from 13-20 July, boasting an impressive line-up which features international talent combined with Irish artistes. For eight days, there will be varied entertainment in the form of concerts, theatre shows, and traditional music sessions.

Sunday 13 July will be the highlight of the festival for many, as the opening concert provides a rare opportunity to see the legendary Moving Hearts who recently reformed to take care of ‘unfinished business’. Playing only a few gigs each year, opportunities to see the band in action are limited; therefore tickets are expected to be in high demand. The opening act for the evening is Cara Dillon, her fantastic ability to relate a great story in song, means this concert at The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle shouldn’t be missed.

The evening of Monday 14 July brings theatre to Celtic Fusion, when Richard Lynch’s critically acclaimed From the Shoulders Down, casts a reflective glance at character PJ Mulpeter’s career as his retirement nears.

Tuesday 15 is a special evening, not only are the Vallely Brothers with Karan Casey performing, but the coveted Celtic Fusion Award will also be presented in recognition of contribution to traditional music, with the recipient being kept a close-guarded secret until the night itself.

North is in Concert on Wednesday 16 March, bringing their unique twist to traditional Irish music. Brought together by Francis McPeake of the legendary McPeake Family, the band is still relatively new; however their popularity is growing fast, gaining more fans through every captivated audience.

Session A9 play on Thursday 17 taking Celtic Fusion into the build-up for the final weekend. Described as ‘Scotland’s Supergroup’, they have the ability to combine a modern feel to performances, whilst keeping the atmosphere of a traditional session.

Friday 18 has several highlights, two well-known names; Marian Bradfield and Thom Moore perform together during the Singer Songwriter Evening. Popular band Hothouse Flowers have received acclaim from Rolling Stone Magazine and their plan to steal their way into hearts is likely to become reality with the Celtic Fusion audience. Entertainment continues with the Traditional Music Session Trail.
(more…)

www.returntocamden.org

The tenth Return to Camden Town Festival will take place between Friday 24th October and Sunday 2nd November 2008.

Artists confirmed so far include - Paddy Keenan & Tommy O’ Sullivan, Nollaig Casey, Arty McGlynn, Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, At the Racket, John Wynne & John McEvoy, The Davey Family Céilí Band and Gerard Butler.
(more…)

www.theoutsidetrack.com + www.myspace.com/theoutsidetrack

Ailie Robertson+ Norah Rendell + Alan Jordan + Fiona Black

Welcome, BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician, Lauren MacColl

With a line-up that now includes BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner 2005 (Lauren), the BBC Fame Academy Bursary winner 2007 (Fiona) and the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2008 (Ailie), its no wonder that The Outside Track are one of the most talked about new bands on the circuit.
(more…)

www.rte.ie/radio1/rootsfreeway

The month of May has been designated International Bluegrass month and the RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection is marking it with a host of music programmes celebrating Bluegrass and its musicians.

Monday’s In Concert series features two-part shows The Paperboys and Alison Krauss during the month. The Paperboys are a Canadian group whose influences range from Bluegrass to Mexicana and our own Irish traditional music. Alison Krauss in concert was recorded in The National Stadium in 1996 and has never been broadcast before. Alison and her band Union Station show us why she is the queen of Bluegrass music.
(more…)

National Concert Hall, Dublin
Sunday, 27 April 2008

The National Concert Hall, Dublin was full to capacity on Sunday, 27 April last when hundreds of teenagers, their supporters and families, gathered for a night that will long be remembered by all for it’s celebration of youth and music – the Siansa Gael Linn Grande Finale 2008!

Siansa is a traditional music competition organised by Gael Linn and supported by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Irish Music Magazine , that aims to promote Irish traditional music and song by providing a platform for talented teenagers who aspire to follow in the footsteps of bands such as Altan, Dervish, Danú, Téada etc. Eight groups from different parts of Ireland competed for a total prizefund of €4,000:
(more…)

www.dedanaan.ca

Want an excuse to visit British Colombia? There’s a wonderful Irish music and dance week happening from August 17th to 23rd. The faculty includes: Brian Conway, Brendan Dolan, Heather Martin Bixler and others, at the De Danaan School of Irish Dance Céilí Music & Dance Camp. The camp is an opportunity for students to spend some time with a faculty that Leslie Wilson has put together in a setting that is absolutely breathtaking!
For further information: Check out their website: www.dedanaan.ca

www.nos-ur.eu

Nós Úr song competition finalists announced

The finalists have been selected for the first Celtic and Scots languages song contest to be held in Inverness as one of four regional competitions held across Europe.
Nós Úr , meaning ‘new style’ in Gaelic has received entries of newly composed songs entered in Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Scots and Breton. The Celtic and Scots competition will take place in Eden Court on Saturday June 21st when members of the public will be able to vote on the night by text message or email. The contest is the only song competition of its kind in Europe and follows a similar format as the Eurovision Song Contest with singers and bands representing a particular country, except in this case it is a minority language.
(more…)

www.caradillon.co.uk

Following an 18-month career break due to the birth of her twin sons in November 2006, Irish singer Cara Dillon returns with major plans for 2008 and beyond. Her follow-up CD to February 2006’s ‘After The Morning’ will be released in autumn, the first on her own Charcoal Records label created with partner Sam Lakeman.

Due soon, however, are a single and DVD. The single, ‘If I Prove False’, is out on Charcoal Records on May 19th and is a duet with guitarist, John Smith. A member of Cara’s touring band, Smith is also an acclaimed solo artist and has toured with John Martyn, Davey Graham and John Renbourn among others.
(more…)

www.tickets.ie/flightsoffancy

This summer 11 villages around county Leitrim will resonate with the sounds and sights of music, theatre, dance and spectacle as part of ‘Flights of Fancy’, a unique public art event in which members of the each of the 11 communities are involved in selecting professional performing arts events to come to their area.

Each event is special and unique; some involving premieres or commissioned works, others involving the local community. Art forms as represented are classical music, opera, theatre, outdoor spectacle, world music and traditional Irish music. Of interest to our readers is Voices Of The Outer Hebrides/ Mná Na N-Oileán, a showcase of some of the best Scottish talent which will be highlighted in the folk element of the programme in Leitrim.
(more…)

www.cic.ie

New Book of Songs
Ciarán Ó Fáthara – Amhráin is a collection of the songs of the Connemara songsmith and broadcaster, Ciarán Ó Fátharta, edited by Síle Denvir. Ó Fátharta has built up an excellent reputation for his songwriting and his songs are performed by many singers and groups in Connemara including John Beag Ó Flatharta and Beairtle Ó Domhnaill. The particular style of song came to the fore during the eighties when the Irish economy was in the doldrums and unemployment was high. The songs also gave the local community a morale boost, celebrating events of both local and national interest such as the sailing tradition in Connemara, boxing hero, Seán Ó Mainnín and the state of the roads. The songs are sung in a style particular to Connemara, influenced by both the country and western and the sean-nós styles. The songs are, in general, well-known in Connemara already but this is the first time that the definitive versions of the songs have been published. The book includes the words to the songs, the notation and the background, as well as an introductory essay on the phenomenon of this type of filíocht bhéil, or oral poetry, in Connemara.
CD by Nóra Ghriallais
(more…)