Diarmaid & Donncha Moynihan

The two brothers from Cork are widely acknowledged as two of Ireland’s finest musicians. They first teamed up in 1996 when they founded, Calico, a ground breaking traditional band, who released two award-winning albums, Celanova Square and Songdogs. The band were one of the most influential ensembles to come out of Ireland and they toured throughout Europe and the USA appearing at many of the major folk festivals. Diarmaid Moynihan is regarded as one of Ireland’s most creative uilleann pipers and composers. His music has been recorded by some of traditional music’s greatest musicians including: Lúnasa, Flook, Michael McGoldrick, Spiritu 986, Gráda, Kathryn Tickell and Kris Drever. He has appeared in concert and recorded with Bristol based jazz quintet Carmina, Donal Lunny, Breton legend, Alain Stivell and many others.
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www.cic.ie
Subhóró – Ceol ón Acadamh
74 traditional artists ‘jam’ it for charity

A compilation album of music, poetry, storytelling – and even traditional dance – has been compiled by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua, Conamara in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. The artists include staff, students, course participants and friends of the Acadamh all of whom gave of their time and talents free of charge for the project. The recordings were produced mainly by musician/composer Charlie Lennon over the summer of 2009 at Stiúideo Cuan, An Spidéal, Co. Galway. The double CD set runs for almost 2.5 hours and features a total of 40 tracks from Donegal, Leitrim, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Waterford.
More information available at www.cic.ie

www.buffalocastle.com

Buffalo in the Castle is an exploration of music inspired by the traditions of Irish and American Old-time music and song.

The band features Desi Wilkinson. Originally from Belfast, Desi has worked and toured with most of the best-known musicians and groups on the traditional Irish music scene, like De Dannan, Donal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn, Máirtín O’ Connor and Andy Irvine. He has toured the USA as guest star with De Dannan and has arranged and performed music for the theatre.
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www.cherishtheladies.com

Cherish the Ladies will have a Christmas album out in time for their December tour of the USA, the album called A Star in the East will be available online and at their concerts. Their really big new fro 2010 is that Joannie and the ladies will celebrate 25 years on the road from January 5th.

Catch the girls in Glasgow at Celtic connections and drop them a big well done on their website located at www.cherishtheladies.com

www.dustybanjos.com

Galway’s largest and longest-running learners’ session, Dusty Banjos, are about to launch their first professional recording, “Live at the Crane”.

The session “Dusty Banjos” was started in Galway in 2002 by local musicians Mary Lovett and Community Music Crew (CMC), as a stepping-stone for adult students of Irish traditional music. CMC had found many obstacles facing adult learners that are not experienced by children and young people, and set out to provide a space that would address, and hopefully alleviate, some of these barriers. The take-up has been incredible, with many hundreds of student musicians availing of the classes and sessions to date.
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www.francismcpeake.com

The Francis McPeake School of Music is currently in crisis and as a result is having to run a raffle to raise urgent funds. They would appreciate your help.

Prizes: 1st Prize Car - Hyundai i10, 2nd Prize £3000, 3rd Prize £1000 The money raised will give much needed financial support to fund the music classes and activities of the school. Each ticket costs £5/$8 and every penny helps. You can puirchase tickets on line if you have a Paypal account. If a non-Northern Ireland resident wins the 1st prize, the cash equivalent will be awarded.

www.cavanmusic.com

“The Wind that Blows” Show every Saturday Night Changed from Friday nights. Box player Martin Donohue has been presenting a Friday evening Traditional music show on Shannonside Northern Sound. The show called “The Wind that Blows” has a good slot of 2 hours per week and features Irish traditional and folk music 8.00pm to 10pm Irish time The show is a gathering place for all things “folk”- artist info, resources like the folk festival listings, and most especially good music and song and lots of it. The radio show is on the web for family and friends overseas: www.shannonside.ie

The show is part of the Nyah Co Cavan arts group work in keeping music live and giving access for all to the culture. If you have a CD you wish to have played or if you want to promote your tour/Gigs, share news etc. Martin is also behind Nyah the County Cavan Arts Festival which runs form March 10th -18th.
More information is available at www.cavanmusic.com

www.mgalba.com

Hands up for Trad will be hosting the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards weekend in Dumfries from the November 27th - 29th, 2009. The aim of these Awards is to highlight Scotland’s wonderful traditional music in all its forms and to create a high profile opportunity which will bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media & public attention.

www.beogamusic.com

Beoga are celebrating the news that their third album “The Incident” has made it to the 2010 GRAMMY Awards nomination ballot. ‘The Incident’ was released in January 2009 to universal critical acclaim, and now has been short listed for consideration in the ‘Best Contemporary World Music Album’ category.
It’s been the busiest year so far for the Antrim based band, with tours taking in 13 countries. On St. Patrick’s Day the group were the cover feature in The Wall Street Journal, who described the quintet as ‘the most exciting traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century’. Following a blistering performance at Houston International Festival in April, Beoga were honoured with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the US House of Representatives. “We’re delighted people seem to be getting as much enjoyment from our music, as we have making it,” says pianist Liam Bradley.
The Incident features original compositions, many penned by the band members, as well as traditional favourites. There are seven instrumental tracks and four songs, including the humourous duet ‘On the Way’, a song about a couple who squabble in the car after getting lost in Donegal. Singer Niamh Dunne trades vocals with the song’s composer Ciaran Gribbin (aka Joe Echo) on this track. “It’s a great song”, says Niamh, “and we’re also thrilled that Ciaran is enjoying world-wide success as co-writer of Madonna’s hit single ‘Celebration’.

One of the most important highlights of the year for the band was their return to the Gig’n the Bann Festival in Portglenone, Co. Antrim, and the scene of the band’s formation. On 5th September, Beoga celebrated their 400th concert with a special ‘big-band’ performance to a capacity audience. Accordionist and guitarist Seán Graham says, “It was a very memorable evening and we were honoured to return to where we formed the band 7 years ago, and to headline the festival.”
The Beoga tour bus looks set to chalk up even more miles in 2010, with Europe and USA dates filling up fast. The band is especially looking forward to their first Australia and New Zealand tours, to take place in May and June.
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www.horslips.ie

The original Celtic Rockers will reunite for two gigs on the December 3rd & 5th, 2009 in Belfast & Dublin. To coincide with the live performances, a double CD has been issued called The Very Best Of Horslips: the two 2 CD’s contain 34 Tracks, All the Hits and a detailed 24 Page Booklet. The albums will be on sale in regular stores from Friday 13th November with iTunes and downloads from the band’s website on a pre-order basis.