~ Traditional Irish Music Awards and Concert, Cork Opera House, 21 February ~
www.gradam.ie
TG4 has just announced that Brendan Gleeson and Moya Brennan will be among the star-studded line-up of presenters for this Sunday’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2016, the traditional Irish music awards and concert, taking place at Cork Opera House.
The event, which honours the best traditional musicians in Ireland and abroad, is almost sold out. The seven award winners will perform on the evening and they will be joined on stage by a host of top class traditional bands and solo artists, including Patrick Street, Téada and Séamus Begley. It will be the crème de la crème of traditional musical talent on one stage.
Oregon-based veteran fiddle maestro Kevin Burke heads the list of recipients this year. Reared in London by Sligo parents, Kevin Burke’s musical influences and recordings range far and wide in a long career that includes membership of the legendary Bothy Band, collaboration with US folk-icon Arlo Guthrie, a long-time association with Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and an early teenage stint with the Glenside Céilí Band in his native city.
The other winners and performers include Órlaith McAuliffe, a London-born flute player, Arty McGlynn, whose genius single-handedly moved the guitar into the mainstream of traditional music, Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky over it, an innovative Borderland musical heritage project, Pól Ó Ceannabháin, a member of the current generation in revered sean-nós dynasty, Cairde na Cruite, an organization that brought the harp from the edge of extinction.
In this special Centenary Year TG4 is also honoring Gael Linn, an organization whose willingness to commission archive-film documentaries about the Rising first brought a young musical arranger/composer called Seán Ó Riada to national prominence.
TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2016:
·         Gradam Ceoil TG4 (Main Award):  Kevin Burke
·         Ceoltóir Óg TG4 (Young Musician) –  Órlaith McAuliffe
·         Gradam Saoil TG4 (Hall of Fame) –  Arty McGlynn
·         Gradam Comharcheoil  TG4 (Collaboration) –  Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky over it
·         Amhránaí na Bliana TG4 (Singer) – Pól Ó Ceannabháin
·         Gradam Comaoine TG4 (Special Contribution) – Cairde na Cruite
·         Gradam 1916 TG4  – Gael Linn
The award presenters are Brendan Gleeson, Moya Brennan, June Ni Chormaic (the first recipient ever of ceoltoir óg) Pat McCabe, Pól Ó Gallchoir TG4, Kieran Hanrahan, and Máirtín Tom Sheáinín Mac Donncha, and the event will be hosted by well-known musician/broadcasters Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Danú, Port) and Tristan Rosenstock (Téada, Imeall).
The theme of this year’s concert is a celebration of 100 years of traditional Irish music and culture to coincide with national 1916 commemoration events, and there are a number of free events taking place in Cork over the Gradam weekend, including…
-          Exhibition:  Taispeántas le Clúdaigh Ceirníní Gael Linn / Exhibition of Gael Linn Record Sleeves 1957-2016 at St Peter’s Church: open Tues-Saturday 11am-6pm until 29 February.
-          Trad Talk:  An illustrated presentation on ‘The Real Songs of 1916 and The War of Independence’ by Terry Moylan on Saturday 20th February 4pm at St. Peter’s Church, North Main St., Cork.  Terry Moylan is a researcher and archivist with Na Píobairí Uilleann. He is the Author of ‘The Age of Revolution in the Irish Song Tradition 1776 - 1815’ and many more publications and collections on Irish music, dance and song.
-          Trad Sessions:  The Lee Sessions Trad Trail in Sin É, Cantys, The Oliver Plunkett, The Metropole, Charlies, The Corner House, Larry Thompkins, An Spailpin Fánach, Counihans and The Gables and more.
Presented by TG4, in association with Cork City Council, tickets are priced €25 and are available from the Cork Opera House:  www.corkoperahouse.ie, 021 4270022.  For more information check out www.gradam.ie or Facebook and Twitter @gradamceoil. #Gradam