May 2024 Issue

COVER STORY

JIGJAM : ACROSS THE POND
Seán Laffey discovers that JigJam have taken their own brand of Irish infused Bluegrass across the pond, in a journey that has seen them play from Offaly to the Grand Ole Opry.

FEATURES

ALTAN’S DONEGAL
Donegal, the new album from Altan on the Compass Label, is a deep dive into the culture of its eponymous county. Seán Laffey talks to Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Martin Tourish about creating this new work.

HERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY : VOICES & HARPS IV
Seán Laffey talks to Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra about their latest album in the Voices and Harps series. This time out, it is number four and it’s an homage to Mary O’Hara.

STORYBOOK
Anne Marie Kennedy turns the pages on a new project on the work of Brendan Graham.

FLOOK WITH SPECIAL GUEST PATSY REID
Gráinne McCool spoke with Brian Finnegan from Flook to find out more about their forthcoming tour.

LEONARD BARRY’S LITTORAL
Leonard Barry talks about his roots in north Kerry and the place he now calls home, Sligo, with Seán Laffey.

MUSIC BY BUÍOCH
Gráinne McCool found out about Buíoch when she spoke with band member Ruaidhrí Tierney.

PINE TREE FLYERS REACH NEW HEIGHTS
Michael Lange chats with New England fiddle player Katie McNally about her new group, the Pine Tree Flyers.

SIANSA GAEL LINN FINAL 2024
The Grand Finale will be held in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Sunday April 14th.

TarantaCeltica
A new kind of music from Ireland and Italy.

A PLAYER’S PERSPECTIVE OF THE HEDGE BODHRÁNS
Seán Laffey talks to Rolf Wagels who gives his assessment of the Christian Hedwitschak HEDge bodhráns.

FESTIVALS

A selection of wonderful Festivals and Summer Schools from Ireland and abroad.

BELFAST TRADFEST 2024
Building community and providing opportunities for young Belfast musicians is at the heart of the festival’s vision, Artistic Director Dónal O’Connor tells IMM’s Seán Laffey.

PEORIA IRISH FEST : IT ALL BEGAN WITH A SIMPLE IRISH MEAL
Tom McConnaughay, entertainment chair for the Fest, talks to Gráinne McCool about the 2024 Peoria Irish Fest.

THE 22nd PENN-MAR IRISH FESTIVAL
Gráinne McCool says it was a delight to once again find out about this year’s plans from festival organiser, Mary Yeaple.

YN CHRUINNAGHT CELTIC GATHERING
The Isle of Man hosts Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering from the 22nd to the 28th July.  Seán Laffey finds out more from Chloë Woolley, Jo Callister and Gráinne Joughin.

THE LEGENDS SERIES
Chapter 35 : Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill. An appreciation by Mark Lysaght for Irish Music Magazine.

MUSIC & HEALING
Part 3 : Music, Empathy & Hobnailed Boots. Bruce S. Victor, MD, DLFAPA, continues the series for IMM.

IRISH BOUZOUKI SKILLS with Alan Reid
Brought to you in association with the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM).

STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Seán Laffey winds the threads together of the song The Spinning Wheel.

LIVE REVIEWS

TradFest 2024 : TRANSATLANTIC WOMEN
Amazing artistic line-up at Dublin’s National Stadium. Deirdre Cronin reports for Irish Music Magazine.

BELFAST TRADFEST WINTER WEEKEND
Dave McNally reports for IMM.

CD REVIEWS

Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of Folk and Traditional Music.

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