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January 7th – 17th, 2014
www.musicnetwork.ie
Dirk Powell (5–string banjo, fiddle, accordion, voice), Michael McGoldrick (uilleann pipes, flute, whistles), Brendan Gleeson (fiddle), Francis Gaffney (guitar).
“Dirk Powell is the greatest old–time banjo player alive… an artist of unique vision and unbending integrity.”– Steve Earle
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Music
With music director Seamus Egan returning, his ground– breaking group Solas will be back on stage as well. The virtuosity of Winifred Horan on fiddle, Mick McAuley from Kilkenny on accordion and guitar, and Eamon McElholm, from Co. Tyrone will be supplemented by a new percussionist Steve Holloway, and the returning stalwart, Chico Huff on Bass. Steve Hickman, who wowed the audience with his use of body percussion (hambone!), and fiddling in 2007 will return. And Maeve Gilchrist will bring her harp wizardry from her native Scotland as well as the new influences of her years at the Berklee College of music. This year, some of the distinctive music of Norway will also be incorporated as Mariel Vandersteel joins the cast with her 8 string Hardanger fiddle, named after a musically vibrant and distinct part of the country.
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2014 will be the 11th edition Meitheal Summer School. It will run from July 21st to 25th in Villiers School, Limerick. (ie. Just after the Munster Fleádh). A stellar cohort of tutors is being lined– up. Reaction to Meitheal 2013 was extremely positive and many students highlight the Finale Concert, broadcast on Raidio na Gaeltachta and the Meitheal Orchestra show broadcast live from the Guildhall in Derry proved an unforgettable experience.
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January 16th–20th, 2014
The Shannonside Winter Music Weekend has been going from strength–to–strength over the last few years, and next January’s event marks another step forward for this eclectic festival of the best in acoustic music. Between January 16th and 20th, almost 80 concerts, pub gigs, sessions, and shows will keep the villages of Sixmilebridge and Bunratty buzzing and bouncing with acts from far and wide, as well as the cream of local talent.
The Tin Sandwich Band lead a strong trad roster in a weekend that is always different, yet always a delight. The hugely popular High Plains Tradition from Colorado will provide bluegrass excellence, while La Compagnie Maribel from southern France bring their regional song, dance and costume for a very different experience. From Germany, Papirossi play a quirky mix of world music styles, and Rue du Canal deliver sublime Franco–Irish gypsy–folk. Gospel, Classical, even rockahillbilly music get a look in too!
Saturday sees Bunratty Folk Park hosting gigs on five different stages, while the pubs of Sixmilebridge resound to the best of sessions in jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass, as well as Irish. Another heaped helping of nourishing music and dance makes Sunday in Bunratty or Sixmilebridge more fun than you’d ever expect in Clare in the middle of winter.
From start to finish, this festival will charm, surprise, entertain and occasionally astound. No better way to shrug off the Winter blues.
Details on www.wmw.ie and also on facebook.
On Sunday 10 November 2013, at 8.00 pm in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, the Irish Traditional Music Archive will hold its first-ever concert. This event comes at the end of a year of archival projects, events and publications which has marked the 25th anniversary of the Archive’s foundation in 1987, and it will be a public acknowledgement of the centrality of live performance to all the Archive’s activities.
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The Online Academy of Irish Music
www.oaim.ie
Calling all those who would like to learn how to play Irish music on the Bouzouki. Billy Mac Fhloinn covers all the rudimentariness of how to play Irish music in his first course titled ‘Bouzouki Accompaniment’. Chords and chord structures, strumming patterns and finger picking, counter melody and rhythm are all examined throughout the tutorials. Familiarity with the ideaology behind traditional Irish music accompaniment is discussed, as is the role of the accompanist in duo or group playing. Emphasis in his first course is mainly on accompaniment, however counter melody will also form an important part of the program.
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February 19th–24th, 2014
www.thegathering.ie
The 15th Gathering Traditional Festival returns on February 19th – 24th, 2014 in the INEC and Gleneagle Hotel with concerts, ceilís, workshops and sessions.
The Schools Outreach Programme is one of the most popular elements of The Gathering Festival and returns for the 15th anniversary year. Every year a group of musicians visit a selection of national schools in the Killarney area over four days.
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January 16th–19th, 2014
www.wmw.ie
The Shannonside Winter Music Weekend has been going from strength–to–strength over the last few years, and next January’s event marks another step forward for this eclectic festival of the best in acoustic music. Between Thursday 16th and Sunday 19th January, almost 80 concerts, pub gigs, sessions, and shows will keep the villages of Sixmilebridge and Bunratty buzzing and bouncing with acts from far and wide, as well as the cream of local talent.
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Ireland’s Folk, Roots & Indie Festival
23rd – 28th October 2013
Presents
FIDDLER OF DOONEY Competition
ON
SAT. 26th OCT 2013 – Junior Fiddler of Dooney @ 11.00am
SUN. 27th OCT 2013 – Senior Fiddler of Dooney @ 2.00pm
Location: Methodist Hall, Wine Street, Sligo
Get ready for another great SLIGO LIVE. As well as the very special Coleman’s Call Concert, Liz Carroll’s concert, the always dynamic Sligo Sessions, the renowned Fiddler of Dooney Competition with the addition of an overseas expansion, add a whole parallel program of roots and indie music bringing together established and Irish artists, a hopping festival club each night and ‘Arrivals’, performances by some of Ireland’s top emerging talent and you have a must see festival. SLIGO LIVE takes place over 6 days spanning the Bank Holiday Weekend, October 23d – 28th 2013. See www.sligolive.ie for full programme.
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www.sligolive.ie
Ireland’s Folk, Roots & Indie Festival
23rd – 28th October 2013
ARRIVALS @ SLIGO LIVE
2013’s Last Big Festival, SLIGO LIVE is getting ready to welcome an array of International artists and thousands of dedicated fans to Sligo this October Bank Holiday Weekend. SLIGO LIVE takes place from 23rd – 28th October 2013.
With over 80 performances, 300 performers, over 6 days and over 80% free. Mark the dates in your diaries.
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