www.teada.com

There’s a rich sense of continuity in the sets and of boundless energy bereft of egotism in the playing – The Irish Times (4-star Review)

Invigorating – The Washington Post

This is the best album of Irish instrumental music I’ve heard so far this year – Irish Echo (Earle Hitchner)

Ainneoin na stoirme (In spite of the storm), the fifth album from one of Irish traditional music’s leading exponents Téada, was released by Gael Linn during September 2013.

This album was recorded over a number of studio sessions in Dingle, Co. Kerry and marks a major new departure for Téada with the addition of TG4 Traditional Singer of the Year, Séamus Begley. Following a number of years of touring with Téada and as a duo with Oisín Mac Diarmada, the addition of Séamus’ legendary vocals to this recording brings a wealth of reflective moments alongside instrumental selections which see Téada at their strongest yet.
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Goat Island Music, GIMCD003
www.daimh.net

Tuneship marks the latest chapter in Dàimh’s musical journey. After experiencing their first personnel change in 14 years the band, often dubbed “The Gaelic SuperGroup”, have returned stronger than ever with an exciting and inspired new line–up.
Based entirely in the West Highlands (more than half the band living on the Hebridean islands of Eigg and Skye) the band have drawn both on their native surroundings and experiences while touring the Northern hemisphere to compose all the instrumental material.  Very much keeping within the Highland tradition, the band’s trademark driving pipe and fiddle led fireworks are still to the fore yet also present is a new found dexterity in the arrangement and performance of subtler, more personal pieces.
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www.artscouncil.ie

As we near the end of 2013, it is time to start considering funding for your event, festival or tour in the years ahead. The Arts Council has a number of schemes that require an application this month.

The purpose of the Local Authority Grant is to support the ongoing programme and strategic actions of the local authority arts services in developing the arts locally. This funding scheme is open to local authority arts services only. It would be worth your while consulting with your local authority to ensure they are actively applying for this funding. The deadline for those applications is 5.30pm, Thursday, November 7th, 2013. Another is the Touring and dissemination – Advance Planning funding, which is now taking submissions for 2015. Deadline for that is November 14th, 2013.

For further information www.artscouncil.ie

The World Premiére of a newly composed piece  of music entitled Suantraí na hInise / Island Lullaby will take place at The Blasket Centre, Co. Kerry on November 17th. Composed by Colm Ó Foghlú, and featuring Niamh Ní Charra (concertina), Noreen O’Donoghue (harp), and the Dublin String Ensemble, it has been written to commemorate the anniversary of the evacuation of the Blasket Islands, which took place on that same date 60 years previously. Along with the newly composed music, the evening will feature archive audio visual material including footage from the Blaskets and interviews with some of the islanders.

The Order of Canada is the country’s way of recognizing substantial achievement and service to the community and the nation. This past August Cape Breton songwriter, Allister MacGillivray was added the Order by Governor General David Johnston.
Allister was appointed for his contributions as a musician and composer whose songs are widely–known for their depictions of Cape Breton and its people.

Max MacDonald, the co-founder of the Celtic Colours Festival said Allister’s Song for the Mira is a campfire staple that has been recorded by over 100 artists. Some of his other great songs are Coal Town Road, Tie Me Down and Sea People. These are songs that help to define who we are as a people and even provide some humour.
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Tomás Ó Canainn passed away on September 13th in Cork. He was born in Pennyburn 1930 on the outskirts of Derry and moved to Cork after completing a PhD in Liverpool. He was Dean of engineering at University College Cork and also taught music, taking over the lecturing duties from Sean O Riada in 1971. He co–founded NaFili with Matt Cranitch and together with Tom Barry they issued three records, their first album was Farewell to Connacht released in 1971. The harp player, Bonnie Shaljean commented on line that Tomás “was a vital presence in our musical community and is utterly irreplaceable.

A true Renaissance man, fluent in several languages, a writer and composer as well as musician, singer, storyteller, and one of my all–time favourite people to play with. His Tuesday night session in Glanmire was my first port of call when I moved here, and many a good time was had in his front room.”

Our sincere condolences go out to all his family and many friends.

www.acousticbycandlelight.com

What started out as Ryan Kelly from the Moy, County Tyrone and Neil Byrne from Bray, County Wicklow performing a live show together called Acoustic by Candlelight has now developed into an album titled Acoustically Irish. Currently both men are leading members of “Celtic Thunder”, the Irish and Scottish music group who have scored 8 number one positions on the Billboard World Music Charts and achieved multi–platinum CD and DVD sales around the World.

Crossing traditional Irish music with Americana sounds and many World music influences, Acoustically Irish contains a selection of familiar classic tunes and some contemporary ones too – seamlessly reworked into a fresh sound. At the core of this album are Ryan and Neil’s vocal harmonies.
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www.raelachrecords.com

“Heart–swelling, surprising, fresh and beautiful, it’s exactly what I look for in music”– Nialler9

Drawing on the hypnotic repetition of minimalism and the organic improvisatory spirit of jazz, the music of Ensemble Ériu weaves a rich acoustic tapestry around Irish traditional melodies.

Developed by concertina player Jack Talty and double bassist and flute player Neil O’ Loghlen, Ensemble Ériu brings together a chamber ensemble of some of Ireland’s most exciting young musicians from a range of performance backgrounds. The result is a unique combination of the fresh and familiar, a soundscape that is creatively progressive yet rooted in tradition.
Following a rousing reception at their debut gig at the Galway Jazz Festival in October 2012, Ensemble Ériu are planning a series of concerts to launch their album throughout Ireland in late 2013.
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The 2nd annual Pat O’Brien Composition Competition will be taking place again this year as part of the John Dwyer Traditional Weekend October 18th–20th, 2013. All entrants must be 18 or under on October 1st, 2013. All tune types are acceptable but must fit within the traditional idiom. Recordings should be no less than

3 minutes in length and tunes must be performed solo. Each entry will be given a number and the entries will be blindly adjudicated by John Dwyer (one of the countries finest composers!).

Entries for the competition can be sent on MP3 to email: johndwyertradweekend@outlook.com  or post on CD to POB Composition Competition, Imagine Arts Festival, C/O Waterford City Arts Office, The Mall, Waterford.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday October 15th,  2013.

GROG will be appearing in Culturlann na hEireann,
32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin on November 30th at 8.30pm.

Tickets are priced at €12 and can be booked from Comhaltas Craobh Chualann at email: info@craobhchualann.net, Carmel Gunning at Tel. 087 6250 454 or email: carmelgunn09@gmail.com.

Also available at The Record Room, Sligo Town Tel: 071 91 43748. People can also pay on the door.