www.royaltheatre.ie

www.thehighkings.com

Following the recent success of 2 sell out shows,
The High Kings are back by popular demand.

The High Kings - Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden- in The Royal Theatre, Castlebar Thursday 6th November 2008, tickets on sale now!

For centuries, Ireland was ruled by High Kings. As their reign came to an end, their deeds and stories merged into the world of legend and myth and the High Kings of Ireland were no more except in story, music and song…  Until now. Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden, renowned vocalists and musicians, have come together to create the most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem electrified the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s.
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www.imro.ie

The Board of The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is pleased to announce that Victor Finn has been appointed to the position of CEO at IMRO. Mr Finn, who served as Managing Director of The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (Ireland) from 2001-2008, will take up his position in June.

Finn’s extensive experience within the Irish music market and strong reputation in the International arena are important factors in his appointment to the position. He has overseen significant developments in the Irish music publishing industry, as income for publishers and songwriters has shifted from traditional physical product to digital.
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www.sandsfamilyfolk.com

“The Sands Family” - brothers Tommy, Ben, Colum and sister Anne from
County Down, Ireland,have deservedly earned the title “legendary”
among a host of folk friends and fans world-wide.

Well known and respected as solo performers and songwriters, their
collaborations are always worth waiting for and this new collection
“Keep On Singing” is probably their finest to date.
The seven new songs and five adaptations go a long way in capturing
what The Sands Family have been doing so successfully for close on forty
years,without the slightest signs of slowing down! Recorded “live” in
their home studio without effects, overdubs or guest musicians, this
is the real deal - a multi-talented Family enjoying themselves!

More information and how to buy at www.sandsfamilyfolk.com

Festival of Irish Music Song and Set Dancing
Sligo Town, August 4th – 9th, 2008

Music and singing classes will be held in Institute of Technology (Route N16) from the 4th to the 8th August inclusive daily from 10am to 5pm. Classes will be held in Tin whistle, Flute, Fiddle, Bodhran, Mixed instruments (banjo, concertina and piano accordion) Traditional singing (English and Irish), Sean nos dancing and Set dancing and finishes on Friday morning 8th August at 12 noon.

Tutors for this year are Carmel Gunning – (Tin whistle, Flute and Traditional singing - English, Ronan Regan - Fiddle and Sean nós dance workshop on Thursday 3pm to 5pm. Mildred Beirne - Set dancing - class from 10am to 5pm in the Sligo City Hotel, Quay Street, Sligo town - Saturday 9th August - Seamus Duffy - Traditional singing in Irish. Also, P.J. Hernon - mixed instruments and Seamus O’ Kane - Bodhran.
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September 25th - 28th, 2008
www.johnnykeenan.com

As the summer rolls on, the days of autumn grow nearer. September marks the 7th annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival and as in previous years, the lineup comprises the very best Irish traditional, American bluegrass and folk music.

Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include ALTAN, BARNEY McKENNA, and a very rare appearance by DOLORES KEANE. Altan play relatively few concerts inside of Ireland, so their appearance presents an opportunity for fans at home to see this hard working band. Dolores Keane has been relatively quiet musically of late, so her performance on the Banjo Festival stage will be greatly anticipated. Already, the response has been very positive and enquiries for tickets has been substantial.
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www.returntocamden.org

The tenth Return to Camden Town Festival will take place between Friday
24th October and Sunday 2nd November 2008 at the London Irish Centre, 50-52
Camden Square, LONDON NW1 9XB. The tenth year of this renowned festival
will feature 10 days of concerts, ceilis, set dancing, sessions, talks and
workshops of traditional Irish music, song and dance.
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www.corkfolkfestival.com
The Cork Folk Festival has announced a date change from its traditional date in early September to the 2nd- 5th of October.
Full details of performers appearing at the Beamish sponsored festival will be announced shortly. However part of the programme has already been confirmed with the aim of presenting its most eclectic and traditional line-ups to date. The 2008 folk fest, one of Ireland’s premier events will feature artists, musician, dancers and singers from Ireland, Britain and beyond. The programme will include a staggering range of musical traditions and styles from Salsa to Slides, from old-timey bluegrass to sean nós singing.
Some of the highlights will include a concert with the West Kerry group, BEAL TUINNE featuring Seamus Begley, Rita Connolly, Jim Murray and Shaun Davey at St Finn’barrs Cathedral and concerts with Salsa Celtica, a vibrant 11 piece world music fusion band from Edinburgh. Also appearing at this year will be manchunions Michael McGoldrick and Dezi Donnelly, the ‘pride of the west’ with John Wynne & John McEvoy and the legendary Beara box player Finbarr Dwyer.
Throughout the festival weekend, audiences can sample everything from the very best fiddle, accordion, pipes and flute players in Ireland to a giant open-air Céilí Mór with the Kilfenora Céilí Band. As usual the festival will feature concerts from the Cork Blues, Pipes’ and singers’ clubs, plus lectures, children’s events and a music trail featuring 40 free sessions.

For Further Information Contact:
William Hammond, Cork Folk Festival
Tel. 087 6486922
email: cfolkf@gmail.com
More details will be announced in the coming months on our website www.corkfolkfestival.com

www.iconsfestival.com

ICONS of Irish Music to be celebrated at this year’s Festival

Irish culture will once again take center stage as the 2008 ICONS (Irish Connections) Festival celebrates the Irish heritage, with a focus on Irish and Celtic music and arts. The festival will take place from September 12-14, 2008 at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, Massachusetts. Tickets for the festival are on sale now at www.iconsfestival.com or by phone at 617/508-931-2000.
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www.myspace.com/sanctuaryalbum
‘Sanctuary’, an album of music incorporating a wide variety of musical genres, has just been launched at Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick – all in aid of victims of domestic violence.

Including artists Moya Brennan of Clannad, Mary Coughlan, Nóirin Ni Riain, Jimmy O’Brien Moran, Cara O’Sullivan, the Monks of Glenstal and countless others, the album reflects the tragedy of domestic violence in our society.

“Domestic violence affects people from every background, from every social class, women, children and men. We want this album to provide something for each of them and this has lead to Sanctuary having such a broad range in musical styles.”
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