www.solasmusic.com

 The finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced.

- The Boston Globe

 In a manner befitting their name (a Gaelic word meaning “light”), Solas burst onto a largely dormant Irish music scene and almost instantly became a beacon - an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions without ever stooping to crossover clichs.

Now, as Mairead Phelan, an exciting young singer from Kilkenny, steps up to lend her exquisite vocals to the existing line up of Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran), Winifred Horan (fiddle), Mick McAuley (accordion and concertina) and Eamon McElholm (guitar and keyboards), the band heads into their second decade of playing tight, fiery Irish music.

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August 28th-31st, 2008
www.welshtraditionalmusic.com
This year’s Fiddle Festival of Wales is going to be the best yet. With workshops, concerts, the Welsh Celtic Fiddle Competition and sessions galore, if you can play, or can’t, we can help you do something about that also. Some of the best from Wales (Cass Meurig, Iolo Jones and IMM’s Sian Phillips ), Ireland (Liz Doherty), Scotland (Lori Watson), England (Pete Cooper), Sweden (Goran Premberg) and now, a late arrival to our host of tutors. Mark Oats from Australia has been playing fiddle since the age of four, growing up in Austinmere, NSW.As a teenager he became interested in Irish fiddle and during his twenties, then lived and worked in Europe for several years as a musician, perfecting his unique style of Celtic fiddling.
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www.ccebostonmusicschool.org
Registration is now open for the CCÉ Boston Music School. Classes are available on Fiddle, Flute, Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Anglo Concertina, Button Accordion, Harp, Guitar, Bodhrán, and Melodeon for the 12-week fall  term at Harvard University beginning on September 6th. Classes are assigned by student level, with limited class enrollment.
For more information, see: www.ccebostonmusicschool.org

www.musicnetwork.ie
The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network have announced details of the Music Capital Scheme and Research Project, an action-research initiative designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments in 2008. The scheme and research project will be operated on a pilot basis in 2008 and will be designed to recommend formalised structures for ongoing support in this area beyond 2008. Closing date for applications 5:30pm Monday 29th September.
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www.cultureireland.gov.ie
Culture Ireland recently announced details of its summer funding round: over ?400,000 was awarded to 80 arts projects across Europe, USA, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. A number of younger Irish traditional bands have been supported to tour North America, having made a strong impact during Culture Ireland’s promotional mission to New York earlier this year. Among others, Téada will be performing at the Edmonton Folk Festival in Alberta, Canada, while Slide, Líadan and the David Munnelly Band will play at various music festivals across the United States.
“The strong demand for emerging traditional groups during our promotion at the APAP arts market in New York has translated into a strong list of festival and touring engagements. More generally, we are also seeing a gradual move towards a collaborative and co-production model with international partners, which is a more sustainable long-term model for presenting work abroad” said Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland
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www.nuigalway.ie
On July 3rd, Muiris Ó Rócháin, Director of The Willie Clancy Festival launched NUI Galway’s latest programme taught entirely through Irish, a Diploma of Arts in the Composition, Arrangement and Performance of Traditional Music. The Diploma will be delivered by the University’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in conjunction with internationally acclaimed musician Dr. Charlie Lennon.
Applications are now being accepted for the full-time, one-year course which will commence in September 2008 in state of the art recording studios at Stiúideo Cuan, An Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe. The number of students accepted on the programme is restricted to 15 to ensure the best academic training combined with hands-on practical experience using the latest music technologies.
The programme will be delivered through Irish, therefore a proficiency in the language is essential. Entry onto the programme is subject to an audition and interview process, where prospective students will display their knowledge of and interest in Irish traditional music.
Marianne Ní Chinnéide, Academic Director of the new programme and Administrator of the Performing Arts Department (Riarthóir na dTaibh-Ealaíon), said, “This new diploma aims to provide graduates with the skills needed to pursue a career as a musician or as a traditional artist. The content is practical and offers the student high quality training from professionals already working in the field.”
For more information contact Marianne Ní Chinnéide, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway.
Tel: 091 869103 or email: marianne.nichinneide@oegaillimh.ie

October 24th - November 2nd, 2008
www.returntocamden.org

The UK’s internationally-renowned traditional Irish music, song and
dance festival returns to Camden for its tenth year on Friday 24th
October—featuring more top musicians, artists and teachers than ever
before. For ten action-packed days, some of the top traditional
players, singers and dancers from the UK, Ireland, and the US will
entertain and teach in a full programme of concerts, céilís,
workshops, sessions, and lectures for adults and children at all levels.
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October 2nd – 5th, 2008
www.corkfolkfestival.com

The 2008 Beamish Cork Folk Festival is 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.
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October 24th - 27th, 2008
www.patrickokeeffe.com

DRAWS FREE SPIRITS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE AND BEYOND

The Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival has been held in Castleisland, Co. Kerry every October bank holiday weekend since it was founded in 1993. Great music, singing, dancing, poetry, book and CD launches are the staple fare on offer annually at this lively gathering of free spirits from all corners of the globe and beyond imagine that!
This year the event runs from Friday, October 24 to the following Monday 27. In its relatively short history the festival has established itself as one of the most highly respected of its kind in Ireland today. It has been attended by all the leading exponents on the trad scene throughout the country over the course of its reign.
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www.westcorkmusic.ie

From 13th to 17th August, the legends of Irish music return to Bantry for the 6th Masters of Tradition Festival. For five special days, a select line-up of Ireland’s greatest musicians converge on Bantry for this unique Festival, which celebrates the very roots of traditional music.
Looking set to build on the resounding success of the last five years, the 2008 Masters of Tradition Festival throws open its doors to some of the very best musicians in the land. Superb Clare-born, Seattle-based fiddler Martin Hayes will be joined by his usual partner, Chicago-born guitarist Dennis Cahill as well as Kevin Crawford, Steve Cooney, Frankie Gavin, Máire Ní Chéileachair, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Emer Mayock, Helen Hayes, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and many more.
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