September 18th - 28th, 2008
www.clifdenartsweek.ie

The much anticipated Clifden Community Arts Week, which will take place from September 18th to 28th is set to rock the town with an exciting music line that is sure to get every toe tapping. Some of the biggest and much loved acts on the traditional Irish music circuit as well as internationally respected performers will take to the stage throughout the 10 day festival.

One of Ireland’s greatest live bands, Aslan, will take the stage on Saturday, 20th Septembe in Clifden Town Hall. The band have achieved huge success worldwide, with their album ‘Waiting for the madness to end’ going straight into the number one spot in the Irish charts in 2001 and hitting the platinum sales mark after only four weeks. Award wining Irish fiddle player, Zoe Conway will also take to the stage on Thursday 25th in the Station House Theatre, showcasing her Traditional Irish and classical styles. Her list of achievements belies her youthful age as Zoe has already performed across the globe with international acts such as Riverdance, Damien Rice, Rodrigo y Gabriella and Lou Reed and was recently voted Best Traditional Female of the Year in Irish Music Magazine. Noelie McDonnell, one of the best new songwriters to emerge from the west and indeed Ireland in years and who has a voice and stage presence to match will give a special school performance and also an evening show in Mullarky’s Bar on Wednesday 24th.   His music has recently been described as a hybrid of John Prine, Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan by Hot Press Magazine.

Ireland’s legendary blues and soul vocalist, Rob Strong will also be appearing with his band to belt out the soul classics that we all know and love in Mullarkey’s Bar on Friday 26th.  The Canadian Bluegrass Band team up with the five seasoned musician of the band Hungry Hill, in Mannion’s Bar on the 26th to deliver a performance which is not to be missed. Audiences can expect lush vocal harmonies resonating from the three singers around one microphone in the traditional acoustic setting of old time music creating a powerful delivery of voice and instrument coupled with the acclaimed song writing of the group.  And country singing sensation Mike Denver is sure to have everybody donning their cowboy boots for a little do-si-do when he plays on Tuesday 23rd in the Alcock and Brown Hotel.

Classical music enthusiasts will be delighted to know that the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will also make an appearance on Friday 19th in the West Connemara Leisure Centre, performing Golden Oldies of Opera and Operetta which will include pieces from The Barber of Seville, Traviata and The Pirates of Penzance to name but  a few. Concert pianist, Phillip Martin will perform a breathtaking programme including pieces by Chopin, Henri Herz, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Phillip’s own Prisms on Tuesday 23rd in the Church of Ireland. A concert with Lunfardia featuring the passionate  music of Buenos Aires and tangos and milangos from South America in sure to get everybody dancing out of their seats when they play in the Station House Theatre on Saturday 20th . French Canadian trio L’attisée who hail from the belle province of Québec will dazzle audiences with their répertoire which includes songs, reels and original music all coloured with the traditional music of Québec and Ireland when they play in Mullarkey’s Bar on Saturday 20th.

The Clifden Community Arts Week prides itself on its roots which are firmly in the local community, this arts festival holds something quite unique in the context of the Irish arts scene. Begun in 1977 involving the children of Clifden Community School, the festival now enjoys the benefits of the careers that those children went on to – graphic designers, dramatists, and so on. The festival would not be possible without the generous contributions of local and national sponsors including The Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Galway County Council and Music Network all of whom are an integral part of this annual event, much-loved by both local people and Irish and foreign visitor alike. The festival will be officially opened by Dr. Martin Mansergh, Minister of State at the Department of Finance ( including special responsibility for the Office of Public Works) and at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, on September 18th in the birthplace of the Clifden Arts Festival – Clifden Community School.

For more information please contact:
Rebecca Rocca, D’Arcy Marketing & PR, 091 568390, Rebecca@darcymarketingandpr.ie
Noreen D’Arcy, D’Arcy Marketing & PR, 091 568390, Noreen@darcymarketingandpr.ie
Tel: 0868227556