www.dervish.ie

What started out as an experiment is now starting to make a real impact on National Public Radio in the US. Sligo based Trad supergroup Dervish were asked to make a sample radio show capturing the dynamics and character of a real Irish traditional music pub session. The reaction has been overwhelming, hence the birth of “Irish Heartbeat with Dervish” which has since been broadcast by nearly 50 radio stations in the US, as well as BBC Radio Scotland and RTE Radio 1 in Ireland. The show’s profile is gaining momentum at an exciting rate, and is now being transmitted from Saturday May 29th at 6pm (Eastern time) by its latest broadcast partner WAMU in Washington which is one of the bigger National Public Radio affiliated networks in the US covering Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

“We broadcasted one episode of Irish Heartbeat with Dervish in 2009 for St. Patrick’s Day and our listeners loved the upbeat live music. We’ll be broadcasting 12 episodes as part of our “Roots and Branches” programming, where we aim to show the common connections between acoustic music throughout the world, and Irish Heartbeat with Dervish does just that.” Jen Hitt WAMU

Hosted by Dervish’s charismatic lead singer Cathy Jordan, the series has a big crossover feel with jams and collaborations taking place from artists from many different music genres. Featured guests in the present series from among Ireland’s top roots and Indie style acts will all make up part of the show’s artistic ethos. The wide variety of music styles lends itself to a big audience reach. As well as noted figures from Ireland’s literary world, guests in the current series include Matt Molloy (of The Chieftains), Moya Brennan of Clannad, Irish folk rock band The Saw Doctors, The Celtic Tenors, singer Susan McKeown, Fiddle maestro Frankie Gavin and dynamic traditional music groups like Danú and Téada and Joyce expert Irish Senator David Norris to name just a few. Spellbinding music, exciting collaborations and engaging conversations with guests is all part of “Irish Heartbeat with Dervish.” Listeners will get a true sense of an intimate music session at a pub or party—an unforgettable experience with lively instrumental tunes traded back and forth, moving songs, chat, laughter, and always a great sense of fun.

“Irish Heartbeat with Dervish” launched initially on flagship station WCMU-FM, an NPR-affiliate in Michigan, and its seven-station network. John Sheffler from WCMU-FM said “Irish Heartbeat with Dervish has the potential in the next few years to become one of the most popular radio shows on National public radio in the USA.

Together since 1989, Dervish are considered one of the Irish music world’s leading performers. The six-member group has released, 11 albums and two DVDs on their own self managed Whirling Discs label, and have received numerous industry awards in their 21 years. To celebrate the release of their album “From Stage to Stage” the band went back to their native roots in Sligo, Ireland to play a pub session with friends at a local bar, the night was beamed via the internet to a staggering 30 000 viewers throughout the 2 hour music session, proving that traditional Irish music is now set to take full advantage of the digital world www.irishheartbeat.ie and www.dervish.ie