www.gael-linn.ie

The late Donncha Ó Briain was a member of a well-known Dublin musical family: his brothers Mick (pipes), Tom (fiddle), Andrew (fiddle) and John (pipes), all learned music from an early age from their father Dinny (accordion). Paddy Glackin writes in the CD’s notes “This recording represents the music of a young man with a spirit and a love for life. Every tune is played with conviction and sincerity – traits that can only be brought out by a musician who appreciates and understands the beauty and cruelty of life.”

www.fleadh2011cavan.ie

The Comhaltas Summer Tourist Seisiún Show 2011 has launched and which happens Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday  evening for the summer months.

Venues
In Cavan Co Museum Ballyjamesduff   8pm every   Tuesday from   5th July

Farnham Arms Hotel Cavan 9pm every  Wednesday

and Keogans Imperial Cavan every Sunday from 4pm .

Performance from Comhaltas Cavan Town Branch Youth Musicians, Fintan Mc Manus, Cavan Set Dancers, Seamus Fay, Co Cavan Comhaltas Musicians and MC Kavan Donohoe

All Traditional musicians  singers, dancers welcome.

Comhaltas Seisiún Show - With a cast of over 30 artists of all ages, and a non-stop performance of wild Cavan music, song and dance.

A memorable night and a genuine Cavan welcome to all.

www.celtic-colours.com

(Sydney, NS) The line-up for 2011 Celtic Colours International Festival was announced on Monday and organizers are excited about what’s in store for their 15th Anniversary.

Celtic Colours will be exploring our Cajun and Appalachian connections in 2011 with this year’s Artists in Residence: songwriter Ron Bourgeois from Cheticamp and Old Time Appalachian fiddler and singer Bruce Molsky from the US.
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Pass the hat for some cool tunes in Cashel

From June 30th Cashel will be in Festival mood with the EU Rural Charter coming to town and the City of the Kings celebrating its annual Town Walls day on July 3rd. Both events are bringing in a number of performers who will be playing at the various festival venues.

Folk Around the Festival is the idea of Irish Music Magazine Editor Sean Laffey who told us “ I’ve played festivals myself and one of the biggest thrills for artist is to find a nice session pub and have a bit of craic with the locals. So I thought why not make sure that it happens in Cashel during the big festival weekend? Wwe have some great acts lined up for the Heritage Trust’s Town Walls day on Sunday July 3rd and I thought it would be an ideal chance for local session players to meet them and have a few tunes together.

“We have two pubs lined up already with more likely to come on board as we get closer to the event. On Friday night the Armagh Rhymers will host a session at Mikey Ryan’s pub on the Plaza. On Saturday night Wynddebag The Piper is set to get the punters into the Medieval spirit with an acoustic set in Davern’s Bar.  The session will start 15 minutes after the acts on the mainstage have finished. Around 10pm most nights.“

The Armagh Rhymers will be in town from the Wednesday as they will give a performance for the children at St. John the Baptist Schools.

“The pub sessions are open to anyone, it’ll be a ‘sit around the circle and have a few tunes set up’ no stages, no lights, no PA. It’s all unplugged and unpaid,” said Sean. Explaining further he told us the musicians are giving their services free to the pubs to encourage more visitors in town over the weekend. Sean added; “It’s a pass the hat gig. Well have a black top hat ready to pass around the crowd and hopefully they will be generous with the odd few Euro. The money we collect will go back to the guest musicians to help them cover their food and transport costs. It’s a win win for everyone”

If any other pubs would like to host a Folk Around the Festival gig, please call Sean on 06262685 or 0879821916.

www.lilyneill.com

LILY NEILL RELEASES SECOND CD,
“THE HABIT OF A FOREIGN SKY”

Harp player Lily Neill releases her second solo album, “The Habit of a Foreign Sky”, a follow up to her highly acclaimed 2004 debut album, “Without Words”.  Neill has spent the past much of the past few years on tour, performing in cities as diverse as Washington, D.C., Dublin, Kazan, Vilnius, Helsinki, Paris, London, New York, Moscow and St. Petersburg.  This extensive travel has shaped the tone of Neill’s new album, making it a truly original work and a kaleidoscope of music that redefines harp playing.
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July 16th - 23rd, 2011
www.oideas-gael.com

The Irish Harp course (taught by Oisín Morrison) is aimed at beginners and improvers interested in acquiring a basic introduction into the origins of the Irish harp tradition while enjoying the group sessions, learning Irish melodies and accompanying Irish songs. Participants will enjoy playing a selection of Irish music in the daily tutorials.

The course in whistle and flute is aimed at teachers and individuals who want to explore the different dimensions of Irish music. This tradition of music, song and dance has evolved down the centuries through the lives and customs of the Irish people. Irish musicians are fortunate to have a rich cultural tapestry of song, dance and folklore which provides the source of our traditional music. The courses, taught by leading Irish musician Maureen McGrattan.

Eolas / Information:
www.oideas-gael.com
email: oideasgael@eircom.net
Tel: 074 97 30248

Nashville to Host Festival September 2nd - 4th, 2011

www.nationalfolkfestival.com

The 73rd National Folk Festival is excited to announce the first eight performing groups that will appear in Nashville Sept. 2-4 at this exuberant free-to-the-public festival, an event expected to bring tens of thousands of people to downtown Nashville.
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Spraoi Chiarraí is a Killarney based Irish Traditional Music, Song & Dance performance collective presenting the finest young local performers. They had great success over the last six summers. The first of this seasons concerts is this Saturday, June 11 at St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Killarney at 8pm. The talented Kelleher Family from Fossa, open the proceedings and then we have a fiddle duet Padraig Creedon from Glenflesk and his partner Catherine Carey from Kinsale along with Director/Producer Tim O’Shea on guitar and vocals.
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