“Kris Drever is a serious talent”– MOJO

“A sublime voice” – The Observer (on Fowlis)

“An incredibly forward looking and musically supple outfit that makes music which plays at the boundaries of style and genre.” – The Irish Echo, New York (on Rynne’s Notify)

“Each tune celebrated in glorious technicolour thanks to the jagged-edged beauty of the musicianship” – The Irish Times [on Ní Bhriain’s Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts]

Music Network’s Spring 2017 season opens with the dream line up of Kris Drever, Julie Fowlis, Aoife Ní Bhriain and Pádraig Rynne, joining forces in a spirited celebration of folk music’s endless ability to reinvent itself. Embark on an odyssey of love, loss and wonder as these four incredibly talented and creative musicians shape Irish and Scottish music and songs from ages past into something fresh, dynamic – and irresistible. On tour from 15 – 24 January, details at musicnetwork.ie.

When it comes to moulding traditional sounds into contemporary songs, few match the inventiveness and heart-rending emotion of Orkney-born singer Kris Drever. Freewheeling guitarist with award-winning avant-folk trio Lau, Drever has been described by Q magazine as ‘the standard bearer’ of the folk music revival.

Drever’s no-holds barred approach is shared by Julie Fowlis, a silver-toned singer whose voice – ‘pure and elemental as a Hebridean seashore’ – has seen her become one of Gaelic music’s most celebrated global ambassadors.

Completing this outstanding line-up are multi-award winning fiddler Aoife Ní Bhriain, renowned for her technical virtuosity across both traditional and classical music genres and concertina player Pádraig Rynne whose ensembles Guidewires, Dán and Triad have re-defined the boundaries of the traditional music world.

Music Network’s Spring 2017 season also features one of the UK’s most in demand jazz ensembles, sublime chamber music from an intriguing French classical duo, a very special tour that brings together four of Ireland’s most gifted female violinists for the first time and concludes with an American string band superstar. Music Network tours are funded by the Arts Council and are presented in association with RTÉ lyric fm. Tickets for all regional concerts are available from individual venues around the country. Single tickets for Dublin concerts range from €10 – €20 (including free programme) and can be purchased by calling Music Network on (01) 475 0224 or booking online at www.musicnetwork.ie.

FOR LISTINGS EDITORS

Kris Drever (voice, guitar), Julie Fowlis (voice, whistle), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Pádraig Rynne (concertina)

On tour 15 – 24 January

Sunday 15th January, National Opera House (Jerome Hynes Theatre), Wexford, 8:00 p.m., €16 / €14, Tel. 053 9122144/www.nationaloperahouse.ie
Tuesday 17th January, The Sugar Club, Dublin 2, 8:00 p.m., €20 / €15 (OAPs) / €10 (students) Tel 01 6787188 (The Sugar Club/www.thesugarclub.com, Promoted by Music Network
Wednesday 18th January, Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 8:00 p.m., €18 / €15 / €9 (GoSee under 18s.) Tel 071 9161518/www.hawkswell.com
Thursday 19th January, glór, Ennis, 8:00 p.m., €18 / €16, Tel. 065 6843103/www.glor.ie
Friday 20th January, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, 8:30 p.m., €18 / €16, Tel. 041 9833946/www.droichead.com
Saturday 21st January, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, 8:00 p.m., €15 / €12 Tel. 045 448327/www.riverbank.ie
Sunday 22nd January, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, 8:00 p.m. €12 / €10, Tel. 074 9120777 (An Grianán)/www.regionalculturalcentre.com
Monday 23rd January Station House Theatre, Clifden, 8:00 p.m., €15 / €12 at the door, Tel. 095 21699 (info only) Promoted by Clifden Arts Society
Tuesday 24th January, Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, 8:00 p.m., €18 / €16 Tel. 01 2312929/www.paviliontheatre.ie