Happy Harmonious Steeple Sessions!
Christmas week midst the mad seasonal shopping hustle bustle, there lays a little peaceful solstice for those in the know in two of Dublin’s most beautiful Church settings.
December 18 to 21st Steeple Sessions present a short series of candlelit concerts at the Unitarian Church on St. Stephen’s Green and at Christchurch Cathedral.
It all starts Monday December 18th with legendary a capella harmony trio The Voice Squad followed by rising star and twice 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning Daoiri Farrell and then Galway’s favourite harmony trio The Whileaways.
The series finishes with a fund raiser at Christchurch Cathedral for Focus Ireland featuring the High Hopes Choir & Dublin Ukulele Collective . Because of the wonderful contrast in music, stage presentation and entertainment, you could attend all four gigs and enjoy each equally without feeling bored or over-gigged. Not a bad idea to avoid the commerciality of Christmas – well at least for a few nights!
The Voice Squad
The Voice Squad feature annually at the Steeple Sessions at Christmas and are always a complete sell out. It’s no wonder, as for atmosphere, setting and songs, you won’t experience anything as Christmassy as their perfect a capella harmonies on traditional seasonal numbers such as The Coventry Carol and The Holly & The Berry and then of course there’s The Parting Glass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zy-qnSi3zE
Daoiri Farrell
Tuesday Dec 19th features Ireland and the UK’s hottest emerging folk-singer Daoirí Farrell winner of two 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards at the Royal Albert Hall this year. Following his success, Daoiri has been flat out touring the UK, the US and Canada. Cited by Donal Lunny as “one of the most important singers to emerge this decade’, this will no doubt be a very special homecoming gig for this popular Ballyfermot Boy who has come full circle having cut his teeth performing at the Steeple Sessions in 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPI_tHNjS78
The Whileaways
Possibly the most uplifting of all gigs is on Wednesday Dec 20th with Galway’s favourite harmonisers; The Whileaways. Their Christmas single “Everyone” sees the three distinct voices combining to weave a beguiling tapestry of harmonies and beautifully crafted lyrics by Nicola Joyce. Described by the Irish Echo as their favourite ‘Eirecana’ band (a blend of Americana, harmonies and Irish Folk), the Whileaways sound is totally true and their performances gloriously engaging but hey, we recommend you check it out for yourself.
Hailed as ‘a knockout of the festival’ at the legendary Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia, they have continued to make waves in the folk music scene both at home and abroad since then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpU4cQrmzR8
The High Hopes Choir & Dublin Ukulele Collective
And if you haven’t had enough Christmas cheer by Wednesday, why not go the whole yuletide hog and support homelessness in Ireland to boot by attending the annual High Hopes & Dublin Ukulele Collective concert in the most stunning of settings at beautiful Christchurch Cathedral. This was a complete sell out last year with proceeds going to Focus Ireland. Tickets include a mulled wine/mince pie reception and watching them perform certainly puts what Christmas is about in perspective.
30 second promo; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWwU0NAw7P4
DUC: https://youtu.be/kzfmJjTchhQ
High Hopes Late Late Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbURlDHXwp8
Steeple Sessions with the assistance of the Arts Council ran a forty two gig series summer 2011 based at the Unitarian Church on St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Various concert series followed in subsequent years, some in collaboration with RTE featuring artists such as Martin Hayes, Sean Keane, Kila and De Dannan. Steeple Sessions toured The Voice Squad on a nationwide sellout tour in 2014 and is their agent.
For further details www.steeplesessions.com
