JUNE 20th-22nd, 2008
www.centerforirishmusic.org

Featuring: Liz Carroll (fiddle),Tara Bingham-Diamond (flute & whistles), Dermot Diamond (fiddle),Tommy Martin (uilleann pipes, flute & whistles), Daithí Sproule (songs in Irish and English, DADGAD guitar). The McNally-Smith College of Music in downtown.

St. Paul is where this vibrant summer school will be taking place. More on the web including information on public concerts and open sessions at www.centerforirishmusic.org

www.cherishtheladies.com

Michelle Burke is the newest member of ‘Cherish the Ladies’. She grew up in Fermoy in East County Cork into a musical household where Irish ballads and folk songs were the norm. Her father had a local band that played weddings, dances and parties and as soon as Michelle was old enough she was travelling and singing with him. Her love of music brought her to renowned music college University College Cork where Michelle graduated with a degree with honours in music and went on to further achievements when she earned her Master’s degree in Traditional Irish Music and Song in University College Limerick.
She now makes her home in Edinburgh, Scotland where she continues to perform with pianist James Ross whom she has toured extensively with. She continues to delve into other musical styles as she studies jazz singing, while teaching workshops to adult community groups and young folk where she develops their singing and confidence.

More at www.cherishtheladies.com

5th July – 13th July, 2008
www.willieclancy-summerschool.com

July wouldn’t be July without a little bit of music in Miltown Malbay when Clare celebrates the legacy of Willie Clancy. Now in its 36th year it has everything; great sessions, excellent music vendors and some superb traditional concerts. Some events that took our eye from this year’s programme are: the Breandán Breathnach Memorial Lecture on July 5th when Terry Moylan, musician, archivist and writer, will give a talk on Na Piobairí Uilleann 1968-2008 in the Community Hall. On Monday the 7th of July, Dr. Reg Hall will give a talk on Irish Traditional Music in London, this will be a first-hand account as he was there when some of the most famous live recording were made in the 1960’s.
(more…)

www.glensmusic.com

With the Gaelic sporting season getting off to a good start in early summer, what an opportune time for the release of a CD of songs about hurlers and hurling? Actually it’s a beautiful little presentation pack with two booklets included, introducing Belfast traditional singer, Éamonn Ó Faogáin.
The second title is ‘Master Fiddlers of County Antrim’ (we are told that this may become a series) featuring Davy Rice and Denis Sweeney. Denis is the fiddle teacher featured on ‘An Fhidil- Céim ar Chéim’ which we highlighted a few weeks ago.
You can find out more from Seán Quinn www.glensmusic.com and his traditional recordings from the Glens of Antrim

www.blas.ie

The Irish World Academy’s twelfth annual Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance takes place from June 23rd to July 4th. With its continuing commitment to providing tuition from the very best-known Irish traditional musicians, singers and dancers, Blas continues to attract students from all over the world, as well as from Ireland. The renowned music school held a competition on RTE Radio One’s Tubridy Show the week we went to press with this issue. Listeners were invited to compete for two scholarships to attend the two-week residential summer school.
Carl Corcoran, Director of Blas and dancer, Colin Dunne one of the principal Blas tutors were interviewed on the show.

www.celticfusion.co.uk

Castlewellan’s Celtic Fusion Award celebrates the achievements of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their chosen art form. In its inaugural year the award was given to Tommy Sands. Last year ‘The Godfather’ of Irish Music, Tommy Makem, was presented with the award, recognising a lifetime of musical achievement, a mere month before he lost his battle with cancer. This year the award will again honour a significant contribution to traditional music with the presentation taking place to the Vallely Brothers at their concert with Karan Casey at the Lodge Cultural Centre, Castlewellan on July 16th.

Pavilion Theatre presents tradition:DL
www.paviliontheatre.ie

Paddy Glackin
Tony Mac Mahon, David Power & Dermot Bolger in ‘The Frost is All Over’
Julie Fowlis & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Spiers & Boden
Michelle Mulcahy with John Blake

Pavilion Theatre & THE GastroPUB Company
Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire
Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd August 2008
Tickets: €20/18
Festival ticket €50/44
Gastropub sessions: free admission
Booking: 01 – 2312929 www.paviliontheatre.ie
(more…)

www.lunasa.ie

Top traditional band Lúnasa have recently finished their seventh and eighth
visits to Leitrim as part of the successful traditional music residency as
part of Leitrim County Council’s Arts Strategy.

The 18 month residency consisted of a number of visits to different areas
in Leitrim; meeting local musicians, learning Leitrim tunes, working with
young musicians in composing new tunes and spending time in different
community settings. In 2007 they spent time in the Carrick on Shannon
area, Rossinver/Kiltyclogher, Manorhamilton, Ballinamore and Drumkeerin /
Tarmon and so far this year they’ve visited Carrigallen/ Aughavas,
Dromahair, and their final visit of the residency took place in Drumshanbo
in mid May.

The residency will end with a recording of a selection of Leitrim musicians
they met along the way, with members of Lunasa as guests on the album.

For more information on the residency see
http://www.leitrimcoco.ie/Departments/Arts/Lúnasa or http://www.lunasa.ie
or telephone Leitrim County Council Arts Office on 071 9621694

ALBUM ‘LIVE’ AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 10th
www.compassrecords.com

Lau (sounds like cow) is a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music: Kris Drever (guitar and vocal), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle). Together, their explosive live performances have been generating a major buzz around the UK folk circuit that has now become a world-wide party. The summer of 2007 saw them take festivals by storm across Europe and North-America; the Fall to Japan and Cape Breton. They kicked off 2008 at the BBC Folk Awards where they gave what was widely regarded as the performance of the night, went on to win BEST GROUP award and Bob Hoskins was last seen bowing down to the band proclaiming “I am not worthy!”
(more…)

www.colemanirishmusic.com

Ceoláras Coleman, Gurteen, Co. Sligo has a sparkling programme of Irish traditional music, concerts and events arranged for the coming months. The one hundred and twenty seat theatre in the centre lends itself to the full enjoyment of concerts with sound and atmosphere second to none.
(more…)