June 30th – July 4th, 2008
www.colemanbodhran.com

The Coleman Country Bodhrán School was established in 2006 by Andrew ‘Junior’ Davey from Gurteen in South Sligo.He is a five times All Ireland Bodhrán Champion and celebrates and preserves the wonderful bodhrán tradition of his area.

The Coleman Country is the area of South Sligo, North Roscommon and North-East Mayo which contains the village Killavil, close to which legendary fiddler Michael Coleman (1891-1946) was born.
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June 15th - 22nd, 2008
www.galwaysessions.com

The Galway Sessions Festival Programme will be launched in the Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway by VFI President and Udaras member Val Hanley on Friday May 30 at 6 p.m.

Now in its sixth year the Galway Sessions is an annual week-long event (June 15th – 22nd) with an expansive programme featuring concerts, folk-club gigs, open-air events, and a fun, music packed session trail.

The festival will host over 100 events throughout the ‘City of the Tribes’ including big stage concerts at the Salthill Hotel, Roisin Dubh and Black Box Theatre, the very popular folk club gigs at the Listener’s Club in the Crane Bar, set dancing and ceilidhe in the expanse of Monroe’s Tavern and the Black Box and the Western Hotel. Great Sessions will take place throughout the week in well known watering holes such as Taaffees, Tigh Coilis, the ‘piano bar’ in Tigh Neachtain, Murty Rabbittes, Arus na nGael, Massimo’s and many other venues.
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7 years and still growing!
www.johnnykeenan.com

This September will mark the 7th annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, and each year the event grows and further explores its musical roots. Taking over Longford town each year, the Banjo Festival brings together musicians and fans from around the globe to experience four days and nights of indoor and outdoor concerts, street & pub sessions, jams, and extensive workshops.
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September 3rd - 7th, 2008
www.gignthebann.com

In the heart of Co. Antrim nestled between the major towns of Ballymena and Magherafelt lies the village of Portglenone. The village rests along the banks of the River Bann, which has been immortalised by countless artists and writers down through the years.

It is here in this idyllic setting that the 9th “Gig’n The Bann” Cross Community Music and Dance Festival will take place from the 3rd–7th September 2008. This festival has become one of the major events on the Summer Festival Calendar having built a reputation for offering a most impressive line-up of top performers spanning Traditional, Scottish and Folk Music circles.

The ethos of the festival is to bring together musical traditions across all cultural divides and the direction pursued in recent years has been to incorporate the Ulster Scots tradition alongside Traditional Irish music. This has greatly enhanced audience participation in a diverse range of events. It has also meant that people from different sides of the community have become exposed to music, song and dance that they may not have been familiar with before.

The Festival programme for 2008 will again include the usual mix of Concerts, featuring artists such as The red Hot Chilli Pipers and Teada.Traditional Music Sessions with some of Irelands finest musicians, musical cruises along the River Bann, a family fun day and the Bard N` The Bann competition which features local writers in an evening of humorous verse.
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www.celticfusion.co.uk

Celtic Fusion 2008 takes place in Castlewellan from 13-20 July, boasting an impressive line-up which features international talent combined with Irish artistes. For eight days, there will be varied entertainment in the form of concerts, theatre shows, and traditional music sessions.

Sunday 13 July will be the highlight of the festival for many, as the opening concert provides a rare opportunity to see the legendary Moving Hearts who recently reformed to take care of ‘unfinished business’. Playing only a few gigs each year, opportunities to see the band in action are limited; therefore tickets are expected to be in high demand. The opening act for the evening is Cara Dillon, her fantastic ability to relate a great story in song, means this concert at The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle shouldn’t be missed.

The evening of Monday 14 July brings theatre to Celtic Fusion, when Richard Lynch’s critically acclaimed From the Shoulders Down, casts a reflective glance at character PJ Mulpeter’s career as his retirement nears.

Tuesday 15 is a special evening, not only are the Vallely Brothers with Karan Casey performing, but the coveted Celtic Fusion Award will also be presented in recognition of contribution to traditional music, with the recipient being kept a close-guarded secret until the night itself.

North is in Concert on Wednesday 16 March, bringing their unique twist to traditional Irish music. Brought together by Francis McPeake of the legendary McPeake Family, the band is still relatively new; however their popularity is growing fast, gaining more fans through every captivated audience.

Session A9 play on Thursday 17 taking Celtic Fusion into the build-up for the final weekend. Described as ‘Scotland’s Supergroup’, they have the ability to combine a modern feel to performances, whilst keeping the atmosphere of a traditional session.

Friday 18 has several highlights, two well-known names; Marian Bradfield and Thom Moore perform together during the Singer Songwriter Evening. Popular band Hothouse Flowers have received acclaim from Rolling Stone Magazine and their plan to steal their way into hearts is likely to become reality with the Celtic Fusion audience. Entertainment continues with the Traditional Music Session Trail.
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www.returntocamden.org

The tenth Return to Camden Town Festival will take place between Friday 24th October and Sunday 2nd November 2008.

Artists confirmed so far include - Paddy Keenan & Tommy O’ Sullivan, Nollaig Casey, Arty McGlynn, Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, At the Racket, John Wynne & John McEvoy, The Davey Family Céilí Band and Gerard Butler.
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www.theoutsidetrack.com + www.myspace.com/theoutsidetrack

Ailie Robertson+ Norah Rendell + Alan Jordan + Fiona Black

Welcome, BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician, Lauren MacColl

With a line-up that now includes BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner 2005 (Lauren), the BBC Fame Academy Bursary winner 2007 (Fiona) and the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2008 (Ailie), its no wonder that The Outside Track are one of the most talked about new bands on the circuit.
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www.rte.ie/radio1/rootsfreeway

The month of May has been designated International Bluegrass month and the RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection is marking it with a host of music programmes celebrating Bluegrass and its musicians.

Monday’s In Concert series features two-part shows The Paperboys and Alison Krauss during the month. The Paperboys are a Canadian group whose influences range from Bluegrass to Mexicana and our own Irish traditional music. Alison Krauss in concert was recorded in The National Stadium in 1996 and has never been broadcast before. Alison and her band Union Station show us why she is the queen of Bluegrass music.
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National Concert Hall, Dublin
Sunday, 27 April 2008

The National Concert Hall, Dublin was full to capacity on Sunday, 27 April last when hundreds of teenagers, their supporters and families, gathered for a night that will long be remembered by all for it’s celebration of youth and music – the Siansa Gael Linn Grande Finale 2008!

Siansa is a traditional music competition organised by Gael Linn and supported by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Irish Music Magazine , that aims to promote Irish traditional music and song by providing a platform for talented teenagers who aspire to follow in the footsteps of bands such as Altan, Dervish, Danú, Téada etc. Eight groups from different parts of Ireland competed for a total prizefund of €4,000:
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www.dedanaan.ca

Want an excuse to visit British Colombia? There’s a wonderful Irish music and dance week happening from August 17th to 23rd. The faculty includes: Brian Conway, Brendan Dolan, Heather Martin Bixler and others, at the De Danaan School of Irish Dance Céilí Music & Dance Camp. The camp is an opportunity for students to spend some time with a faculty that Leslie Wilson has put together in a setting that is absolutely breathtaking!
For further information: Check out their website: www.dedanaan.ca