Irish Trad Music Blog

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The world renowned Kilfenora Ceili Band will celebrate the Dublin launch of their latest CD “Chapter Eight” in Clasaċ, the Regional Resource Centre of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann, on Saturday 12th May 2012. “The Clasaċ Theatre on the Alfie Byrne Road in Clontarf is perfect for our Dublin launch” according to the Kilfenora Ceili Band leader John Lynch who says that this is the band’s first concert in Dublin in over two years. The band has added viola, cello and double bass to the traditional ten-piece line-up which will give them a unique sound when they take to the stage in Clasaċ.

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) June 8th – 10th, 2012 The organisers would like to welcome you to their Traditional Weekend which takes place from Friday, June 8th to Sunday, June 10th this year. The Traditional Weekend started out as a day, but through progression and popularity it has become a welcomed weekend throughout the district of south Offaly and the whole country– having people grace then all the way from Sliabh Luachra. The Traditional Day was set up four years ago to remember the past in story and tradition and make it available to the younger generations, so that the culture will not be lost, but will live on in future generations. The primary charity is the National Council for the Blind of Ireland. This year it is hoped to launch a CD of folklore on the Friday evening, June 8th at 9.00pm in the specially erected Marquis at Clareen GAA field. On Saturday June 9th they will have a Sean Nós Dancing workshop given by Adrian Moriarty all the way from Sliabh Luachra, 2.00 –...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Monaghan town is poised to host yet another great festival of Irish music, song and the craic when Féile Oriel comes to town for the May Bank Holiday weekend. Like everyone else, the Féile organisers have been feeling the economic pressure — but they have not only kept the show on the road again this year, they’ve come up trumps with a sizzling hot programme of top name acts. A quick look through the menu should convince festival goers that there’s enough on offer here to keep their troubled minds well away from household charges, water charges, bankrupt banks and other nightmarish news, at least for the duration of the upcoming holiday weekend! Headlining acts at the Club na Féile in the town centre’s Westenra Hotel include Four Men and a Dog, At First Light and a double bill with Reel It In and Síoda. The Reel It In and Síoda double-header on Friday 4th May will see two great young bands raise the roof, and there should some extra tension given the fact...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Quebec’s progressive folk band Le Vent du Nord return with a UK tour and their seventh album entitled ‘Tromper Le Temps’ which translates as cheating or deceiving time! They will also tour the UK in May & June 2012. Renowned as ambassadors of Francophonie, Le Vent du Nord are also largely acknowledged as one of the key groups in Quebec’s traditional folk music revival. Since their formation in August 2002 the band has enjoyed great success which has allowed them to take their music to other countries. Le Vent Du Nord (Wind from the North) perform traditional Québécois music in French which is heavily influenced by Celtic music from both Ireland and Brittany. The group use a very diverse range of musical instruments augmented by Québécois Foot Percussion presented via a most entertaining, energetic and engaging stage show. Nicolas Boulerice (vocals, hurdy gurdy, piano, piano accordion) + Olivier Demers (fiddle, electric guitar, clogging, mandoli...

Cover of Mary Bergin 2012 marks the 11th Skerries Trad Music Weekend and sees this wonderful event establishing itself as the signature Trad Music Festival of Irelands’ east coast. The picturesque seaside town of Skerries in North County Dublin plays host to a weekend full of music, song and dance reflecting the unique culture of the Fingal region. Leading artists travel to Skerries where they join with locals and visitors in a celebration of our Irish heritage. This year the Weekend features a selection of top class individual performers including: Mary Bergin, Liam O’ Connor, Máire O’Keeffe, Siobhán Peoples, Con ‘Fada’ O Drisceóil, Mairéad Casey, Conal Ó Gráda, Mick O’Brien and many more as well as some notable ensembles such as The Bonny Men and the Brock McGuire Band.

Cover of Martin Hayes "Trad is as big a part of our heritage as it’s perceived that Aran jumpers, sheep, Guinness and leprechauns are. So it’s not surprising that the genre of music, in terms of a modern context, is often maligned as old-fogey music or music for pubs and rural areas. It’s understandable that trad will be disregarded by succeeding generations who hit upon their twenties who have grown up with it their whole lives in favour of a Skrillex drop or the more global R&B chart pop or something. But there are movements afoot. Just as those who said the Irish language would die out were proven wrong by a reclamation of the language in the last 15 years by the very people who hated studying it in Irish schools (its neverending grammar and distinct lack of speaking the actual thing was the definition of no craic), so too, is Irish trad being reclaimed, being pulled back from the brink of its own folk obscurity and a lot of that work is being lead by a few individuals. He...