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2016 Featured Performers
Altan
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciarán Curran, Ciarán Tourish, Daithi Sproule, Máirtín Tourish
No Irish traditional band in the last dozen years has had a wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the world than Altan.
With their exquisitely produced award-winning recordings, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, and with their heartwarming, dynamic live performances, Altan have moved audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle. Throughout, there has been the unwavering commitment of the band to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and destroys none. In fact, Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense and its growing influence and popularity have proved them right.
The seeds of the band and its very heart lie in the music and fun of gatherings and sessions in kitchens and pubs in Donegal where virtuoso music was played and heard in an atmosphere of respect and intimacy. Band founders, Belfast flute-player, Frankie Kennedy, and Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore) singer and fiddler, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, early on and ever after delivered their music with a force and fullness that made it hard to believe there were only two people playing. Gradually the duo grew organically into a band convinced that no-compromise, traditional music played with heart and drive could win over any audience anywhere. Altan’s repertoire, with its totally unique stamp, carries with it inspiration from the great Irish bands such as the Bothy Band, Planxty, and De Danann.
Audiences the world over have reveled in the genuine camaraderie and mutual respect evident among the members of Altan, and over the years the band’s recorded albums have won numerous accolades and awards. Altan’s international status and success found a very practical recognition when they were signed in 1996 to Virgin Records, the first Irish band of their kind to be signed by a major label. The band gained gold and platinum albums in Ireland and toured larger venues in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the US. In spite of a hectic touring and recording schedule, Altan continues fresh in their vision of bringing the beauty and joy of traditional music to audiences everywhere.
In addition to Mairéad, Altan’s virtuoso band includes bouzouki-player, Ciarán Curran; guitarist, Daithi Sproule; fiddler, Ciaran Tourish; and accordion-player, Mairtin Tourish. Altan.ie/
MEMBERS
MAIREAD NI MHAONAIGH
Donegal, Ireland
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, a native of the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair, is internationally renowned as one of the leading exponents of Donegal fiddle music. She is a founding member of Cairdeas na bhFidléirí, which was set up 25 years ago to preserve and facilitate the development of the Donegal fiddling tradition for future generations.
Mairéad is a native speaker whose musical inspiration initially came from family and neighbors. Her most important early influence was her father, Francie Ó Maonaigh, one of the great fiddle teachers in Donegal, who was known for his wealth of unusual local tunes, many learned from his mother, Róise. Mairéad also received tuition and inspiration from Buncrana fiddle player, Dinny McLaughlin. Along with her late husband, Frankie Kennedy, Mairéad founded Altan and from humble beginnings, they brought their music to the world arena without compromising the deep musical tradition they loved.
Along with her work with Altan, Mairéad is always in demand for solo work or presenting traditional music programs on radio and television; past projects include the classic radio show The Long Note and the television series The Pure Drop and The Full Set on RTÉ1. Mairéad has recorded with Enya, the Chieftains, Dolly Parton, The String Sisters, T With the Maggies, and many more. Mairéad’s first solo project, Imeall, was released in 2009.
CIARÁN CURRAN
Fermanagh, Ireland
Session and festival veteran, Ciarán Curran, brings his strong family musical tradition to bear on an instrument relatively new to Irish traditional music – the bouzouki. He has developed a unique, personal, and subtle style on the bouzouki using counter harmonies and melodies that let the music breathe and show its most melodic strengths without conflicting with the essence of the melody.
Ciarán’s uncle, fiddler Ned Curran, handed down to Altan many tunes from his unusual repertoire, and Ciarán credits close friend and the great Co. Leitrim fiddler, Ben Lennon, for helping him develop skill in backing rhythm and bounce. Ben and flute-player, Cathal McConnell (of the Boys of the Lough), introduced Ciarán in earnest to traditional music and to the musicians who taught him many of the tunes that comprise his repertoire.
With Ben Lennon, Derrygonnelly fiddler, Seamus Quinn, and Enniskillen singer, Gabriel McArdle, Ciarán recorded the classic Dog Big Dog Little album, named after two mountains on the borders of Co. Fermanagh and Co Leitrim. Ciarán has also produced the critically-acclaimed Slán le Loch Éirne, a duet album from Belfast flute player, Gary Hastings, and Seamus Quinn.
CIARÁN TOURISH
Donegal, Ireland
Although Ciarán Tourish started playing the tin whistle at an early age, he soon took up the fiddle under the guidance of local legendary fiddler and teacher, Dinny McLaughlin. Known for his mastery of the dance music tradition, Ciarán has a special love for weaving spontaneous harmony and counterpoint round the melodies of the other lead players. This talent is in demand as a valued collaborator on non-Altan and even non-Irish music projects with a wide range of musicians and singers including Paul Brady, Matt Molloy, Mary Black, Maura O’Connell, Máirtín O’Connor, Dolores Keane, Dé Danann, and American musicians, Jerry Douglas and Tim O’Brien.
Ciarán released his first solo recording, Down the Line, in 2005 featuring guest musicians Arty McGlynn, Paul Brady, Maura O’Connell, Tim O’Brien, Alison Krauss, and Jerry Douglas among others.
DAITHI SPROULE
Ireland/Minnesota
Dáithí Sproule is one of Irish music’s most respected guitar accompanists, and one of the first guitarists to develop DADGAD tuning for Irish music. He is also a fine singer in English and Irish.
Dáithí started out his career in the influential group, Skara Brae, with Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and his sisters, Tríona and Maighread. As well as playing and singing with Altan, he has performed and recorded with two highly influential traditional music trios: Bowhand (with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien) and Trian (with Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey) and has played on recordings of Tommy Peoples, Seamus and Manus McGuire, Peter Ostroushko, and many others. In recent years he has been playing with another great trio, Fingal, with Randal Bays and James Keane, and performing locally in Minnesota with friends such as Laura MacKenzie and Jode and Kate Dowling.
Dáithí released his first solo album in 1995, A Heart Made of Glass, with songs in English and Irish. In 2008 he released an instrumental guitar album, The Crow In the Sun, featuring 13 original compositions. Lost River, Vol. 1 followed in 2011, with songs in English and Irish, arranged and accompanied on guitar, with a stellar line-up of guests.
Dáithí’s original compositions have been recorded by Skara Brae, the Bothy Band, Altan, Trian, Liz Carroll, Aoife Clancy, Loreena McKennitt, the RTE Concert Orchestra, 10,000 Maniacs, and others. His song, “The Death of Queen Jane,” was featured in the 2013 Coen brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis.
In addition to performing and recording, Dáithí is a sought-after teacher and lecturer on subjects ranging from guitar styles, song accompaniment, and Irish traditional music to Irish language, literature, and mythology. He has taught at University College Dublin, the University of Minnesota, and the University of St. Thomas, and is an instructor at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul. He is a 2009 recipient of a Bush Artist Fellowship from the Minnesota-based Archibald Bush Foundation.
“A seminal figure in Irish music” – The Rough Guide to Irish Music
MARTIN TOURISH
Donegal, Ireland
Máirtín Tourish is an accordionist, composer, producer, and musicologist now based in Dublin. His ancestors were collectors of dance music whose manuscripts date from 1896.
Martin’s debut album Clan Ranald with bouzouki player Luke Ward was released in 2005 and listed by music critic Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo and Wall Street Journal, as being in the top 20 albums of 2005. From the success of the Clan Ranald album, Martin is listed in The Rough Guide to Ireland as a piano accordionist of note, while a track from the album appears in The Rough Guide to Irish Folk, Vol. 2. In 2008, he became the first piano accordionist to win TG4′s prestigious ‘Young Musician of the Year’ award which a subsequent article in The Irish Times regarded as “the Irish Music equivalent of an Oscar.”
Also in 2008, Martin was commissioned by TG4 to compose, produce, and perform the music for their brand television advertisement “The More You Look, The More You See” which won many national and international awards and earned the piece of music national recognition. In 2010 he composed the theme tune to a national marathon festival, Rith 2010, to promote the Irish language, and in 2011 composed the trad style variation on a theme for the nationwide Love Live Music festival.
His composition “An Gealóg” appears on Altan’s latest album, The Poison Glen, and harpist, Triona Marshall, is performing his virtuosic piece, “The Seventh Degree,” during The Chieftain’s 50th anniversary tour.
Altan
Performing Thursday & Friday
No Irish traditional band in the last dozen years has had a wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the world than Altan.
With their exquisitely produced award-winning recordings, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, and with their heartwarming, dynamic live performances, Altan have moved audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle. Throughout, there has been the unwavering commitment of the band to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and destroys none. In fact, Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense and its growing influence and popularity have proved them right.
The High Kings
Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey, Darren Holden
Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden – each with a wealth of history in the music business behind them – knew that in order to maintain any level of creative interest they would have to boldly go where no other Irish ballad group had gone before.
With the heyday of ballad groups such as The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners a distant memory for generations of music fans, the advent of another bunch of Irish lads taking up the baton and continuing the tradition was great news to thousands of fans worldwide. The four members immediately knew that something special was taking place and within months had clicked as a creative unit as well as friends. The self-titled debut album, released in 2008, reached number two on Billboard Magazine’s World Music chart. It was during The High Kings second tour of the US in 2011, however – promoting their follow-up album, Memory Lane, which also crashed into Billboard’s World Music chart – that everyone involved realized the fan base was growing into something no one had predicted.
The High Kings achieved what many had thought improbable, if not impossible: they were moving the Irish ballad tradition into the here and now, carrying along with them the steadfast older fans while simultaneously bringing it to a new audience. More was to come in 2013 with the group’s third studio album, Friends For Life, which featured original songs among the traditional fare, further establishing their credentials and bringing to light their own songwriting talents.
The group’s fourth studio album, Grace & Glory, just released this May and the focus of their current tour, takes them back to the essentials that kick-started their career in the first place.
To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music, and aiming to bring a broad demographic along for the journey. “With Grace & Glory we’re going to achieve that,” affirms Martin. “There is something for everybody on the album, and any doubters out there might just discover there’s a whole lot more to us than perceptions would have them believe. Previous High Kings albums have been stepping-stones, but this one sees us on top of things.” www.thehighkings.com
“Since the passing of The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners, we have become the bearers of the torch, bringing the songs and traditions of Ireland to a new global audience. We relish this challenge and are truly honoured to be representing our generation. The High Kings will strive to deliver perfection wherever we go, and we are very much looking forward to seeing our fans, old and new, in our forthcoming tour in 2016.” – Finbarr Clancy
MEMBERS
FINBARR CLANCY
Waterford, Ireland
Finbarr Clancy was born to Moira and to Bobby, who was brother to Liam, Paddy, and Tom Clancy. Growing up in the Clancy dynasty, Finbarr was plucking the banjo and playing the bodhran from the age of five.
His first professional performance was on stage at the tender age of 10 singing and playing the banjo with his cousin Eban Clancy (Liam’s son). Finbarr went on to learn the guitar and flute and began writing songs at the age of 17.
Finbarr began touring North America with his father and uncles, The Clancy Brothers, in 1995. Following the passing of his Uncle Paddy and later his Father, Bobby, in 2002, Finbarr continued the family tradition by touring with Eddie Dillon and Mark Fitzpatrick along the festival route, which included playing at America’s biggest Irish Festival in Milwaukee. As part of The Clancy Brothers, Finbarr played all over the world and made numerous TV appearances. Along the way, he racked up recording credits on Clancy Sing Along Songs, The Quiet Land, and Make Me a Cup.
Within a few months after moving back to Ireland after the US tours, Finbarr joined The High Kings and spent every moment rehearsing and recording a new album and DVD. In short order, he found himself back in New York, appearing on The View and This Morning and performing with The High Kings. After touring with Billboard chart toppers, Celtic Woman, The High Kings made a triumphal return to Ireland to do two sold-out tours in quick succession.
BRIAN DUNPHY
Dublin, Ireland
Brian Dunphy realized early on that he would follow a musical path. Brian’s biggest break came when he won the lead singing role in Riverdance – The Show, traveling extensively throughout America, Canada, China, Australia, and Europe. He spent two years singing at The Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in New York and as lead vocalist in Radio City Music Hall. While there, he had the honor of performing the American National Anthem at Madison Square Gardens and appearing on The Today Show.
Following Riverdance, he joined The Three Irish Tenors and enjoyed huge success stateside. Europe beckoned next as he took on a role performing as his father in a tribute to the Irish Show-Band stars of yesteryear, Dance Hall Qs and Hucklebuck Shoes.
Throughout his very successful career, Brian has had the honor of recording with many artists including world-renowned violinist, Vanessa Mae, Celtic Woman, Bill Whelan’s Riverdance – On Broadway, and Riverdance – The 10th Anniversary.
Brian is never fazed by wisecracking comments thrown at him by a sometimes raucous audience member – indeed, he enjoys the exchange. Gregarious by nature, Brian relishes meeting with fans after a show and lending an ear to their stories.
Although Brian loves touring, he loves his family life as well and sees no conflict between selling out to a 1000-strong crowd one night and serving up Weetabix to his five year old son, Sam, the next morning, as he feels both roles, Performer and Father, are a good fit for him.
MARTIN FUREY
Waterford, Ireland
Martin Furey is a well-established folk singer and songwriter, who has spent many years touring and performing in his own right. As a child of his Irish father, Finbar (The Fureys), and his Scottish mother, Sheila, he has lived and breathed the Irish music taught to him by his father and uncles. Finbar was a key innovator in the Irish folk and ballad scene of the 1960s. Keen to make his own mark, Martin excels in playing multiple instruments, including banjo, bouzouki, guitar, and whistles – all of which feature in The High Kings live shows.
Martin began his studies at Dublin’s historical Trinity College and later moved to Prince’s University, Edinburgh, to study Scottish literature and history. It was in Scotland that his band Sam Harlet was formed. The band was massively innovative and immediately welcomed by the vibrant Edinburgh scene of the time. With a huge following, the band played nearly every venue to be had in the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
In 1992, Martin and his sister, Aine Furey, joined together to form their acclaimed band, Bohinta, touring the UK and Europe and playing every major folk festival, including world-renowned Glastonbury. Martin and Aine were an immediate hit with audiences throughout Europe and their album, Excalibur, went straight to number one in the French Album charts.
Since joining The High Kings, Martin and other members of The High Kings have been invited to appear on RTE’S Podge and Rodge as well as Pat Kenny’s last ever Late Late Show.
On The High Kings newly recorded album, Memory Lane, Martin flexes his musical muscle as a contributor on arrangements of some of the classical Irish ballad tracks, including “Green Fields of France” made famous by his father – an experience Martin described as, “Amazing, as well as nerve-wracking.” Having grown up with classic ballads at home, Martin is pleased to be bringing songs from the album to his live repertoire.
DARREN HOLDEN
Kilkenny, Ireland
Darren Holden is not only a prolific songwriter and musician but a master interpreter of lyrics as well. Audiences around the world continue to praise his exceptional vocal talents. He is comfortable performing all genres of music from Pop and Jazz to Country and Celtic.
Darren starred as ‘The Piano Man’ (Billy Joel) in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp Tony Award-winning hit musical, Movin’ Out, both on Broadway and on tour for four years. He received unanimous critical acclaim throughout the US, Canada, and Japan. Darren was also lead singer with Riverdance on Broadway and on tour for more than three years.
A top ten recording artist in Ireland, Darren toured with Boyzone on their first major tour of Ireland and the UK. He had several chart hits with such songs as “After Tonight” and “More Than I Can Say.” His debut solo album, Suddenly, produced three top 20 hits. His CD of original traditional/contemporary Country songs, Live & Learn, released in 2002 in the US, produced three top 40 airplay hits, and Darren was nominated for a 2004 New Music Weekly Award (‘Best Male Country Artist’).
Darren relished the opportunity of joining The High Kings and reaching a new audience, singing the songs he had learned as a child. A key High Kings moment for Darren was performing at half time at the All-Ireland Hurling final, which his beloved Kilkenny won. As Darren said, it was the biggest hometown crowd he had ever played for. The High Kings flew home especially for the event from their headline US tour, one of three hugely successful tours completed in 2008.
Although his schedule is hectic, Darren manages to balance his work and home life, as he has had not one, but two new arrivals to his family since joining The High Kings. Along with his wife Michelle, Darren revels in home life with daughters Ava and Sophie and son Josh.
The High Kings
To say that The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music, and aiming to bring a broad demographic along for the journey.
The Outside Track
Ailie Robertson, Fiona Black, Teresa Horgan, Emerald Rae, Eric McDonald
The Outside Track is one of the best-regarded, world-class, pan-Celtic acts having won the ‘Best Group’ category in both the Live Ireland and ‘Tradition In Review’ awards and having been nominated for 2013’s MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Award. They also won the German Radio Critics’ Prize for their last album Flash Company.
The original band was formed in 2005 at the Irish World Academy Of Music and Dance in Limerick. Edinburgh harpist, Ailie Robertson, brought her impressive credentials as performer, composer, and arranger, with her creative synthesis of Scottish, Irish, and contemporary harp techniques, while accordionist Fiona Black was noted for her bold intertwining of the Scottish playing style with music from Irish, Swedish, and Cape Breton sources. Both Ailie and Fiona have stayed at the core of The Outside Track ever since, providing not only a keen continuity in its broad-minded and ever-enthusiastic approach to repertoire-building but also a rich ongoing link through the traditions by way of their outstanding complementary musicianship.
The band’s latest recruit is extraordinary Co. Cork-born singer and flute player Teresa Horgan, who’s blessed with a fantastically versatile, almost chameleon-like vocal personality. Fiddler, Emerald Rae, and guitarist, Eric McDonald, round out the lineup. www.theoutsidetrack.com
MEMBERS
AILIE ROBERTSON
Edinburgh, Scotland
Ailie Robertson is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s leading young traditional musicians as a composer, arranger, teacher, improviser, and harp virtuoso. Her accomplishments on the clarsach are such that leading Irish flautist Niall Keegan said, “Ailie’s synthesis of Irish, Scottish, and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realisation of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp.”
Ailie was immersed in the harp world from an early age and began playing the clarsach when she was 11 years old. Through her piano and clarsach lessons, she developed a love for both classical and traditional music. In 2009, she was nominated for ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ in the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. Ailie is in great demand as a teacher around the world, and has published six books of harp music.
FIONA BLACK
Inverness, Scotland
Fiona Black developed a love of music and dance from a young age. The Feisean movement provided an opportunity to nurture her passion through learning to play the piano accordion. Fiona went on to attend the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, where she honed her skills as an accordionist and gained valuable experience arranging, performing, composing, and recording. Fiona set off for Limerick in 2005, where she completed a BA with Honours in Irish Music and Dance. While taking this degree, Fiona further developed her skills as a performer, arranger, teacher, and composer, and in her third year of study, traveled to Cape Breton. Fiona’s accordion style incorporates many different influences, intertwining her native Scottish style with Irish, Swedish, and Cape Breton repertoire, always adding her distinctive rhythm and vibrancy.
TERESA HORGAN
Co. Cork, Ireland
Teresa Horgan is a highly accomplished singer and flute player from the small town of Buttevant in Co. Cork. Coming from a very musical family, she has been immersed in traditional Irish music all her life and has been singing and playing music for as long as she can remember. Teresa has performed and toured in countries across Europe including Belgium, France, Italy, and Denmark. Over the years she has performed in several well-known music productions including the Galway-based music and dance show, Music at the Crossroads. She has also shared the stage with such well-known groups as The Chieftains and The Dave Munnelly Band. Kate Rusby, Declan O’ Rourke, Jeff Buckley, and Paul Brady are but a few of the artists who have influenced Teresa in the development of her unique style of singing.
She has two albums with FullSet, an album with The Outside Track called Light up the Dark, and an album with guitarist, Matt Griffin, called Brightest Sky Blue.
“She has just enough world weariness in her vocals to interpret…songs and make them her own.” – Tony Lawless, TradConnect.
EMERALD RAE
Massachusetts
Emerald Rae is a singer, dancer, and multi-instrumentalist with a degree in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music. Known for her powerhouse dance tunes and technical prowess, Emerald is an adept and masterfully soulful fiddler. Growing up in a musical family where performance was encouraged from a young age, Emerald fell in love with Scottish fiddle music. She studied with Barbara McOwen, Boston’s leading Scottish music historian and co-author of The Glengarry Collection, and traveled all over the US, Canada, and Scotland to study and soak up the culture. She has a particular affinity for the music and dance of Cape Breton, where she spent many summers. She won the New England Scottish Fiddle Championship at age 16 and the US National Championship at 18. After living in Glasgow for a year studying early 18th century fiddle manuscripts, she returned home to continue her journey in performing and teaching Scottish music and dance in America. She is deeply passionate, experienced, and knowledgeable about presenting the tradition in an engaging way. She is a judge for Scottish FIRE (Scottish Fiddling Revival).
Growing up spending summers in Cape Breton gave Emerald the bug for percussive dance. As a Scottish & Cape Breton stepdance performer and teacher, her style is joyous and extremely musical. She taught performance-based Irish dance classes at Dance New England for nearly a decade, and performed Sean-nós stepdance with Atlantic Steps – a full stage show in celebration of old style Irish dance, music and art. She is a creative choreographer and loves to mix the genres of Scottish, Cape Breton, Irish, Sean-nós, and Appalachian Clogging. www.emeraldrae.com
“Her fiddling is technically spot-on, yet elegantly earthy, her bow merrily bouncing along the strings, as though unable to resist joining the dance.” Boston Globe
ERIC MCDONALD
Massachusetts
Eric McDonald, one of New England’s premier acoustic performers and instructors, is known for his versatility in many styles and as a proponent of Scottish music. Born and raised in the Boston area, he grew up steeped in Beantown’s vibrant music scene. He studied at Berklee College of Music under world-renowned musicians John McGann and Eugene Friesen. While studying he toured with full-time folk acts like The Dave Rowe Trio and Matching Orange, and acted as music director for productions by companies such as Actor’s Shakespeare Project. His accompaniment on DADGAD guitar features on albums by Katie McNally and Brendan Carey Block.
Eric has performed across the US and overseas alongside major artists such as Archie Fisher, Malinky, Rodney Miller, Hamish Napier, and Ian Robb of Finest Kind. He is a member of the Scottish power trio, Cantrip, and the contemporary old time group, The Knockbox Stringband. He has performed on stage at the New World Festival, the Champlain Valley Folk Festival, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and countless others.
The Outside Track
A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The Outside Track’s marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation.
Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaigh
This celebrated virtuoso partnership made its brilliant debut at the 1987 Cambridge Folk Festival. Since then Maire and Chris have toured over 20 countries on five continents. Of their six albums together, The Living Wood was the Daily Telegraph’s First Album choice of the Year; Out of Court: “stunning… one of the most refreshing innovative releases in recent years” – Folk Roots; The Carolan Albums: “a masterpiece of virtuosity” – The Daily Telegraph; Live in the Highlands: “Music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music” – The Irish Times; Dialogues: “terrific, brilliant, beautiful, rich, virtuosic, delightful, classic, perfect!” – The Sunday Tribune, Ireland; and finally, Firewire: “Dazzling…. to be marveled at” – The Daily Telegraph and “Album of the Year” – Live Ireland.
Of their long list of concert reviews, the following are typical: “A truly electrifying combination…the audience were charmed and dazzled by the speed, deftness, the emotional range of their playing”…. “Maire chomps on the bit of the harp’s respectability, playing storming jigs and reels”…”Newman led us on death-defying sprints, while Maire confirmed her status as one of the world’s greatest harpists.”
MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH
Ireland
Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Irish virtuoso, is unmatched in skill, passion and dramatic surprises, and is truly an original in the harp world. Maire began the harp at age 11. In the late 1960s and early ‘70s, before the Celtic harp became the popular instrument it is today, there were no traditional teachers to guide Maire’s training. Through trial and error, she created her own techniques and ornamentations and has continued to perfect them over her playing career with the aim of establishing an authentic traditional style of harping. Truly her approach is a single-handed reinvention of the harp. Her originality was quickly recognized even while still a teenager, having won the All-Ireland and Pan-Celtic Harp competitions on several occasions. Always a leader, in 1985, Maire became the first harper to produce an album concentrating on Irish dance music, The New Strung Harp, described by The Irish Examiner as “…intensely passionate and intelligent, a milestone in Irish harp music.” Her approach has had a profound influence on the new generation of Irish harpers, and she was awarded Gradam Ceoil TGA (Irish Traditional Musician of the Year) in 2001 – the highest possible recognition of her pioneering work. “If Maire wasn’t around, Irish harping would be so much the poorer; her work restores the harp to its true voice.” – The Irish Times. Maire has produced two volumes of her harp arrangements (Old Bridge Music), and as a master teacher, has for many years taught the senior class at the Summer School/Festival held by the Irish Harp Society in Co. Louth.
CHRIS NEWMAN
UK
Chris Newman is recognized as “one of the UK’s staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” – Folk Roots. Chris’ two biggest influences when learning the guitar were the great swing guitarist and humorist Diz Dizley with whom he toured in his late teens and Denny Wright who helped to inspire his own distinctive and melodic style of improvisation. Moving to Bristol in 1973, Chris was a session player for the BBC and became involved in a number of commercial musical ventures including the comedy band, Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra. Working for folk-comedian Fred Wedlock, he spotted the commercial potential of Fred’s material and applied his compositional talents to it, receiving a Silver Disc for producing Fred’s 1981 hit “The Oldest Swinger in Town.” That same year Chris came out with his first solo album with a second one in 1983. Then in 1985 he decided to return to his acoustic folk roots. For several years he performed with The Boys of the Lough. He also recorded his third solo album Fretwork, that firmly established his eclectic style. The album reviews were ecstatic. “A stunning and stylistically-varied album, heaving with good tunes, from one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists’ – Folk Roots; “Nothing short of brilliant” – Dirty Linen (USA); “Guitar players don’t come any better…I’d blithely cross snow-capped mountains and ford raging rivers to see him play” – The Living Tradition. Reviews of his live performances were equally impressive summed up well by the Belfast Telegraph: “(Chris) took the place by storm…guitar players applauded and went sadly home to burn their instruments!”
Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaigh
The virtuoso partnership of England’s premier flatpicking guitarist and “the greatest Celtic harper of our age” (LIVE IRELAND) has by now brought its unique musical vision to twenty-two countries on five continents. Chris and Máire have performed at over 175 folk, Celtic, arts, harp and guitar festivals in Europe, the USA and Australasia and have given almost two thousand concerts in venues large and small – from the tiniest of historic churches in England, Germany and Italy to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney’s Town Hall and the Philharmonie in Cologne. Together they have created one of the most distinctive voices in modern acoustic music. Their six duo and five solo CDs, instructional books and collaborations with many other luminaries of the Celtic, folk, swing jazz and bluegrass worlds express both the depth of their commitment to tradition and an eternally playful, curious and adventurous spirit.
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Defining the Festival
The Spanish Peaks Celtic Festival is designed as an intimate four-day gathering led by renowned guest artists, teachers, and scholars from Celtic countries abroad, Canada, and the United States. The Festival offers over 60 different events, including major concerts; two singing programs; instrumental workshops and master classes; a series of demonstration talks and performances on aspects of Celtic music, history, and folklore; a Celtic Harp Retreat; a newly established Piping Retreat; and sprinkled throughout are ceilidhs/ceilis and playing sessions where anyone can freely join in or enjoy as an audience. Finally, the friendly ambiance and spontaneous interplay between artists and participants spark the exciting sharing of music, ideas, and knowledge, all reflected gifts from the fullness of a rich Celtic experience.
We thank you for coming and sharing this experience with us.
The Festival Board
We invite you to embrace music that reflects the rousing spirit of Celts past and present, whose songs haunt us with their pure beauty or make us laugh with their bold humor, and whose tunes, be they deeply rooted or newly composed, are as delicate as the lilt of a flute on the air or as explosive and exciting as the jigs and reels that fly from a fiddler’s bow, lifting your feet right off the ground –music as compelling today as it was a hundred years ago.
