Liam O'Flynn
Photo made available by Tara Music
7 May / 9 p.m.
The Marquee
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"Recognised as a true master of his craft."
Master uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn is widely acknowledged one of Ireland's leading musicians. Whether with the influential Planxty or fronting the National Symphony Orchestra, as a solo piper or playing alongside some of the greats of traditional music like Seán Keane, Matt Molloy or Paddy Glackin Liam is recognised as a true master of his craft. A Kildare native but with strong west Clare family links Liam is steeped in traditional music. Both his parents played music. Liam has the rare distinction of having studied under the three great twentieth century piping icons- Leo Rowsome, Willie Clancy and Seamus Ennis. Indeed, to this day Liam plays instruments that were bequeathed to him by Clancy and Ennis. Liam has recorded a number of successful recordings and his most recent release is"The Poet and the Piper" made with his good friend the nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. Liam O'Flynn was the 2007 TG4 "Traditional Musician of the Year
Seán Keane
7 May / 9 p.m.
The Marquee
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"One of the most widely traveled and experienced fiddler players on the international folk music scene."
Dublin born fiddle player, Seán Keane, is a man large in stature and even larger in reputation. He is universally acknowledged as one of the most exciting and innovative traditional fiddle players in Ireland and his playing combines fiery technique with masterfully elegant precision.
A 35-year career playing with The Chieftains has helped establish Seán as one of the most widely traveled and experienced fiddler players on the international folk music scene. With parents from the musically strong regions of Clare and Longford, Seán was exposed to traditional music at home from the cradle-his brother James is a renowned accordion player. Seán attended the Municipal School of Music in Dublin and, while still in his teens, was recruited by the legendary Seán Ó Riada into his influential traditional music ensemble "Ceoltóirí Chualann".
Seán Keane has strong connections with County Clare on Ireland's rugged Atlantic coast and among his chief musical influences has been the great uilleann piper from Miltown Malbay, Willie Clancy. The ornamentation and musical techniques associated with that most unique of Irish instruments, the uilleann pipes, can be heard in Seán's fiddling and add an extra layer of interest to his already incredible accomplished playing. Apart from his work with the multi Grammy award-winning Chieftains, Seán has forged close musical links with some of the leading players in the Irish traditional music world including Liam O'Flynn, Matt Molloy, Paul Brady and Arty McGlynn. His three solo albums are widely regarded as classics of their type and he has recorded with figures as diverse as Mike Oldfield, Kate Bush, Ali Farka Toure and Mark Knopfler. Seán was honoured with the TG4 Gradam Traditional Musician of the Year award in 2005.
Buille (with strings!)
| web | vallelymusic.com |
10 May / 9 p.m.
The Marquee
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"Buille is as fresh a breath that's blown through traditional (and roots) circles in a long, long time."
Buille are delighted to launch their new album at Fiddle Fair 2009 with the world premiere of Buille with Strings. This will be a concert of new music arranged for Buille and a string section featuring some of the most sought after musicians in the contemporary classical music world along with the legend and genius that is Liz Carroll.
Buille first played with Liz Carroll at a late night concert at the fiddle Fair in 2006 and have been trying to create the opportunity (excuse!) to relive the occasion ever since! Liz needs little introduction to Irish audiences. Through her solo recordings, live performances and unique compositions she is one of the most recognized, admired and influential musicians performing in the traditional music world today.
It is the obvious common interest in the compositional side of traditional music that has inevitably led to this collaboration between Liz and Buille and the band are delighted that she has agreed to come over for this one-off concert.
Buille was formed in 2004 by Armagh born brothers Niall and Caoimhín Vallely along with Paul Meehan and Brian Morrissey as a vehicle to perform a body of new music composed by Niall and arranged by the various members of the band. The music was based on traditional forms but freely borrowed stylistic elements from various genres including jazz, blues, Eastern European music and contemporary classical music - basically all the sounds and styles the members of the group were interested in and listened to. The resultant sound was picked up on by Donald Shaw who immediately offered to produce and release the group's debut album on his Vertical Records label. "Buille" was released in 2005 to rave reviews and was described in the Irish Times:
The group went on to tour extensively across Ireland, the UK, Europe, USA and Canada and along the way performed at such prestigious festivals as Celtic Connections in Glasgow, St. Chartier Festival in Central France, Festival de Cornouaille in Quimper, Brittany, Beo Festival at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada.
The new Buille album is a much more ambitious project featuring more large scale compositions and arrangements and utilizing a much bigger ensemble while at the same time maintaining the unmistakable Buille sound through which the concertina and piano of the two brothers shines through. The new album features guest appearances from another brother Cillian on uilleann pipes, Zoë Conway on fiddle, Kate Ellis on cello, Karen Dervan on viola, Neil Yates on trumpet, Ed Boyd and Paul Meehan on guitars and Brian Morrissey on bodhrán, percussion and banjo.
Buille with Strings are Niall Vallely concertina, Caoimhín Vallely piano, Ed Boyd guitar, Brian Morrissey, bodhrán and banjo, with Liz Carroll fiddle, Adrian Hart violin, Cian O'Duill viola, and Kate Ellis cello.
Dirk Powell
| web | dirkpowell.org |
8 May / 9 p.m.
The Marquee
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"Dirk's got great subtlety, tremendous feel, and he's very loose and very modern, in the best sense of the word."
--T-Bone Burnett
Dirk Powell has expanded on the deeply rooted sounds of his Appalachian heritage to become one of the preeminent traditional American musicians of his generation. In addition to acclaimed releases on Rounder Records, he's recorded and performed with artists such as Loretta Lynn, playing several instruments on her Grammy-winning release "Van Lear Rose," Sting, Jack White, Levon Helm, Jewel, T-Bone Burnett, Ralph Stanley, and Linda Ronstadt, among others. His ability to unite the essence of his culture with modern sensibilities has led to work with many of today's greatest film directors, including Anthony Minghella, Spike Lee, Ang Lee, Victor Nuñez, Steve James, and Edward Burns.
His live performances of powerful Appalachian music with The Dirk Powell Band have inspired audiences across the globe in a wide variety of venues, including such prestigious settings as the Eastman School of Music and the Interlochen Academy. Dirk selected and arranged traditional Appalachian material for Riverdance: The Show, in which he also performed on fiddle. For the past several years, he has also enjoyed a strong collaboration with Tim O'Brien, resulting in acclaimed recordings such as "Songs From The Mountain," and performed with his Cajun group Balfa Toujours.
Joel Savoy
8 May / 9 p.m.
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Joel Savoy, son of Cajun musicians Marc and Ann Savoy, has been raised among all of the greats in Cajun music. As a baby Joel sat in Dewey Balfa's lap as he played the fiddle, he played with the legendary fiddlers Dennis McGee and Wade Fruge. Frequent visitors to his home were all of the finest musicians of most folk cultures. As a young boy he played fiddle in his own Cajun band, Jeunes Gens de la Prairie and today heads his Cajun/gypsy group The Red Stick Ramblers. The Red Stick Ramblers have recently released their loudly praised first CD. For many years he has played fiddle and bass throughout the world with his parents and Michael Doucet in the Savoy Doucet Cajun Band and, appears on their latest CD, "Sam's Big Rooster". He sidelines as a recording engineer, having set up a recording studio in his grandfather's outdoor kitchen, He is seen as an upcoming star in the field of Cajun music, his fiddle style reflecting the great artist friends with whom he has been raised, from the above legends to recent greats Michael Doucet and Ken Smith. Recently Joel appeared, with Ann, in the movie and on the soundtrack "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood". Joel graduated from LSU Dec 2002.
The Foghorn Trio
| web | myspace |
8 May / 9 p.m.
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Caleb Klauder and Stephen Sammy Lind began playing music together in 2000 in Portland, Oregon.
Since then they have performed traditional American old-time music all over the globe with their critically acclaimed band The Foghorn Stringband. Other projects include performing with banjo/vocalist Riley Baugus and multi-instrumentalist/ composer Dirk Powell, and collaboration with world-renowned Irish fiddler Kevin Burke for a concert series held on the Oregon Coast.
Their vocals are simple and honest, with intertwining harmonies similar to the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers. Although their repertoire is mainly traditional, Caleb's stellar original songs and tunes fit right in next to any classic.
The Foghorn Trio also includes Nadine Landry of Canadian Bluegrass outfit Hungry Hill on upright bass. For this very special show the trio will be joined by the incredible Kansas fiddler Betse Ellis of The Wilders.
Níamh Ní Charra
Photo by Brendan Duffy
9 May / 12:30 p.m.
Castle Dun na Sead
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"Forget talk of tradition versus innovation: Ní Charra's facility with everything from 19th-century Italian composer Giulio Regondi's Allegretto No 4 to a glorious set of Sliabh Luachra slides reflect a musician at home with music of any hue."
--Siobhan Long
Niamh hails from Killarney, where she started playing music at the age of 4. An All-Ireland Champion on both fiddle and concertina, Niamh had supported The Chieftains and Noel Hill, in addition to performing at festivals throughout France and England, before reaching her teens.
She toured Europe, Asia and North America for 8 years as a soloist with Riverdance, performing in over 2500 shows, before returning to Ireland where she is now based. She has taught both fiddle and concertina at Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's national headquarters, An Cultúrlann, in Monkstown, and regularly gives workshops on both instruments. She released her debut album 'Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides' in 2007 to much critical acclaim; it was the only Irish album to make MOJO's Top Ten Folk Albums for 2007. She was also presented with the "Best Trad Music Act 2008" award by The Irish World, the largest newspaper for the Irish community in Britain. Along with performing regularly as a solo artist and with her own band, Niamh also tours extensively as a member of the Carlos Núñez band.
Niamh will be accompanied by Mike Galvin on guitar.
Väsen
10 May / 9 p.m.
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"The best band in the world."
--More than one Rock Critic
Väsen is a unique ensemble that transcends barriers and delight listeners with their music and personality.
Three great Swedish musicians: Olov Johanson on the nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle unique to Sweden), Mikael Marin on viola, and Roger Tallroth on guitar. The trio's music has a telepathic intensity. Together they create more electricity on their acoustic instruments than most rock bands can generate with their amps turned all the way up to "11". More than one rock critic has proclaimed them "the best band in the world".
Traditional music with a modern attitude. Tremendous individual musicians taking ensemble playing to new heights. Acoustic instruments with power and emotion. This is Väsen.
Lau
9 May / 9 p.m.
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"Creative and genre bursting""
--The Scotsman
The combined talents of Kris Drever, Martin Green, and Aidan O'Rourke make for a formidable and all-conquering trio. Lau employ rising, epic song structures not usually associated with Folk music and more akin to those on the leftfield of rock and jazz.
Fidil
9 May / 9 p.m.
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"One of the most challanging and beautifully austere albums of the last fifty years."
--Sean Laffey, Irish Music Magazine
Fidil are rapidly forging a reputation for exhilarating and challenging music that draws on the rich heritage of their native place. Their music making is marked by an intricate and intelligent approach that still manages to maintain the element of fiery exuberance that is the hallmark of traditional fiddle music from Donegal. This is traditional music for the 21st century-mindful of its origins but breathtakingly exciting in its ambition and delivery.
Any Old Time
From the Phoenix cd, photo by Fergus Bourke
9 May / 9 p.m.
The Glebe Amphitheatre
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"When we thought of putting this show together to honour Seamus' memory there was really only one band we could ask."
--Declan McCarthy
Like Seamus, Any Old Time are also synonymous with the style and sounds of Sliabh Luachra and they too have a long history of coming to play in this area, but most importantly Matt, Mick, and Dave were all great friends of Seamus and had been playing music with him for years.
Formed in Cork city sometime in the 1980's (when they were very very young) Any Old Time are Matt Cranitch on Fiddle, Mick Daly on guitar and vocals, and Dave Hennessy on melodeon. The sweet sound they created soon gained them a large following across the country and their two classic albums Phoenix and The Crossing, are both must haves for any fan of traditional Irish music.
They also hold the record for most consecutive Fiddle Fair appearances, all the way through from number 1 in 1993 to number 8 in 2000 - magic memories.They say that all records are there to be broken but somehow I think this one will last forever.
We are delighted that they've agreed to 'come out of retirement' for this special show
Laura Cortese
7 May / 9 p.m.
The Glebe Amphitheatre
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" ... a thoroughly modern performer and songwriter who isn't afraid to draw on her diverse musical influences ... "
Laura Cortese has been at the heart of a creative renaissance in the Boston and Northeast acoustic music scene in the past few years. She's a co-founder of the Boston Celtic Music Festival, and has played in the groundbreaking bands Uncle Earl (on double bass!) for most of 2007, The Anarchist Orchestra (with Tao Rodriguez-Seeger of The Mammals), and even The Jolly Bankers, a subversively poppy stringband with a semi-cult following. Laura is currently playing fiddle and singing with Pete Seeger including scheduled appearances at New Orleans Jazz Fest.
10 May / 3 p.m.
Twenty fiddlers play the traditional repertoire of Southern Alps. An original band with rousing rhythms, festive energy and off-beat humour. Les Violons du Rigodon: 15 years of friendship, shared dreams and musical encounters enriched by the personal experience of every member. Alpine music sparkling like mountain streams, in a concert where the music flows clear, bubbly and joyfull!
10 May / 3 p.m.
Sam Amidon was raised in Brattleboro, Vermont, US by folk-musician parents Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. Sam sings, plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, can count on his hands really fast in binary code, and types at 120 words per minute. 'All Is Well,' a collection of re-worked Appalachian folksongs recorded in Iceland by producer Valgeir Sigurosson and featuring orchestral arrangements by composer Nico Muhly, was released in 2008 on the Bedroom Community label.
Marja Gaynor 10 May / 1 p.m.
West Cork early music specialists, renowned viol player Sarah Groser (UK) and mult--instrumentalist Patrick Goyvaerts (NL) will be joined by baroque violinists Marja Gaynor (FIN/Cork) and Aine O'Halloran (IRL) for an atmospheric concert of early 17th century music from Ireland, England and the continent.
Having made a name for herself as a teenager for her traditional Scottish fiddle chops, Laura has since grown into a thoroughly modern performer and songwriter who isn't afraid to draw on her diverse musical influences ranging from Otis Redding to Neko Case while being informed by her formal training at Berklee College of Music as well as the traditional Scottish ballads she discovered as a young girl in California. Her recent live shows include a wild cover of Dolly Parton's classic "Baby I'm Burning", played solo with the unique rhythmic fiddle accompaniment her friends have dubbed "drum and chop indie pop".
Les Violons du Rigodon
The Glebe Amphitheatre
Purchase Tickets"An original band with rousing rhythms, festive energy and off-beat humour"
Sam Amidon
The Glebe Amphitheatre
Purchase Tickets"In an era of overheated Nick Drake comparisons, Amidon is eerily close to the real thing."
--
David Fricke, Rolling Stone
As a teenager Sam became known throughout the United States folk scene as fiddler, releasing 5 albums with his band Popcorn Behavior/Assembly to great acclaim and performing nationwide, all before the band finished high school. In 2001 he released his first solo album, 'Solo Fiddle', a collection of unaccompanied Irish tunes. About it, Fiddler Magazine said "Solo Fiddle will do much to establish him in people's minds as a musician of high caliber."
Sam plays banjo & guitar in the experimental indie rock bands Doveman and Stars Like Fleas, and fiddle with piper Isaac Alderson. He's played fiddle with Glen Hansard's The Swell Season, Elysian Fields, Jolie Holland, Seamus Egan, and others. In March, he premiered the Nico Muhly composition 'The Only Tune' at Carnegie Hall.
Taffel Consort
Castle Dún na Séad
Purchase Tickets"Music from the time of Puritans, Corsairs and Gaelic Lords"
From haunting consorts, played on the antique stringed viol, to elegant courtly dances, Irish airs and wild improvised variations, this promises to be a concert of new musical experiences, drawn from the world of the Sack of Baltimore.
Taffel Consort are Marja Gaynor - baroque violin and tenor viol, Aine O'Halloran - baroque violin and treble viol, Sarah Groser - bass viol, and Patrick Goyvaerts - lute & medieval harp.