The Temple Bar TradFest, Dublin’s biggest and best Irish music and culture festival, will take place for the 7th year running on the 25th – 29th January 2012. Once again Temple Bar TradFest offers a wealth of music within the very walkable confines of Dublin’s Cultural Quarter.
As part of the festival, IMRO will be running 2 showcase concerts which will take place in the New Theatre in Temple Bar.
Showcase 1: Thursday, 26th January Doors 6pm
The Rapparees : 6:30pm – 6:55pm
Alalé : 7:05pm – 7:30pm
Showcase 2: Friday, 27th January Doors 6pm
Kavan Donohoe : 6:30pm – 6:55pm
The Bonny Men : 7:05pm – 7:30pm
Entry to these showcases is
FREE but due to limited capacity, booking is essential. Please email
claire.egan@nullimro.ie by Monday 23rd January to reserve your seat.
These showcases will take place in The New Theatre, 43 Essex Street East, Dublin 2.
www.thenewtheatre.comVisit:
www.templebartrad.com for details on all the events taking place throughout this five day festival!
Artist Details
The Rapparees
“One of the most exciting and engaging bands to burst onto the Irish music scene in recent years” BBC’s Lynette Fay
“The Rapparees are a five piece Folk outfit based in Belfast and since meeting at school in 2004, a unique chemistry has formed between the friends. They began playing music around local clubs and it wasn’t long before the distinctive sound of The Rapparees was cemented at university in Belfast. From there, the lads quickly gained a reputation as one of the most hard-working, enthusiastic and versatile bands in Irish music with Irish Music Magazine remarking that they “…straddle the line between the traditional and contemporary with ease”.
The band line-up features Joe McKeague, one of Ireland’s finest ballad singers, perfectly complimented by the rousing voice of his cousin Gerard McNeill. Kevin Mawdsley’s charismatic onstage presence on fiddle is mirrored by energetic bass player Damien McErlean. Talented guitar and banjo player Conor McCaffrey adds to Gerard’s songwriting to give the band a contemporary feel.
Their debut album Clarity, released in 2008 was very well received in Ireland and abroad and The Rapparees have been busy promoting their music ever since. Their exciting mix of contemporary self-penned songs and traditional songs and tunes has led to rave reviews along the way, being described as, “a welcome surprise” by Hot Press Magazine, with top folk music website Folking.com saying “Clarity is possessed of a great deal of spirit, and this spirit is enforced and elevated by some terrific playing”.
Over the last few years the lads have established an international profile with headlining performances in France, Norway and Scotland. In January 2010 The Rapparees were signed by Germany’s premier Celtic music agency, Magnetic Music, joining the ranks of the likes of Solas, Beoga, Carlos Nunez and Dervish. In Ireland, support slots with Shane MacGowan and Cara Dillon as well as performances at Ballyshannon Folk festival, Celtic Fusion and Gig n’ the Bann have ensured The Rapparees a fast blooming following at home.
Having been described by Irish Music Magazine as “one to watch” for the future, Feb 2011 saw the release of the eagerly awaited follow-up to Clarity. “Wrapped up”, produced by renowned multi-instrumentalist Liam Bradley of Beoga, sees The Rapparees bringing their striking new take on a classic genre to audiences on a global scale.”
Alalé
Born out of the lively music scene in Galway in the West of Ireland, Alalé was formed in 2006. The band was formed by Fergal Walsh, David Cardona, Gabriel G. Diges and Ciaran O’Donghaile. They soon released the self-produced album Wo Japen, which has since gone on to sell 8000 copies. At the moment the band members include, Flute, Whistle and Galician Gaita player, Gabriel G. Diges, Singer and Fiddle player, Stephanie Swanton, guitarist, Esteban Moreno, and Bodhrán player, David Cardona. Alalé have played and toured extensively in festivals and venues in Ireland and throughout Europe, returning regularly to Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands and recently got their first television exposure playing on BBC Northern Ireland. They have just finished recording their second album, recorded in Spidall, Co. Galway in Charlie Lennon’s studio. The album has been recorded and produced by Ed Kenehan who previously worked with bands like Lunasa. Alale’s sound reflects the various backgrounds of the band members. Comprising influences from Irish, Spanish and World Music, the band’s sound is vibrant and energetic. From Ireland to Galicia, from India to the Mediterranean and back to Ireland, the band has a clear intention: make the crowd dance. Alalé are one of the most powerful bands on the Irish music scene today. They blast out a fusion of Spanish and Irish trad that will leave you with an unhinged jaw and a fire in your belly. Alalé pride themselves on their upbeat energetic shows which have been described by those in the industry as thoroughly unique and unbelievably electric.
Kavan Donohoe
“Kavan from Cavan flags a seriously talented musician exploring many avenues in pursuit of his own musical voice.”
Siobhán Long The Irish Times October 7th 2011
“Kavan from Cavan can be hailed as one of the emerging young artists that are bringing the harp to the forefront of the tradition.”
Eileen McCabe Irish Music Magazine November 2011
“Kavan offers fresh interpretations of tunes ranging in tempo from slow airs to high-energy reels.”
Mickey McDonnell, The Northern Standard
“All in all an album that will surely stand the test of time and mark Kavan Donohoe as a name to watch out for in the future.”
Tony Lawless TradConnect site
Kavan will be joined by Niall Preston (All Ireland Bodhran Champion 2010)
Nineteen-year-old UCD student Kavan Donohoe has already accumulated a very impressive CV in traditional Irish music, and on the harp in particular.
He started playing the instrument at the tender age of seven at the Granard Harp School under Kim Fleming, before moving on to study with Michael, Fionnuala and Aonghus Rooney from Scotstown, Co Monaghan.
He has also been steadily honing his skills on the uilleann pipes, tin whistle, low whistle and guitar for some time now, becoming highly proficient in each of these instruments.
Kavan won the O’Carolan International Harp Festival in Keadue, Co Roscommon at the age of 16, and has been the winner at the Granard Traditional Junior Harp Festival on several occasions. In 2009 he won the Grace Nugent Cup at the Granard Harp Festival, while he was also the Under-18 winner at the Ulster Fleadh in July 2010.
He has performed on television shows such as Blas Ceoil (BBC 2), The Fleadh Cheoil (RTÉ 1) and Mass on Sunday (RTE), and has also featured on RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ 2fm, BBC Radio Ulster and Shannonside/Northern Sound — with a spot on Ryan Tubridy’s RTÉ Radio 1 being one of the highlights.
Familiar to festivals at home and across the UK and Europe, Kavan has turned heads at the Shetland Festival, the County Sessions at the Button Factory, Dublin, the Corofin Trad festival, Féile Oriel in Monaghan and the Cavan’s homegrown Nyah Festival. He has also played at festivals in France, Italy and Switzerland, and across the pond at the Catskills Irish Arts Week in upstate New York.
In the summer of 2008 he worked with acclaimed Belfast composer Brian Irvine in a Moving on Music project, while another highlight of his career to date was a solo performance for the Prince of Wales in Northern Ireland.
Kavan was an award winner at the highly competitive Meitheal Summer School in Limerick in 2008, the year in which he was also the recipient of a Cavan Co Council Arts Act grant towards his EPK (electronic press kit) media pack.
He has played support for prominent artists like fiddler Zoë Conway and singers Seán Ó Sé and Andy Irvine among others, and appeared at fourteen venues in the Macalla na hÉireann: 2009 Comhaltas Concert Tour of Ireland.
A member of the Seachtain Na h’Eigse All-Ireland Fleadh committee, Kavan regularly works on tune arrangements with the Cavan Town CCE youth branch, thereby demonstrating a desire to pass his skills on to even younger musicians.
His influences include Michael Rooney, Niall Vallely, Laoise Kelly, John McSherry, Cormac Breatnach and Donal Lunny.
His recording career dates back to 2001, where he played on A Call from The Musical Heart of Cavan. His playing also features on and Martin Donohoe’s 2006 CD Blúiríní Blasta (Tasty Touches).
But it is this new offering, recorded at Fintan McManus’s Railway Road Studios in Belturbet, Co Cavan — it had to be Cavan! — that marks Kavan’s arrival as a force to be reckoned with on the traditional music scene.
“The effortless, swagger displayed in the change from O’ Carolan’s dignified Planxty Wilkinson into the magnificent Dark Loanin is one of the best musical moments of the year.”
Damian McCarney, The Anglo Celt
The Bonny Men
In the twelve months that The Bonny Men have been together, they have emerged as the most talked about, and exciting young band to emerge from the trad/folk scene in Ireland.
Their debut album, self entitled The Bonny Men, was recorded live over four days in the internationally renowned Windmill Lane Recording Studios. This album captures the raw energy and life with which these young musicians play music. Already the album has received great reviews , according to Seán Laffey of Irish Music Magazine, “this a stunning debut album, filled with energy and references to the best Irish ensemble work from the heydays of the 1970’s’ “
Their unique sound features two sets of siblings, both from well known musical families. Barry Lyons takes on the role of guitar, while on bodhrán is his brother Conor, twice winner of the World Bodhrán Championships. On uilleann pipes is Oireachtas champion Maitiú Ó Casaide and his younger sister Natalie plays the piano. All-Ireland winner Moss Landman is on flute, Turlough Chambers is on fiddle and Adam Whelan is on bouzouki.
Íde Nic Mhathúna is the lead vocalist in the band. The Bonny Men’s singing capabilities are quite remarkable. Íde can sing in both Irish and English, and her powerful voice is unforgettable once heard. Adding to this, Conor has a strong distinctive singing voice with a repertoire of his own, and all band members are adept at backing vocals and harmonies, giving each song they sing a full wall of sound.
The Bonny Men excel in live performance. Having already played sell out shows in Dublin’s Liberty Hall and The Button Factory, they are quickly gathering a massive loyal following in Dublin. ” All the musicians are young, all of them in their twenties and part of a generation that grew up with many opportunities to hear the very best performers of traditional music. And now, with maturity and subtlety they’re doing it themselves. This will be the band to book in 2012′, Seán Garvey. Log onto
www.thebonnymen.ie to hear three tracks from their debut album.
The Bonny Men : Maitiú Ó Casaide uilleann pipes
Moss Landman flute
Conor Lyons bodhrán
Natalie Ní Chasaide keyboards
Adam Whelan bouzouki
Íde Nic Mhathúna vocals
Turlough Chambers fiddle
Barry Lyons guitar
The Meteor Choice Music Prize shortlist for Irish Album of the Year 2011 was announced this afternoon. Selected by a panel of 11 Irish music media professionals and industry experts the list of nominees is comprised of some of the very best of Ireland´s musical talents. The overall winning Album of the Year will be selected by the judging panel at the Meteor Choice Music Prize Live Event at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Thursday, March 8th 2012.
