celebrating composers

www.galwaysessions.com
CELEBRATING COMPOSERS
DON STIFFE & MARCUS HERNON / MICHAEL & DONAL McCAGUE & BRIAN McGRATH /
KATE PURCELL, CHARLIE LENNON & JOHNNY ÓG CONNOLLY / ANNA FALKENAU /
NOELIE McDONNELL / LIZ & YVONNE KANE / BREDA & CLAIRE KEVILLE & LIAM LEWIS /
JOHN BURNS (SCOTLAND) / THE KINLOCHARD CEILIDH BAND (SCOTLAND) / TIM LYONS /
WE BANJO 3 / TOMMY McCARTHY & LOUISE COSTELLOE / MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR, CATHAL
HAYDEN, JIMMY HIGGINS & SHAMIE O’DOWD / SOLAS / THE IRISH THUNDER PIPE BAND
(USA) / THE RAMBLING BOYS OF PLEASURE & A SPECIAL GALA TRIBUTE TO TONY SMALL
INTRODUCTION
I
f it were ever in doubt that Irish traditional and folk music is a living, breathing and
contemporary art form this year’s festival should prove it beyond doubt. The traditional music
repertoire extends back to the 17th and 18th centuries, but continues to be renewed and
reinvigorated to the present day.
Galway is so fortunate to be home to an incredible array of creative and imaginative composers
and songwriters. Many of these composers are well established and revered within the tradition.
The music of luminaries such as Paddy Fahy and Charlie Lennon is informed and inspired by the
tradition of their localities yet in each case distinctly individual and unique. Others like Máirtín
O’Connor are breaking new ground. Máirtín’s music is as innovative and sophisticated as it is
captivating and is strongly influenced by his world travels. We also welcome new offerings from
young musicians, Michael McCague, Anna Falkenau and Tommy McCarthy.
How fortunate we are indeed to have in our midst one of the greatest songwriters in the
traditional idiom of this era, Tim Lyons, the sublime balladeer Don Stiffe, not to mention the
seemingly endless production-line of contemporary folk song writers emanating from Tuam!
We pay special tribute to the wonderful legacy of song left to us by one of Galway’s most
charismatic singers, Tony Small. I believe his songs to be the ultimate expression of Galway’s
heritage and culture.
As always we extend a warm welcome to the musicians, dancers and entertainers from our
cultural partner Stirling, Scotland and an especially warm welcome to Irish Thunder pipes and drums
and their travelling party from Philadelphia.
I wish to thank Galway City Council for it’s continued support and likewise the great traditional
music houses of the city. I hope and trust visitors and locals alike will enjoy this year’s festival.
Mick Crehan
ANNA FALKENAU CD RELEASE
The Crane Bar / Sunday 15th June / 6pm / Admission FREE
CD release gig of Féileacán na
Saoirse – a new CD by fiddle player
Anna Falkenau
“Soulful, fluent, inventive – the superlative fiddling of ANNA
FALKENAU flows sweetly and with spellbinding expressiveness.
On this superb CD she weaves a finely crafted musical tapestry
from an intensely personal selection of airs and dance tunes from
the Irish and American old-time traditions. Her delicate fiddling
takes us to the core of some of the most deeply felt music in the
Irish tradition and to infectious dance tunes, as well as to freshly
composed music from herself and other fine tune makers of today...
On this CD Anna is supported masterfully by some of the most
skilled accompanists in the contemporary Irish tradition”
(Jackie Small)
Join Anna to celebrate the release of Féileacán na Saoirse in
The Crane Bar on Sunday 15th at 6pm. Admission is free and you can
pick up a copy there and then. Find out more by visiting
www.annafalkenau.com
DON STIFFE & MARCUS HERNON
The King’s Head / Monday 16th June / 3pm / Admission FREE
Aptly named the ‘Bard of Bohermore’ by legendary accordion player Joe Burke, DON STIFFE is one of the most respected songwriters in Ireland
today. He is equally admired for his singing prowess which is up there with the best. Don has released two albums, Start of a Dream (2006) and
Life Journey (2011) featuring some of Don’s beautifully crafted ballads. Songs recorded by other artists include ‘Home in Time For Christmas’;
Cherish the Ladies, ‘Grosse Isle’; Sean Keane and Kate Purcell and ‘Somebody Special’ by Matt Keane which was awarded song of the year from
Live Ireland Awards.
MARCUS HERNON is from Roisín na Mainiach in Carna, the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. Having won seven All - Ireland titles he is one of
the most respected flute players in Ireland today. In 2000 Marcus produced a book and CD featuring an entire collection dedicated to the wild birds of
Ireland composed in almost every music genre in the tradition.
DAN TRAYERS & PADRAIG STEVENS
Monroe’s Tavern / Monday 16th June / 9pm / Admission FREE
DAN TRAYERS is a singer songwriter from Tuam Co. Galway. Dan has played alongside the Saw Doctors, Sharon Shannon, The Hot House Flowers
and Damien Dempsey to name but a few. No stranger to the music scene around Galway city and county Dan after the release of his first solo
single ‘Buenos Noches’ was confirmed as Irish Artist of the Month for August 2013 on Galway Bay FM.
PADRAIG STEVENS a master songwriter from Grange, Co. Sligo and long time Tuam resident was manager!of Blaze X in the 80’s before joining the
Saw Doctors playing drums and co-writing many of the bands famous hits. He has released two albums Sound and Puddles and Rainbows. Popular
songs from these albums include ‘The Streets of Galway’, ‘The Tuam Beat’ and ‘Up Mayo’.
MICHAEL McCAGUE
The Crane Bar / Monday 16th June / 9pm / Admission FREE
Tonight’s gig sees the launch of The Waylaid Man, the long awaited album of original compositions in the traditional idiom offered up by MICHAEL
McCAGUE. This highly individual and personal project sees the culmination of over a years composing, studio work and collaboration with some of
the most inspiring and highly regarded musicians currently on the circuit.
The compositions cover the broad spectrum of reels, jigs, slides, barn dances, polkas and an Eastern European styled set. Solos and duets are
delicately balanced with Michael being the ever present accompanist and arranger. Brian McGrath (banjo) and Michael’s brother Donal McCague
(fiddle), TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2013, are the featured artists tonight.
KATE PURCELL Sings the Songs of Johnny Patterson
The King’s Head / Tuesday 17th June / 3pm / Admission FREE
KATE PURCELL, a native of Co. Clare and a contemporary folk artist, tours extensively around Ireland at venues ranging from arts centres to major concert
halls and has opened and played with most of the major acts on the Irish touring circuit. Kate features regularly on TV and radio programmes in both
Ireland and the UK with many of her own compositions being chart topping hits. Her album Shadows of You (2004) was short-listed for BBC2 Folk Awards.
Her interpretation of the songs of JOHNNY PATTERSON (1840-1889) have proved to be highly popular. Johnny Patterson born in Kilbarron, Feakle,
Co. Clare was a singer, songwriter and circus performer who worked and performed throughout the US, UK and Ireland. Johnny composed songs that
remain great favourites to this day on both sides of the Atlantic including ‘The Garden Where the Praties Grow’, ‘Goodbye Johnny Dear’ and ‘The Stone
Outside Dan Murphy’s Door’.
THE RAMBLING BOYS OF PLEASURE
Monroe’s Live / Tuesday 17th June / 8pm / Admission €15/€12.50
THE RAMBLING BOYS OF PLEASURE are a collection of Irish musicians who love to explore their music and look for new directions in which to take
it. Their aim is to explore the influence of Celtic music in different cultures around the globe, and to see if they can take that merging of cultures
somewhere new. Having been brought up on songs that have travelled the globe and returned, they are fascinated by the journey these songs have
taken, and the influences they picked up on the way. The Rambling Boys of Pleasure Are: Bernard O’Neill, Gino Lupari, Alan Burke, David Munnelly
and Sean Regan. Tickets available from: www.monroes.ie
SET DANCING
Monroe’s Tavern / Tuesday 17th June / 9pm / Admission FREE
A great chance to belt out a few sets to the lively music of JOHN BYRNE agus a chairde
JOHNNY Óg CONNOLLY & CHARLIE LENNON
The Crane Bar / Tuesday 17th June / 9pm / Admission €10
JOHNNY ÓG CONNOLLY from one of Connemara’s great musical families is a master on both melodeon and accordion. He has performed and recorded
with many great musicians including Brian McGrath and Charlie Lennon. His 2011 CD Aisling Yoshua was Best Traditional Album of the Year in the the
Irish Times Poll and featured an array of his beautifully crafted compositions including dance tunes, airs and waltzes. Johnny could justifiable claim to
be the waltz king of Ireland.
CHARLIE LENNON is one of the most prolific living Irish tune composers and he has also written some ambitious large scale works for orchestra. He was
named TG4 Composer of the Year in 2006 and has published two volumes of his compositions entitled Musical Memories. Where ever Irish music is played
the world over rarely is a session complete without one or two of Charlie’s tunes. Favourites include ‘Kilty Town’, ‘Ril an Spidéal’ and ‘The Twelve Pins’.
Tickets available from: 091 587419 / www.thecranebar.com
TOMMY McCARTHY & LOUISE COSTELLOE
The King’s Head / Wednesday 15th June / 3pm / Admission FREE
Owners of one of the world’s most famous Irish music houses, the Burren Bar in Somerville, Boston, TOMMY McCARTHY and his wife
LOUISE COSTELLOE released their debut album Grace Bay earlier this year. The album featured several original compositions by Tommy,
one of the newest composers on the block, including a plaintive and reflective piece which is the title track, a truly West Clare style jig,
‘A Trip to Miltown’ and two playful waltzes inspired by nights on Innisboffin.
WE BANJO 3
Róisín Dubh / Wednesday 15th June / 9pm / Admission FREE
One of the most exciting if not explosive acts to emerge in recent years are WE BANJO 3. Band members are two sets of brothers Enda and
Fergal Scahill and David and Martin Howley all Galwegians and all young vibrant and masterful musicians. Last year they swept the boards
awards wise, including Irish Times Traditional Album of the Year, New Group of the Year and Concert of the Year winners on Live Ireland.com.
Their heady mix of Americana and Trad is sure to guarantee continued success. Join them as they launch their new CD Gather the Good.
NOELIE McDONNELL
The Crane Bar / Wednesday 15th June / 9pm / Admission €10
NOELIE MCDONNELL is a singer songwriter from Tuam Co. Galway. His debut self titled album (2005) was a considered hit and it’s opening song
‘Stars’ was picked as Ian Dempsey’s Song of the Week on Today FM. In 2008 he released his second album Beyond Hard Places. ‘Nearly Four’,
a song written for Noelie’s nephew got to number 4 in the Irish Download Charts and number 15 in the Irish Singles Charts. Noelie has played
alongside numerous artists including John Martyn, The Saw Doctors, Eddie Reader and Mundy. He currently plays with The Whileaways and
the Cabin Collective featuring former members of the Saw Doctors and the Waterboys.
Tickets available from: 091 587419 / www.thecranebar.com
Galway Sessions 2014 Day by Day Guide
Venue
Time
Sun 15
Mon 16
Tue 17
The Crane Bar
9.00pm
(Except *)
ANNA FALKENAU
CD Launch
(*6pm)
MICHAEL McCAGUE
CD Launch
JOHNNY ÓG CONNOLLY
& CHARLIE LENNON
Róisín Dubh
9.00pm
Monroe’s Live
8.00pm
THE RAMBLING BOYS
OF PLEASURE
Monroe’s Tavern
9.00pm
(Except *)
DAN TRAYERS
& PADRAIG STEVENS
SET DANCING
The Quays
9.00pm
(Except *)
SÚLT
SÚLT
Tigh Neachtain
9.00pm
The Kings Head
3.00pm
DON STIFFE
& MARCUS HERNON
KATE PURCELL
Tigh Chóilí
6.00pm
(Except *)
BRIAN McGRATH
& AIDAN FLANAGAN
JOHN O’HALLORAN
& LIZ HANRAHAN
9.00pm
ANDERS TRABJERG &
NIALL McQUAID
LIZ HANRAHAN
& KEVIN WHELAN
5.30pm
(Except *)
ANDERS TRABJERG
& FRIENDS
SHANE FAHY & FRIENDS
9.30pm
MIKE CASEY,
JOHN O’HALLORAN
& LIZ HANRAHAN
MARTIN O’CONNOR
& JAMES SHERIDAN
Taaffe’s
Town Hall Theatre
Open Air Events
= Cover Charge
8.00pm
OPEN TRAD SESSION
www.galwaysessions.com
Wed 18
NOELIE McDONNELL
Thur 19
Fri 20
Sat 21
Sun 22
BREDA & CLAIRE KEVILLE
& LIAM LEWIS
KINLOCHARD CEILIDH BAND
(*9.30pm)
SINGING IN THE CRANE
(*6pm)
SEAN RYAN, GREG COTTER
& MICK CREHAN
(*1pm)
SOLAS
THE MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR BAND
POST PARADE PARTY
(*2pm)
JOHN O’HALLORAN
& EAMON O’DWYER
We Banjo 3
CD Launch
PETER BYRNE
& THE GLASS ONION BAND
PADDY KERR
& JOHN O’HALLORAN
MIKEY & THE SCALLYWAGS
TOMMY McCARTHY
& LOUISE COSTELLOE
LIZ & YVONNE KANE
JOHN BURNS
& FRIENDS
PAUL BRADLEY
& DECLAN COREY
MARY SHANNON
& FRIENDS
JOHNNY ‘RINGO’ McDONAGH,
RONAN FLAHERTY
& CONOR McCAGUE
RINGO McDONAGH
& FRIENDS
JOHN O’HALLORAN,
GERRY WHELAN & NICK POWER
(*2.00pm)
THE GREAT DANES
JOHN O’HALLORAN
& LIZ HANRAHAN
CONOR McCARTY
& FRIENDS
CONOR McCARTY
& FRIENDS
RINGO McDONAGH,
MICK CONNEELY
& BRIAN McGRATH
DECLAN COREY
& GER CLANCY
ROBIN & FRIENDS
(Ballads)
GERRY WHELAN
& MICK CARR
GERRY WHELAN
& MICHAEL CHANG
THE GREAT DANES
THE FAHY FAMILY
CRAZY CROW
MIKE CASEY
& FRIENDS
SHOP STREET
CÉILÍ BAND
MARTIN O’CONNOR
& JAMES SHERIDAN
TONY SMALL
A Musical Tribute
PIPING RECITAL
Small Crane
8pm
FESTIVAL PARADE
See Map for Route
1pm
Subject to change
P
ADDY FAHY, born 1916, is considered to be the greatest living composer of Irish traditional music. Paddy, an exceptional fiddler, is
from Kilconnell in East Galway. His music has a distinctive yearning and magical quality or “draíocht” which is the essential if not definitive
expression of the East Galway style of traditional music. His music is much admired and has been recorded by many of the traditions finest
fiddlers including Martin Hayes, John Carty and Kevin Burke. In recent years a number of CDs prominently featured Paddy’s music including recordings
by Liz and Yvonne Kane and Breda and Claire Keville. Paddy was named TG4 Composer of the Year in 2001. Today’s concerts pay a very special and
deserved tribute to Paddy and his music.
LIZ & YVONNE KANE
The King’s Head / Thursday 19th June / 3pm / Admission FREE
From north Connemara LIZ and YVONNE KANE are much respected musicians and teachers. They first came to national prominence when they toured
with accordion player Sharon Shannon as members of her band The Woodchoppers. Since then the sisters have pursued a successful career as a fiddle
duet. Paddy Fahy’s music always features strongly in their concert programmes.
BREDA & CLAIRE KEVILLE & LIAM LEWIS
The Crane Bar / Thursday 19th June / 9pm / Admission FREE
BREDA and CLAIRE KEVILLE are from Headford in Co. Galway. Liam Lewis is also originally from Galway but now lives in Co. Clare. The recordings
The Hop Down by Breda and The Garden of Daisies by Claire are both magnificent tributes to Paddy Fahy and both CDs feature LIAM LEWIS as a special
guest. The trio’s soulful and sensitive playing renders Paddy’s music at it’s very best.
SOLAS
Monroe’s Live / Thursday 19th June / 8pm / Admission €15/12.50
Solas, Irish America’s most influential band, recently completed their most ambitious project to date, the recording Shamrock City. Through a deeply
thoughtful, imaginative and carefully crafted collection of songs and tunes they tell the story of the Irish who went to work in the copper mines in
Butte, Montanna in the early 1900’s. It is a fascinating if sometimes tragic story. The gig provides a chance to give a great welcome home to singer
Norianna Kennedy on her Galway debut with Solas.
Tickets available from: www.monroes.ie
JOHN BURNS & FRIENDS
The King’s Head / Friday 20th Jun / 3pm / Admission FREE
JOHN BURNS from Stirlingshire in Scotland was 1999/2000 All Scotland Accordion Champion and the Scottish Musette Champion in 2002.
An extremely accomplished player and composer, John has toured extensively in Europe and the U.S. with the Kinlochard Ceilidh Band.
He also has his own band, The Burns Brothers, in which he plays with his brother George also a champion accordion player.
THE MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR BAND
Monroe’s Live / Friday 20th June / 8pm / Admission €17.50/15
MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR is one of the most respected and best loved musicians ever to emerge from Ireland. One of the main musical forces behind
the now legendary Riverdance phenomenon, through his work with De Dannan, Midnight Well and Skylark and also as a solo artist he has quite
simply gone where no Irish accordion player had gone before. Many fine musicians have played in Máirtín’s bands. For the past nine years the
group has included multi-all Ireland winner Cathal Hayden and former Dervish member Séamie O’Dowd and percussionist Jim Higgins. In 2009 the
band released the much anticipated album Crossroads. Máirtín’s previous albums Road West and Rain of Light are considered ground-breaking and
captivating. A prolific writer of new material, Máirtín’s tunes can be heard on the recordings of many artists and at sessions throughout the world.
Tickets available from: www.monroes.ie
PIPING RECITAL
Small Crane. Friday 20th June / 8pm / Admission FREE
Just a quick wee piping recital with highland dancing featuring Irish, Scots and American pipers to warm you up for a rare ould night of hearty
Scots entertainment in the Crane.
KINLOCHARD CEILIDH BAND
The Crane Bar / Friday 20th June / 9.30pm / Admission FREE
Welcome and regular visitors to the Galway Sessions from our cultural partner Stirling the KINLOCHARD CEILIDH BAND will entertain and delight
with a truly traditional night of Scottish music, dance, story and song.
CONCERT
FESTIVAL PARADE
Streets of Galway / Saturday 21st June / 1pm
The Galway Sessions extends the warmest of welcomes to IRISH THUNDER PIPES & DRUMS
from Philadelphia, PA. The 45 piece band will lead a colourful and exciting parade which
will include pipers from Scotland and Ireland, highland dancers and festival favourites
BIG RORY & his dog OCHIE, probably the funniest street entertainers in the world.
The parade will commence at the top of SHOP Street, proceed thro’ the LATIN QUARTER
into GALWAY’S WEST END. Come along and enjoy the colour and excitement.
POST PARADE PARTY
Monroe’s Tavern / Saturday 21st June / 2pm / Admission FREE
Come join our friends from the U.S. and Scotland for an after parade party-entertainment by the KINLOCHARD CEILIDH BAND as well as piping
and dancing, a reel highland fling.
SINGING IN THE CRANE
Special Guest TIM LYONS
The Crane Bar / Saturday 21st June / 6pm / Admission FREE
SINGING IN THE CRANE is a bi-monthly singers club run by singers Dave Larkin and Lorraine Fitzpatrick and has grown from strength to strength
over the past year or so.
Special guest at this evening’s session is the master of the comic song, TIM LYONS. Corkman Tim now lives in Kiltullagh, Athenry and is
regarded as one of the finest traditional singers in Ireland today. Since the 70’s Tim has been writing hilarious and challenging songs and ballads
on topical issues of the day. All singers and listeners welcome! Bigi Linn
Tim Lyons singing The Góilín, circa 1988. Photograph by Derek Spiers
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VENUES
1 The Crane Bar
4 The Quays
7 Tigh Chóilí
2 Róisín Dubh
5 Tigh Neachtain
8 Taaffe’s Bar
3Monroe’s
6 The Kings Head
9 Town Hall Theatre
Parade Route
TICKETS
Tickets are available on the door or in advance from participating venues.
Programme & Poster Design by www.designassociates.ie
TONY SMALL
The Galway Sessions presents
A MUSICAL TRIBUTE
Sunday 22nd June / Town Hall Theatre / 8pm / Admission €20*
A heartfelt homage to Galway’s
dearly loved singer / songwriter
Photo: Jürgen Domes
Featuring a distinguished
array of Tony’s closest
musical collaborators
Tickets available from the box office at the Town Hall Theatre at Courthouse Square, Galway or Phone 091 569777 between 10am-7.30pm Mon-Sat, or online at www.tht.ie –
Visa, Access, MasterCard and Laser are accepted. *Telephone and personal bookings are subject to Refurbishment Charge of 50 cent per ticket.
Online bookings are subject to €1.50 booking and Refurbishment Charge per ticket.