Ceol | Music

The Kaleidoscope Big Band Concert!

The Kaleidoscope Big Band, Musician-In-Residence programme began in January 2014 and over the course of this residency ten young musicians aged 12-18 have been involved in a compositional project under the direction of Dennis Wyers.

Following this initial phase they have been rehearsing and improvising their new music, working closely with professional ensemble Rhombus in anticipation of their end performance which takes place in the Linenhall Arts Centre on Friday May 9th at 8.00pm.

Tickets: Adults: €5 / Under 18's: free.

Please come and support young musicians and new music in Mayo!

The purpose of the Kaleidoscope Big Band music project is to be as inclusive as possible, to bring together a diverse range of young musicians who are of the standard needed to perform a concert of newly composed music. This has been an amazing opportunity for young musicians involved to take to the spotlight and develop their skills while showcasing their unique abilities in composition, improvisation and performance.

The young musicians involved hail from a variety of musical backgrounds/genres including classical, jazz, and traditional, rock and indie -so with all these creative minds, bubbling over with the best of all genres and accompanied by the Rhombus Quintet..... well it's going to make for a very exciting and interesting concert!!

The Rhombus Quintet is comprised of Dennis Wyers: saxophones/composition, Georgia Cusack: voice, Bill Blackmore: trumpet, Cormac O'Brien: double bass, and Matthew Jacobson: drums. Each of its members, are soloists in their own right and Rhombus' shows are no-holds-barred performances of musical exploration. Nordic jazz, classical minimalism, blues, drum-and-bass... every style is fair-game so long as it lets the players use their own musicality to create sensitive dialogue.

For more information or to make a booking contact Music Generation Mayo

BALLINA ARTS CENTRE

Barrett St, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

T: 096 73593

E: info@ballinaartscentre.com

W: www.ballinaartscentre.com

Freddie White

Friday 2^nd May, 8pm

Freddie White has long been synonymous with music of the highest quality. Whether interpreting songs by his favorite writers – such as Randy Newman, Tom Waits, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, - or performing his own classy compositions, Freddie’s live performances are nothing short of legendary.  Freddie has been part of the fabric of the live music scene in Ireland since the 1970s and his albums continue to sell well, amongst his loyal and new-found fan base.   Born in Cobh, County Cork, into a musical family, by age thirteen Freddie was playing in school bands, and by seventeen playing professionally. At nineteen, he moved to London, where he developed his unique voice and guitar style.

Tickets: €15 / €12. Booking advised.

Ballina Chamber Choir

Friday 16^th May, 8pm

Under the guidance of new Director, Niamh O’Kelly, the Ballina Chamber Choir returns to Ballina Arts Centre for an evening of choral music.  Formed in 2011, the all-female choir has a repertoire which ranges from Mozart and Faure to Cole Porter, Jazz and Blues.  This twenty-strong choir share high levels of experience and musicianship and a love of performing excellent choral music. 

For this concert the Ballina Chamber Choir will be joined by special guests the Huntingdon Male Voice Choir.

Tickets: €12. Booking advised

Leeds CCE: ‘The Woodlands of Cluasach Mhara’

Saturday 24^th May, 8pm

Leeds Comhaltas return to Ballina Arts Centre with their 2014 ‘Scoraoicht’ – a lively show of drama, traditional music, song and dance.

A landowner has decided to develop his land as a holiday complex, but, to everyone’s dismay, his plans include cutting down the ‘Cottonwoods’ – the last bit of woodland in the area.  Our story starts on the day that the news comes through that their appeal has been unsuccessful – and one last gallant attempt is to be made to stop the development. So the word is spread far and wide “the sit-in session” is on.  Why not come and join the ‘sit-in’ and enjoy the fun and games?

Leeds CCE will be joined for the first half of the night by their friends from the Bofield group and it should be a fabulous night of entertainment!

Tickets: €10. Booking advised

NoCrows

Friday 30^th May, 8pm

NoCrows were formed in 2005, with musical styles ranging from Irish traditional to Latin bossa, and a lot more in between. Sligo bassist Eddie Lee, Mallorcan guitarist Felip Carbonell, Swiss cellist/mandolinist Anna Houston provide the backbone of the band, joined in recent years by renowned Russian gypsy violinist Oleg Ponomarev, who also plays in Yurodny and Koshka, and a multitalented guitarist/fiddler, singer/songwriter living in Sligo, Ray Coen.  Founding member Steve Wickham still makes regular forays with NoCrows when he is not touring with his other band The Waterboys.

Whether there are five or six onstage, the eclecticism and sheer joy of NoCrows music is always evident. NoCrows recorded its fourth album Waiting for the Tide in early 2014, with an exciting mix of songs and brand new original tunes for release in May 2014.

Tickets: €18 / €15. Booking advised

LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE

Linenhall St, Castlebar, Mayo.

T: 094 9023733

E: linenhall@anu.ie

W: www.thelinenhall.com

Wednesday 14^th May @ 8.00pm

Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas & Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh - The Iona Connection

The remote Hebridean isle of Iona is the inspiration for this dream collaboration between Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal fiddler and singer Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh, as they explore the connections between traditional Irish, Scottish and Old Time American music, following in the musical footsteps of tunes that have emigrated and found their way home once more. The result: all the raw beauty and energy you’d expect from a community on the edge of the known world, as Haas returns the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music. Alasdair Fraser is long-regarded as one of Scotland’s premier fiddlers. He and Natalie Haas have been creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across Europe and America, and for this tour they are performing for the first time with the inestimable Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, one of the foremost singers in the Irish language and co-founder of trad legends Altan. Here she revisits the themes of 'edge’ and ‘threshold’ explored on her first solo album Imeall.

Adm. 16 euro / 14 euro (concessions) / 10 euro (special Bealtaine rate for 65+)

Wednesday 21^st May @ 8.00pm

The Rocks’n’Roses Choir

This is the second concert at the Linenhall for Rocks’n’Roses, and the choir will be performing a programme of lively and popular new songs from last year - and audience participation is welcome!

The Choir is made up of men and women from all around the county and every member has had a Cancer diagnosis. Coming together every week at Rock Rose House, Castlebar, Rocks’n’Roses Choir has formed a very important support system for the members, along with the fun that is had at each practice.

Two well known Mayo singers - Sean Costelloe and James Kilbane are joining the Choir as guests on the night, to make it a very special night and one not to be missed.

Adm: 14 euro / 12 euro (concessions) / 10 euro (special Bealtaine rate for 65+)

Thursday 22^nd May @ 8.00pm

The Troubadours

The Troubadours are an eclectic group of Mayo-based singers wishing to revive the power of storytelling through song in the true troubadour tradition. The group has been busy preparing a wide and varied repertoire for this show under the direction of Kathy Fahey.  From traditional song to more contemporary music, doo-wop to barber shop, The Troubadours promise a wonderful night's entertainment for all ages and tastes.

Adm: 14 euro / 12 euro (concessions) / 10 euro (special Bealtaine rate for 65+)

Friday 30^th May @ 8.00pm

Declan O’Rourke

Declan O’Rourke came to Dublin in his mid-20s and soon found himself trading songs with the likes of Paddy Casey, Gemma Hayes and Damian Rice. Today his songs have been covered by artists including Josh Groban, and Paul Weller, and he joined a stellar line up of artists including Alison Krauss for the BBC’s Transatlantic Sessions. He has toured extensively in Europe opening for, among others, Paul Weller, Snow Patrol, Paulo Nutini, Badly Drawn Boy and Paul Brady, and recently performed at the BBC Proms in the Park in Belfast. His latest CD Mag Pai Zai even managed to top the success of Declan’s first two albums, while A Little Something reached No. 2 in the Today FM Top 40. Both it and follow up single Time Machine were Singles of the Week. Mag Pai Zai was also cited as one of ‘101 Irish Albums to Hear Before You Die’ by the music editor of the Irish Times. Come and hear why.

Adm.: 20 euro

ÁRAS INIS GLUAIRE

Áisleann Bhéal an Mhuirthead, Belmullet, Mayo

T: 097 81079

SEÁN KEANE

SEÁN KEANE in concert in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet on Saturday 16^th August.

Tickets on sale now Admission €20  Family Ticket €50   BOOKING ESSENTIAL

SWINFORD CULTURAL CENTRE

Further information please contact: tmelia@mayococo.ie

jryan@mayococo.ie

May 16^thSwinford Sings – Part of Mayo International Choral Festival

WhistleBlast Quartet in Breaffy National School,Ballina

The WhistleBlast Quartet returns to Co- Mayo after its successful extensive Nationwide Tour to perform and work with all the children in Breaffy National School,Ballina. Concerts and workshops will entertain and musically inspire 248 young people during this three day programme! 

A group of children will also compose and learn a unique short piece with WhistleBlast-this gives an opportunity to children with or without musical ability to perform live to an audience! This will be performed as the grand finale in the Free Family Concert in the Newman Institute, Cathedral Close, Ballina on Wednesday 14^th May at 6pm.

This Free Concert features WhistleBlast playing Family Classics from Tchaikovsky to Gymnopedies to James Bond! EVERYBODY is welcome to this live and informal Concert. The Quartet’s exciting and diverse programming will appeal to all.

The Quartet prides itself on making live classical music accessible so please come along for some Fun and Great Music!

Ken Edge (Saxophones and Clarinet), Mary Curran (French Horn), Síle Daly (Oboe and Cor Anglais) and Conor Linehan (Piano)

In 2014, in addition to the Quartet’s schools programmes look out for their Family Concert Series in the National Concert Hall, Dublin and a new WhistleBlast Music Festival starring renowned pianist Finghin Collins in Belmullet during Halloween.

The WhistleBlast Quartet is funded by The Arts Council, the National Concert Hall Education Programme, Mayo County Council and Blackshell Farm Limited. Participating schools also contribute to the programme cost.

See www.whistleblastquartet.com

Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo  Swinford  8th - 11th May

One of the highlights of the fringe events during the Fleadh Cheoil will be a very interesting lecture @ 8 p.m. in Melletts on  Thursday 8 th  May. Dr. Deirdre  Ní Chonghaile will talk  about an extensive collection of rare and wellknown Irish songs which had been stored away in the archives in N.U.I.G. since 1936. This unique collection had been gathered and put together by Fr.Daniel Murphy (1858-1935)a scholar,who spent his lifetime promoting Irish Literature and ardently preserving the Irish language in the U.S.A.

He was a native of  Culdalee in Kilmactigue; a gaeltacht area at the foot of the Ox Mountains in Co. Sligo.He emigrated to America , settled in Philadelphia and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1879.

His work took him to the cities and mining towns of Pennsylvania where he recorded in writing the words and songs of emigration and famine which passionately illustrate  the range and spectrum  of the human spirit in all its hopes and aspirations.Writing down the words and stories of the songs was vital to their survival.At that time,it is widely held,while the Irish emigrant could speak or sing fluently in his own language, very few were capable of writing or reading in the idiom.He also collaborated with a Galwayman, Sean O'Laighin and together they amassed a treasure trove of over eleven hundred songs.

In 1982 a   grandnephew of Fr. Murphy who was resarching family history learned of their existence in N.U.I.G.The family of Fr. Murphy were not aware of the collection before this remarkable forgotten store of papers was found.

Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile, of Aran will continue this fascinating story and reveal the context and inspiration which motivated this important undertaking during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century.

Musician, broadcaster and scholar Dr.Chonghaile whose chosen subject is Song of Aran came across the bulky collection and it took her fancy. Dr.Ní Chonghaile,a Post Doctoral Fellow in N.U.I.G. will explore the background to the songs and the signifigance of the discovery of this historical account of Irish emigrants who forged new lives yet succeeded in continuing their links with their homeland.

The Lecture will be followed by Singing Club.

Fri. 9th  May @ 8.p.m.  Official Opening of Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo

2014 by Katie Sweeney, Co.Ordinator for the Arts in Education in Gateway Hotel.

9 p.m. Ceilidh Mór. Music by Swallows Tail.Ceol agus Craic. Tea will be served.

Sat. 10 th May Fleadh junior competitions (u-12, 12-15) commence @ 10 a.m. in Scoil Muire agus Padraig.(secondary school). (u-10) competitions will take place in Scoil Muire agus Treasa (primary school).

Aifreann na Fleidhe in Our Lady Help of Christians Church Swinford @ 6.30 p.m.

Seisiún Ceoil - invitation to all musicians - in Gateway Hotel @ 7.30 p.m.

Sun. 11th  May senior competitions commence (15-18,  o-18) in Scoil Muire agus Padraig.

Ceilidh dancing and Set dancing competitions commence @ 10 a.m. in Gateway Hotel.

Midfield Pipe Band give a Marching Band Exhibition @ 12 45 p.m. through town.

Music sessions in local hostelries all weekend.

Failte romhat go léir agus go neirí go geal libh sna comortaisi eagsúla.