Music

High-octane to unplugged: the best in this week’s traditional music

Béal and Moxie play as part of MusicTown; Cormac Begley and Liam O’Connor collaborate

Siobhán Long's face
Siobhán Long April 21st 2018
Sat Apr 21 2018 - 05:00

Saturday, April 21st

Béal: The Ireland Institute, 27

Pearse Street 8.30pm, €12 eventsmart.com

A special evening of poetry and traditional Irish music presented by Stephen James Smith and Macdara Yeates as part of MusicTown 18. The evening features artists, poets, Stephen James Smith, Felispeaks, John Cummins and musicians Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni-K) Eoghan ó Ceannabháin (Jiggy, Aon Teanga) and Macdara Yeates, in an intimate, unplugged performance. Building on the natural affinity that has long existed between poets and musicians from Luke Kelly and Patrick Kavanagh, to Seamus Heaney and Liam O’Flynn and Sean Ó Riada and Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháin.

Moxie, The Ark 2pm & 4pm €12.50/€9.50 ark.ie

High-octane band whose traditional music backbone is influenced by progressive, jazz and world music bring their set to younger audiences as part of this year’s MusicTown festival. Featuring banjo, guitar, accordion, keyboard and percussion.

Cormac Begley and Liam O’Connor: The Crane Bar, Galway 6pm €15/€12 cormacbegley.com

A magical opportunity to hear two of the finest musicians of their generation collaborate. Concertina player, Begley and fiddle player, O’Connor intuitively navigate a path between the pure drop and the outer reaches of our tradition. Not to be missed.

Cormac Begley plays with Liam O’Connor at the Crane Bar in Galway

Sunday, April 22nd

Siansa Gael Linn: National Concert Hall 7.30pm, Adm free (booking essential) 01-6753303

Finals of Gael Linn’s superb annual competition for music groups with a prize fund of €4,500. Compered by Áine Hensey, the judges are Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Declan Masterson and Oisín Mac Diarmada. A great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the best emerging musicians from across the country.

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Thursday, April 26th

Soul Clap Its Hands And Sing: Poetry Ireland, 11 Parnell Square East 7pm €10/€8 poetryireland.ie

The Irish Traditional Music Archive & Poetry Ireland continue their year-long series of events featuring poetry and music. Tonight features poet, John McAuliffe and singer, Kevin Doherty. In his recent album, Seeing Things, Doherty credited Seamus Heaney as a source of inspiration. But his soulful lyrics draw on many other influences too, including the work of John McAuliffe, whose poems tell stories and find images for "soul-making" in the everyday world of sheds, swimming pools, concert halls, parks, ferry ports, galleries, protest marches, cinemas and street corners.