This year TradConnect will be giving some assistance to one of our members, Máire O' Keefe in the promotion of the Joseph Browne Spring School of Music, which is on February 16th-18th this year.

By background the Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music was initiated in February 2007 in response to the tragic and untimely death of nineteen year-old Joseph…

For fans of Solas you can catch them on the second part of their Irish tour at the moment where they are getting great reviews.  This tour celebrates their latest recording Shamrock City which has a great story behind it.

"This project is somewhat of a milestone for us. It marks the first time in our 15 year history that we are making an album without the support of a…

J im Murray is one of the best and most respected accompanists in traditional Irish music. Hailing from County Cork Jim has toured both nationally and internationally with the A-Z of Irelands top musicians. His new trad Guitar site teaches rhythms, accents and strumming patterns for the Reel, Jig, Slip Jig, Fast Slide, Slow Slide, Polka and Hornpipe. Learn about choosing chords,…

There are many Irish traditional festivals organised throughout the summer months but there are few people who will dispute that Fleadh Nua which started in Dublin in 1970, is the forerunner of them all. The concept of bringing together concerts, céilithe, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment, pageants/parades and much more was innovative in its time.…

TradConnect member Paddy O’Brien of County Offaly has just released a second volume of his ground breaking tune collection. Paddy is an All-Ireland accordion champion renowned as one of the most powerful and passionate players of Irish traditional music today.

The collection is called The Paddy O’Brien Tune…

Don't forget tonights folks. Check for tickets first. Frankie started playing the tin whistle at age four, making his first T.V. appearance three years later. At the age of ten years old Frankie began to play fiddle and at the age of seventeen he placed first in the All Ireland Fiddle Competition and in the All Ireland Flute Competition, both on the same…

Plans for the 2012 festival are well underway, we are creating the biggest and best festival programme to date.  As part of the 2012 festival the Dubliners will celebrate their 50^th anniversary concert in the historic surrounds of Christ Church Cathedral, some very special well know guests will join in the celebrations on Friday the 27^th and Saturday the…

For fans of John Doyle who has just teamed up with Martin Hayes and Kevin Crawford under the name the Teetotallers, you can catch is latest release called Shadow and Light, This is his second solo effort and the follow up to Wayward Son(2005), Doyle establishes…

The Gathering Traditional Music Festival  is regarded as being one of the best traditional events in Ireland - one review said it was "like The Willie Clancy Summer school under one roof!" 



The five day events includes concerts, céilí, instrument masterclasses, set dance & sean nos workshops, numerous free music sessions, a full education programme and much more. 

You must know at this stage that I am a big fan of John Carty. This time he has joined up with the legendary Matt Molloy who has been a member of the Chieftains for more than 20 years, and who was one of the founding members of the great Bothy Band. They have just released a live album from Matt Molloys called Pathway To The Wellwith the great Arty McGlynn on guitar. Have a listen…

Submitted by Lorcán MacMathuna

Northern Lights brings a new program in which Traditional Irish music and…

Thanks to member Julie Leduchowski who just joined and made us aware of this site whih looks like a great resource for bodhran players. 

The site was created by Michelle Stewart who has personally taught well over a thousand people how to play this instrument which…

My Goal with this Blog is to try an post my my musical thoughts at least once a month, but hopefully once a week.  I figure I can come up with between 12 and 50 musical thoughts per year.

My thoughts this week:

I do not consider myself a professional musician... despite the fact I get payed when I'm playing in public more often than not.  I've been trying to figure out what differentiates me, who I don't consider professional from my husband, who I do consider a professional. …

Drumshanbo Comhaltas have been given this photograph of Packie Duignan playing for a dancer in a hostelry in Leitrim or Roscommon. We are wondering if anybody can help us identify the dancer. We have been told that she hails from possibly Tyrone.

Any help in identifying her would be…

For any fans of Liz Carroll Stateside check out her upcoming schedule

Wednesday, January 18 – Saturday, January 21

• Montana: Liz appears with Ensemble Galilei
• Five concerts…

People often mistake those people who are very proficient with their instruments as musicians.  Yet, people who are only barely proficient at their instrument are often overlooked for their contribution to overall sound.  So, to clarify:

An instrumentalist is someone who is well studied in their instrument, and has gained a level of proficiency that most of us aspire to.  They may have won competitions, or they may simply just be "one…

I am looking to compile a list of members that have released an album and while I am aware of some of them I know there are others lurking in what is a growing number of members. With 1,300 + members is is getting hard to track everyone, especially some of our overseas members that I may not be personally familiar with ( shame on me ).

For those of you that have an…

It is always great to hear new groups coming through, bringing their own style and flavours to the music, hearing how they interpret and bring the music to a new audience. Caladh Nua is one such group featuring TradConnector Eoin O' Meachair Attending…

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument? Come September 2012 we at The Brady Academy of Music hope to offer the following instruments at all levels (unless otherwise stated):



Tin-Whistle

Flute

Uilleann Pipes

Guitar (DADGAD tuning)

Fiddle

Banjo

Mandolin

Button Keyed Accordion (for beginners)

Concertina

Harp

Bodhrán…

So, this will be where I put my music related thoughts.  I'm a high-school math teacher by trade, and musician only by avocation.

This post is my musical resume, starting way back at the beginning:

My mother was always into musicals, and many a road trip was passed singing songs from "My Fair Lady" at the top of our collective lungs.  Dad had a musical instrument collection, including two guitars, a banjo, a variety of percussion instruments, a fiddle, a flute, and more.  He…