In 2014, some of the finest musicians from Ireland and abroad, will perform in a new flagship series at the National Concert Hall entitled ‘Perspectives 2014’. The announcement of this new year-long series will offer audiences a calendar year of concerts that will get you thinking, open your mind, stretch the imagination and bring new perspective to your musical world!  Combined with the Temple Bar Trad Fest which runs from January 22nd - 26th January Dublin will be the traditional capital at the start of the new year.

The programme is as follows

Saturday 25th January, 8pm
Quercus : June Tabor ( Vocals ), Huw Warren (Piano), Iain Bellamy (Saxophones)

Three of the UK’s internationally celebrated, award-winning musicians come together to create lyrical and mesmerising chamber music. Possibly odd bedfellows, this trio weaves together folk and jazz to make them seem the most natural and tender companions, with poignant words, enchanting melodies and heartfelt delivery.

‘…clarity, stillness and deep but fragile sound. It’s a unique tribute to the power of song’ The Guardian.

Booking


Sunday 26th January, 1pm
Kilfenora Céilí Band with Michael Donnellan and the Kickincrew

The world-renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band are seen by many afficianadoes as the quintessential Irish céilí band. Their core repertoire of dance music, puntuated with an incomparable lift and rhythm, defines an unbroken tradition that dates from the beginning of the twentieth century. Despite this link with the past, their recent recordings and concert performances point to a broadening of the perceived boundaries of their genre.

Collaborations with a diverse ranger of song and dance artists, experimentation with repertoire outside of the dance domain and complex harmonic arrangements speak to an ensemble who are pioneering new and exciting performance contexts for the céilí band genre. The creative and imaginative processes at play, clearly demonstrate that tradition is certainly not defined by statsis. While acknowledging and incorporating the past, the Kilfenora thrives on creativity and innovation.

Booking

Sunday 26th January, 3pm
Lau, At First Light, Padraig Rynne's Notify and Mossy Nolan
 
3pm  Mossy Nolan (bouzouki and mandolin) & Colm McGowan (guitars)
3.30pm  Padraig Rynne’s Notify:  Pádraig Rynne (Concertinas), Tyler Duncan (Guitars, computers/ programming), Joe Dart (Bass), Mike Shimmin (Drums)
4.20pm  At First Light : John McSherry (Uilleann Pipes), Donal O’Connor (fiddle), Francis McIlduff (Bodhran)
5.00pm  Lau : Kris Drever (vocals/guitars), Martin Green (accordion), Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle)

As traditional music goes through a flourishing of new ideas and artists, this marathon concert is a journey into the new with some of the most exciting artists around today featuring :

Lau are modern folk music’s most innovative band. Brilliant musicians, thrilling performers and free-thinking visionaries. BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS WINNERS BEST GROUP 2013

Booking

Sunday 26th January, 8.30pm
The Gloaming

Martin Hayes (Fiddle), Iarla O’Lionaird (Vocals), Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh (Hardanger)
Dennis Cahill (Guitar), Thomas Bartlett (Piano)

Martin, Caoimhín, and Dennis have been recognized for extending the Irish and Celtic music traditions – both literally and metaphorically, balancing traditional rigor with an energy that seems entirely new. Thomas has been identified with the independent rock scene for his work with artists as diverse as The National, Glen Hansard, Antony and the Johnsons and old friends Nico Muhly and Sam Amidon. Iarla has sung with projects as far afield as “new music” composer Donnacha Dennehy’s Nonesuch debut and the electronic/world-music hybrid Afro-Celt Soundsystem, the second bestselling artist in the history of Real World.

The music they make is ephemeral yet furious, pairing memorable, yearning melodies with a progressive style. Imagine if alchemical music of a band like Tortoise could appeal to your old Irish uncle – and you have an idea of what The Gloaming are after.

The Gloaming return to the scene of their debut show to make the release of their debut albumin January 2014 on Brassland and Real World Records.

Booking