THE GALWAY Sessions, the city’s folk, trad, and roots music festival, featuring singers and musicians from Ireland and abroad, takes place from June 15 to 21, mostly in The Crane Bar on Sea Road.
Crane Bar gigs
The Galway Sessions 2009 begins on Monday June 15 at 9pm with a show from Australian folk/pop/rock band The Wishing Well, led by Jal Larkin, who is noted for the poetic quality of his lyrics. The Wishing Well also play Monroe’s Tavern on Friday 12 at 9.30pm; The Twelve Hotel, Bearna, on Saturday 13 at 10pm; and Tigh Neachtain on Sunday 14 at 8pm.
On Tuesday 16 at 9pm, the brilliant Irish songwriter Mick Hanley, best known for his much covered song ‘Past The Point Of Rescue’ will be in concert. On Wednesday 17 it’s Bohermore folk singer-songwriter Don Stiffe.
There will be a gala evening of singing as Gaeilge agus as Bearla on Thursday 18 at 9pm from Eamon Ó Broithe, Tim Lyons, and Paul Moran. They will perform songs collected by singer and hurler Jimmy Smith from Ruan in Clare entitled In Praise of Heroes, as well as a wide selection of sean nós and self-penned songs. Special guests will include two of Galway’s greatest sporting heroes John Connolly and Joe McDonagh, mighty sean nós singers also.
On Friday 19 at 9pm, Brian McGrath will launch his new album Pure Banjo and be joined in concert by trad Titans Alec Finn and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh.
There will be a sean-nós workshop with Paul Moran on Saturday 20 from 11am to 1pm. Alec Finn is back in The Crane with Sean Garvey for a show at 6.30pm. Then on Sunday 21 Sean Ryan and Pat Conneeley will play a gig at 1pm, while Scotland’s Jim Malcolm takes to the stage at 6.30pm.
For more information and tickets contact The Crane on 091 - 587419 or go to www.thecranebar.com Other venues
Three Galway Sessions shows take place in the Róisín Dubh. Singer-songwriter Ben Taylor, the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon plays on Monday 15; the actress and singer Maria Doyle Kennedy plays on Saturday 20; while No Banjo play blues, folk, and roots music on Sunday 21. All shows start at 9pm and tickets are available from the Róisín Dubh and Zhivago.
Weather permitting, the great Kilfenora Ceili Band will play in the square outside the Galway City Museum on Saturday 20 at 3pm. Bring your dancing shoes and join in the sets. If the weather is bad, alternative arrangements will be made.
