IRISH TRAD is often played on the violin - or fiddle when speaking about folk music - and rarely, if ever on the instrument’s slightly larger, deeper sounding sibling, the viola.
Challenging that are Seamus McGuire and Niamh Varian-Barry, who are about to tour Ireland playing Irish trad on the viola, accompanied by the great Gerry O’Beirne on guitar. The trio will perform at the Station House Theatre, Clifden, Connemara, on Tuesday February 8 at 8pm.
Following his critically acclaimed An Irish Viola/Vióla Gaelach album release with Steve Cooney, Sligo fiddle player Seamus McGuire - also a member of Buttons and Bows and The West Ocean String Quartet - brings the warmth and richness of the viola to the fore in this collaboration with Niamh Varian-Barry, a highly accomplished singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who can move between classical and folk with ease. A former member of the American supergroup Solas, she is also a founding member and leader of Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra.
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Seamus McGuire, Niamh Varian-Barry, and Gerry O’Beirne. Photo:- Eamon Ward
Both artists are interested in the deeper tones the viola can produce and how that can result in a fresh perspective on traditional music.
Gerry O’Beirne has worked with Patrick Street, Midnight Well, Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon, and Marianne Faithfull.
This is a ‘Music Network presents…’ show. Tickets are available via www.musicnetwork.ie
