CHRISTY MOORE, Finbar Wright, Mick Flannery, trad and classical,, all kinds of music from all manner of performers will be heard at the 38th annual Clifden Arts Festival which runs from September 17 to 27.
Folk and trad concerts include Christy Moore, who first played the Clifden Arts Festival in 1985 (September 25 ); the Mairtín O’Connor Trio, featuring Seamie O’Dowd (guitar/vocals ) and Cathal Heyden (fiddle/banjo ) and the great man himself (September 19 ); award-winning singer Kathleen Mac Innes, with Dermot Byrne on accordion, Brian Finnegan on flute, and Mike Vass on guitar (September 18 ); while composer Bill Whelan will reflect on the evolution of the Riverdance phenomenon (September 20 ). There will also be shows from Brendan Shine (September 23 ), Johnny Cash tribute band Walk The Line (September 25 ), Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre, Cherish The Ladies, and Matt Cranitch, Jackie Daly, and Conal Ó’Gráda.
For classical music lovers there is pianist Finghin Collins and violinist Elizabeth Cooney (September 18 ); the RTÉ Contempo Quartet, and Ishay Shaer, considered one of the leading pianists of his generation (September 23 ); The Ducasse Trio play classical music with a jazz twist on clarinet, violin and piano (September 16 ); while tenor Finbar Wright plays Clifden as part of his tour marking 25 years in the music business (September 20 ).
Singer-songwriters in concert include Mick Flannery, with special guest, Nashville-born Casey Black (September 17 ); and Sharon Murphy, the Galway contestant who impressed Tom Jones on The Voice UK (September 20 ). Jazz fans can look forward to Les Follies (September 23 ) and David Lyttle (September 19 ); while there will be soul from Mama Kin (September 23 ).
Also watch out for Galway prog-folk/indie band My Fellow Sponges (September 17 ). The band are Anna Mullarkey (vocals, piano, synths, harmonium, ukulele ), Donal Mc Connon (vocals, banjo, clarinet, harmonica, guitar ), David Shaughnessy (drums ), Elve Carrol (vocals ), and Sam Wright (bass ).
For tickets see www.clifdenartsfestival.ie
