Fringe festival favourite The Event comes to Castlebar
The Event, a hugely acclaimed piece of theatre and a winner of the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe First Award, comes to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday, April 14 at 8pm.
Written and directed by John Clancy, and performed by David Calvitto, The Event is a deceptively simple piece of theatre — unpretentious and totally engaging — which playfully but profoundly leads us to question not only the nature of reality, but the very nature of existence itself, masterfully delivering a profound, thought-provoking, imaginative experience.
Rig the Jig make a welcome return to the Linenhall
The lively and irrepressible Rig the Jig make a welcome return to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Thursday, April 15 at 8pm.
Rig the Jig met through their love of music in the 1990s. In recent years the band has evolved into a leading exponent of Irish traditional and contemporary folk music. The group comprises the musical energies of Michael Banahan (vocals, bodhrán, acoustic guitar ), Aoife Kelly (fiddle, vocals ), Anthony McDermott (acoustic and electric guitars ), Patricia Lane (vocals, bodhrán ), Noel Carberry (uilleann pipes, whistles ), Paul Gurney (bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards ), Brendan Emmett (mandolin, acoustic guitar ) and Ian Kinsella (banjo, guitar ). Rig the Jig offers a combination of Irish traditional music and more contemporary American material, a repertoire of songs, ballads, jigs and reels that is fresh and invigorating, completely natural, and spontaneous.
The Alan Kelly quartet
One of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians in any genre, Alan Kelly brings his quartet to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar for a night of dazzling music on Thursday April 22 at 8pm.
With three acclaimed albums to his name, Roscommon piano accordionist, composer and arranger Alan Kelly delivers a blend of traditional, salsa and jazz rhythms and a rake of self-composed tunes, rich in variety and drawing on musical influences from Brittany to Asturias, to Louisiana. Performing with Alan are three top-drawer musicians: veteran fiddle player Tola Custy; Lúnasa-founding guitarist Donogh Hennessy; and vibrant young flute and whistle player Steph Geremia. Alan Kelly doesn’t just play the accordion, he celebrates it in a way that draws you into the passion he puts into the music he plays. Come and join him in that celebration.
Classical duo to light up the Linenhall
Two truly spell-binding performers, Xuefei Yang (guitar ) and Natalie Clein (cello ), perform together in a fantastic concert at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday April 28 at 8pm.
Natalie Clein’s remarkable talent first came to the world’s attention when, aged 16, she won the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year award. Since then she has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras and chamber music ensembles, combining traditional repertoire with more experimental pieces. Lauded for her feisty virtuosity, light touch and precision. Xuefei Yang is the first ever guitarist in China to enter a music school or launch a professional career, and first to sign an international recording contract with EMI. Put the two together and you have the makings of a magical night of music. Part of a prestigious Music Network tour.
John Brady exhibition
Brady’s Prado, an exhibition of paintings by Westport-born artist John Brady, continues at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar for the month of April. Brady’s latest show is based on sketchbooks the artist made during time he spent in the Prado, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay. Currently based in Galway with a studio in Artspace, Brady is a recognised artist of long standing, and his work is in a number of prestigious national collections. This is his 15th solo exhibition and runs until May 1.
The Linenhall Gallery is open to the general public Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturday from 11am to 5.30pm. Admission to exhibitions is free. Further details from the Linenhall. Tel: 094 9023733 Website: www.thelinenhall.com
