Mayo will be well represented at one of the biggest celebrations of Irish folk and trad music - TradFest Temple Bar, which kicks off on January 28 and continues until February 1.
Acclaimed all male group Coda is part of the line-up at the 10th anniversary of the popular festival.
Though all of the members of Coda now reside in Mayo, Mike Cannon is the only native Mayoman of the group.
Declan Askin hails from Ballyshannon, Steve Bryant from Wales, Leonard Kelly from Oranmore in Galway, Brian Lennon from Kiltyclogher in Leitrim, Alan Drumm from Dublin, and Conall Ó Domhnaill from Kells, Co Meath.
The members all sing with the choir - Cór Mhaigh Eo.
Their live performances feature an eclectic mix of musical styles encompassing Celtic and North American music, traditional and contemporary folk songs, original compositions, and popular songs from sources as diverse as Clannad, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, and The Beatles.
Coda’s wide-ranging repertoire comprises both a cappella arrangements and songs with instrumental accompaniment as well as traditional Irish music.
The group has garnered some rave reviews.
“The west is wide awake and in full voice – or at least seven men from Mayo are,” wrote The Irish Times last year. “This confident, robust debut from Coda, an all-male a cappella group, suggests a coalition of voices and personalities built not only on compatibility but on an appetite for diverse musical styles.”
TradFest, which first appeared in 2005 as a small niche traditional music festival, is one of Ireland’s biggest showcasing of the cream of both Irish and international trad and folk artists.
For more information, visit www.templebartrad.com
