Drogheda Traditional Music and Singing Weekend is celebrating 29 years this year from Friday 21 November until Sunday 23 November. It will feature multiple events throughout Drogheda and its environs featuring some of Ireland’s most esteemed traditional singers and musicians as well as a collection of our best local talent.
The annual DTMSW concert in honour of Caitlin Bean Uí Chairbre who was instrumental in promoting the traditional music culture in Drogheda is always a highlight in a weekend of great music and song.
With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. This husband and wife folk duo possesses a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and understandably have been described as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC).
Zoë, no stranger to the stage, has performed with an impressive list of international artists including Riverdance, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Rodrigo y Gabriella to mention but a few. In contrast to this, she has been an important figure within classical music circles in Ireland and abroad, as her crossover discipline has allowed her the pleasure of appearing as soloist with acclaimed orchestras such as The Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and German WDR Symphony Orchestra; pieces recited include her own compositions and works composed for her by world renowned Irish composer, Bill Whelan.
John grew up in the Cooley Mountains of north County Louth where he took up guitar at 8 years of age. He began his career as electric guitarist with the successful indie band, The Revs with whom he performed on many famous stages and festivals including Oxygen, and Slane in Ireland, Reading and Leeds in the UK, and toured extensively in USA, Australia and Europe. He has worked alongside many world renowned producers, and is now also producing and recording in many genres. John studied classical guitar and piano for many years, and from early childhood was immersed in the language, songs and traditional dance music of south west Donegal – his father’s homeplace.
Desi Wilkinson originally from Belfast was a long-term resident of Drogheda before living in far-flung places such as Brittany, Limerick and Newcastle. He holds a doctorate in traditional music studies which he taught at the University of Newcastle for a number of years. He has two fine solo recordings, Three Piece Flute and Shady Woods and is also highly regarded as a traditional singer. 30 years ago he recorded Cosa Gan Bhróga with Gerry O’Connor and the late Eithne Ní Uallacháin which was re-released on CD by Gael Linn in 2013. Desi was for many years a mainstay in traditional music group Cran alongside Ronan Browne and the late Sean Corcoran. Cran were know and appreciated by traditional music fans around the world and released a number of acclaimed cd’s.
Tickets: €20.00(+ €1.00 fees)