Cork Folk Festival
Various venues, Cork Saturday October 6th/Sunday October 7th corkfolkfestival.com
The ante has been upped this year with a programme that’s jam-packed with an eclectic mix of singers, musicians, storytellers and dancers – and, this being the Rebel County, probably no small cache of chancers too. Sublime fiddler and Bothy Band veteran Kevin Burke is a highlight, along with Kate Rusby, the fabulous Casey Sisters and an intriguing concert where Portuguese fadó music meets sean nós, with Claudia Aurora, Máire Ní Chéileachair and Nell Ní Chróinín.
Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra with Máirtín O’Connor
CIT Cork School of Music, Cork Saturday October 6th 8pm €20 corkfolkfestival.com
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Two performances this weekend from the only orchestra in the western world which performs solely from memory. Celebrating the rich mix of contemporary and ancient instruments, the orchestra uses everything from Celtic horns to string and wind instruments, including pipes, concertina, voices and a swinging rhythm section. Galway accordionist and composer Máirtín O’Connor is the orchestra’s special guest, and they don’t come more wildly creative than this maestro of the box.
Islander Presents Landless
The Black Gate, Galway Thursday October 11th 8pm €15 blackgate.ie
This vocal group from Dublin and Belfast sing unaccompanied traditional songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America in four-part harmony, and they've been making waves in recent times with their distinctive take on songs both well-known and obscure. They've just released their debut album, Bleaching Bones.
Liam Flannagan, Claire O’ Loughlin and Jim Murray
Ionad Cultúrtha, Ballyvourney, Co Cork Friday October 12th 8.30pm €15 ionadculturtha.com
Two fiddles and a guitar feature in this intimate trio concert, with Flanagan, a member of North Cregg, and Derry-born but Cork resident O’Loughlin on fiddle and Murray (a regular collaborator of Sharon Shannon) joining forces for tonight’s performance. The trio will air a repertoire drawn from both ends of the country as well as tunes from contemporary greats such as Liz Carroll and Charlie Lennon.
Séamus Begley Trio
Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo 8pm €18 hawkswell.com
West Kerry box player Begley joins forces with his regular Téada compadre – and ace fiddle player – Oisín MacDiarmada and award-winning Californian step dancer and pianist Samantha Harvey. This promises to be an interesting distillation of the music the three share on their extensive international tours. But don’t be fooled by the intimate setting: sparks are likely to fly under the combined forces of Begley’s indomitable box-playing, not to mention his razor-sharp wit. MacDiarmada’s finesse on the fiddle and Harvey’s dance steps promise to provide a tasty counterpoint to the wily west Kerry man.
