Saturday 29
The Ace and Deuce of Piping
Liberty Hall 7,30pm €25/€20/€60 (family ticket, admits 4)
Na Píobairí Uilleann’s annual celebration of Irish music and song is hosted tonight by Tristan Rosenstock, with a sparkling programme that includes Ronan Browne, Maitiú Ó Casaide and Liam Ó Maonlaí, Séamus Maguire and John Lee (whose album of tunes from 19th-century collector Stephen Grier, released earlier this year, is a standout), Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, young Dublin piper Fionnán MacGabhann and many others. A fine pulse of the tradition.
Saturday 29
Beoga
Live @ St Luke's, Cork city 7.30pm €21.83 uticket.ie
Beoga, who were shortlisted for an RTÉ Folk Award in the Best Folk Group category, have expanded their reach over the past year, as a result of their collaboration with Ed Sheeran on Galway Girl. Their recent single, We Don't Have To Run, is the first to be taken from their forthcoming album.
Wednesday 3
Desi Wilkinson and friends
Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College 8pm €18/€15 limetreetheatre.ie
Wilkinson, musician in residence in Mary Immaculate College, is a Belfast-born flute player who revels in the dance music of Brittany and Québec, not to mention his native tunes. A true internationalist with a zest for life that resonates throughout his music. Tonight he will be joined by Breton piper Patrick Molard, bodhrán player Colm Murphy and multi-instrumentalist and producer Garry Ó Briain.
Friday 5
Outside The Box: Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra with Máirtín O’Connor
Glór, Ennis 8pm €22/€20, glor.ie
This 20-piece ensemble, playing entirely from memory, includes conductor Bjorn Bantock, harpist Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Ensemble Eriú’s concertina player Jack Talty and principal bass player Neil Ó Lochlainn. Effervescent accordionist Máirtín O’Connor joins them tonight, along with guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, singer Niamh Varian-Barry and Róisín Donohoe for the world premiere of new music composed by Dave Flynn. Tonight’s concert is the first of three performances, the subsequent dates being in Cork and Kilkenny.
