The National Concert Hall have announced the latest edition of their Tradition Now multi-room concert festival.
Taking place on May 3rd and 4th, the lineup features John Francis Flynn, Bláth na hÓige, Ruth Clinton, Niamh Bury, Thomas McCarthy, Edwina Guckian and more.
The thirteenth installment of the series is a bi-annual thing and presented in association with The Arts Council.
Dublin experimental folk artist John Francis Flynn plays, with folk singer and song collector Thomas McCarthy, sean-nós dancer Edwina Guckian, English progressive songwriter Jim Ghedi, new folk artist Niamh Bury, Dublin based singer and fiddle player Helen Diamond and American multi-instrumentalist and singer Cahalen Morrison are among them.
Both evenings will be complimented by the NCH’s John Field Room Sessions. Full bios and info below.
Tickets & Lineup:
TRADITION NOW – NATIONAL CONCERT HALL
Friday 3 May
Main Stage: 7.30pm – 8.30pm Ruth Clinton | 9pm -10pm Bláth na hÓige
The Studio: 7pm Edwina Guckian | 9.30pm Thomas McCarthy – Passing the Songs
Kevin Barry Recital Room: 9.15pm Jim Ghedi
Saturday 4 May
Main Stage: 7.30pm -8.45pm John Francis Flynn
The Studio: 7pm Cahalen Morrison | 9.30pm Niamh Bury
Kevin Barry Recital Room: 9.15pm Helen Diamond
Ticket Information:
- Tickets: Friday Concerts €27 | Saturday Concerts €30 | Limited Weekend Ticket for All Concerts €50
- On Sale Wed 28 February 10am – NCH Box Office 01 4170000 / www.nch.ie
About the artists playing
Dublin-based folk singer and multi-instrumentalist John Francis Flynn’s latest album Look Over The Wall, See The Sky has just been nominated for the RTÉ Folk Award Album of the Year. His debut album I Would Not Live Always won great critical acclaim, including being The Guardian and MOJO magazine’s Folk Album Of The Year. He won Best Singer and Best Emerging Artist at the 2021 RTÉ Folk Awards. While supporting Lankum on their 2019 UK tour he caught the eye of Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee who signed him to Rough Trade imprint label, River Lea. He is also a member of celebrated traditional group Skipper’s Alley.
Bláth na hÓige is an exciting new song collaboration featuring some of Ireland’s best young singers. Under the musical direction of Síle Denvir and Colm Mac an Iomaire, the Bláth na hÓige ensemble showcases the multi-faceted talents of Caoimhe and Séamus Ó Flatharta, Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich, Cathal Ó Curráin, Megan Nic Ruairí, Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Máire and Étáin Ní Churraoin. They are nominated for Best Folk Album and Best Folk Group in the 2024 RTE Folk Awards.
Ruth Clinton is an artist and musician. She is a member of traditional singing group Landless, co-founder of the Sacred Harp Singers in Dublin and also works as a collaborative duo with artist Niamh Moriarty. For Tradition Now Ruth and Cormac MacDiarmada (Lankum, Poor Creature), Sinead Lynch (Landless) and Consuelo Breschi (Varo, Landless) will present songs from her new book, This Fearless Maid II. Following on from the first volume, published in 2016, this collection presents songs in a traditional or folk idiom, which challenge patriarchal power and feature women in active roles.
Tradition Now sees Studio performances by Thomas McCarthy and Edwina Guckian on Friday 3 May and Niamh Bury and Cahalen Morrison on Saturday 4 May. Thomas’ concert, titled Passing on the Songs sees the renowned Traveller singer explore the tradition of passing music and song onto the next generations and Edwina will bring her revered dancing – which has seen her share the stage with Altan, De Danann, Dervish and more – to the Studio. The following night, Dublin musician Niamh Bury brings songs from her highly-anticipated new album Yellow Roses to the NCH after a sure-to-be stellar set from Northern New Mexico’s finest export Cahalen Morrison, who is equally at home on guitar, banjo, mandolin, singing three-part harmony or unaccompanied.
Meanwhile the Kevin Barry Recital Room plays host to Jim Ghedi on Friday and Helen Diamond on Saturday. Jim hails from Sheffield and although clearly well versed in the history of folk music, he stands out as a potential torch bearer for a new generation of respectful yet experimental performers. Helen is a singer and fiddle player from Dublin, her playing is influenced most strongly by the music of South-West Donegal, but also takes inspiration from old-time American music.
The John Field Room plays host to the beloved John Field Room Sessions over the two nights.
Tradition Now will continue in the Autumn 2024 at the National Concert Hall. Details to be announced later in the year.
10% Discount for Friends of NCH and Groups of 10 or more.
