A family band and a 40th anniversary: This week’s trad highlights

Among the events is a tasty collective playing one of the best trad venues inside the Pale


Tuesday 5th

Cormac Cannon, Deirdre Hurley, Breda Keville, Seán Ó Bróin

The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin 9pm €13/€9 pipers.ie

Piper Cormac Cannon has a keen interest in the tunes of counties Cork and Kerry and a fondness for flat pitch pipes. Tonight he heads up this edition of the monthly Session With The Pipers, hosted by Na Píobairí Uilleann, in the company of singer Deirdre Hurley, fiddle player and singer Breda Keville and flute player Seán Ó Bróin. Another tasty collective of musicians playing in the belly of one of the best traditional music venues inside the Pale.

The Johanson Family

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The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon 8pm €14 thedock.ie

An Estonian family of musicians who travel widely, with a repertoire that’s drawn its influences from sources as diverse as the folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s, barbershop harmony singing, jazz and Russian romantic serenades. They’re as likely to sing contemporary songs as they are centuries-old folk music from their homeplace.

Thursday 7th

Rick Epping, Seán Garvey, Ruairí McGorman, Andy Morrow and Tradóg

Celbridge Library 7pm Adm free 01-6272207

Tasty gathering of musicians featuring California-born and Sligo-resident harmonica player and singer Epping, along with south Co Kerry singer Seán Garvey and friends.

Friday 8th

Landless, Tim Dennehy, Luke Cheevers, Máire Ní Choilm, Len Graham and Niamh Parsons

The Teachers Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 8pm €3 goilin.com

The first of a raft of singing sessions celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the vibrant weekly singing circle, An Góilín Traditional Singer's Club. Tonight's guests will include club stalwarts such as Cheevers, as well as four-piece acapella ensemble Landless, the renowned Armagh singer Len Graham, and Dublin singer Niamh Parsons. Anyone with an appetite for new and old songs, as well as alternative versions of old favourites, will find much to savour tonight.

Ailie Blunnie and Victoria Geelan

The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim 8pm €10/€8 theglenscentre.com

Local singer-songwriter Ailie Blunnie released her debut album, West to the Evening Sun, in 2017 to considerable acclaim. Her songs can be characterised as fresh-faced electronic contemporary folk. They lure listeners into their groove with no small degree of ease. International Women's Day sees Blunnie share a bill with Victoria Geelan, a jazz and blues singer from Derry, who will be joined by The Henry Girls' harpist, Joleen McLaughlin.