Music

The best trad music this week: Kilfenora Céilí Band and Sharon Shannon

Also, a foursome from Arcady, Altan, Dervish and Solas start their short tour in Dublin

The Kilfenora Céilí Band play two sold-out concerts in Ennis on Saturday

Siobhán Long's face
Siobhán Long
Fri Jan 5 2018 - 06:00

Saturday, Jan 6

The Kilfenora Céilí Band

Glór, Ennis 8pm €25 glor.ie Also Sun, Ennis

Ireland’s oldest céilí band whups it up in style close to home, with these two sold-out concerts in Ennis. With cello and double bass helping to temper those higher registers, this is a dance band like no other, with flute, whistle, accordion, concertina, viola, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and percussion. If this doesn’t set your heart a flutter and your hips a swivelling, then some urgent medical intervention may be called for.

Niamh Parsons, Ciarán Tourish, Liam Kelly and John Doyle kick off their tour at The Sugar Club, Dublin

Tuesday, Jan 9

Niamh Parsons, Ciarán Tourish, Liam Kelly and John Doyle

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The Sugar Club 7.30pm €20/€15 musicnetwork.ie Also Wed, Sligo; Thurs, Clifden; Fri, Birr.

Scions of the finest musical gatherings in recent decades (Arcady, Altan, Dervish and Solas), this foursome embark on a finely curated Music Network tour. Vocalist Niamh Parsons has carved a formidable reputation with her earthy, soulful ability to render old songs anew. Altan’s explosive fiddle player, Ciarán Tourish always brings a wealth of subtlety and a certain impish quality to his playing, while Dervish’s marvellous flute player, Liam Kelly, promises to add a soupçon of lyrical phrasing to the mix. That just leaves room for US-based Dublin guitarist and singer John Doyle to stir it up with some effervescent rhythms and songs of his own. Opening night of tour.

Clare accordion player Sharon Shannon begins her two-night visit at The Dock in Carrick on Shannon

Wednesday, Jan 10

Sharon Shannon

The Dock, Carrick on Shannon 8.30pm €22.50 thedock.ie Also Thurs, Carrick on Shannon.

This Clare accordion player is a musical phenomenon who never seems to tire of the road, or the recording studio. Her stamina is gargantuan, and her musical appetites eclectic. This is the first of a two-night visit with Alan O’Connor, her regular collaborator, for company.

The Nocturnes play at the Hawkswell Theatre in Sligo

Friday Jan 12

First Light – Featuring Adrian Crowley and Nocturnes

Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo 8pm €15/€7.50 hawkswell.ie

A celebration of positive mental health through music and words featuring Choice Music Prize winner Adrian Crowley and ambient Irish-folk group, Nocturnes. A timely opportunity to delve into the very refined worlds of these musicians, as part of First Fortnight, a festival that challenges mental health prejudice through arts and cultural action.