St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda, Co Louth Sun

Owing their provenance to an impromptu gathering for the funeral of piper Liam Ó Floinn’s father late last year, The Funeral Band (above) promise one hell of a repertoire when they get together at the Drogheda Arts Festival this weekend. Ó Floinn joins forces with cellist and composer Neil Martin, alongside The Brendan Voyage and Granuaile composer Shaun Davey and singer Rita Connolly. Add the percussive force of Noel Eccles, the keyboards and guitar of Rod McVey and Arty McGlynn, the crafty box playing of Seamus Begley and the finesse of Chieftains fiddler Seán Keane, and you’ve got a homegrown equivalent of the grand funeral gatherings of New Orleans.