WHAT'S GOING ON
Other Voices in Ballina - 28th and 29th February 2020
Other Voices returns to Ballina this February for its second year, and they've just announced the first four acts -- Elbow, Skinny Living, Denise Chaile and Jesca Hoop.
The festival will take place within the ancient walls of St. Michael's Church on February 28 and 29. Both Irish and international artists will be showcased within the intimate church setting and their performances will be recorded for television.
Tickets for the television recording performances cannot be purchased, but will be available through competitions national and local radio, announced in advance at their website.
Foxford River Fest
Fri 31st Aug-Sat 1st Sept
Foxford RiverFest is a family oriented festival that offers a wide range of activities and entertainment on and around the River Moy. It is a celebration of the river and the beautiful surrounding countryside.
There is a packed programme of events on offer, which includes the return of some very popular activities and competitions from previous years festivals, as well as some new events that have been added for 2016.
For children, there will be plenty to keep them busy, with seed-bombing, face-painting, storytelling, a fish-making workshop, duck race and more.
There will be live music from local and national musicians on the RiverFest Stage and in many of the local pubs. The Moy will be brought to life at dusk at night with river light shows, including Candles to the Sea and a spectacular Fireworks Finale. So, whether you want to compete in river events or spend a more leisurely weekend in the RiverFest Village, just spectating, enjoying a bite to eat, taking part in the nature walks n’ talks or checking out the arts & crafts, Foxford is the place to be!
Atlantic Rhythm’s next Tradbeats show on Tuesday, 7th August at 8pm in Ballina Arts Centre
Fresh from their phenomenal run on TV3’s Ireland’s Got Talent, the young musicians and dancers of Atlantic Rhythm have already made inroads into their next challenge – taking the West of Ireland by storm and captivating tourists with their brand new original Irish music and dance show, Tradbeats which premiered in Ballina Arts Centre, Co. Mayo on Tuesday, July 17.
Tradbeats features the seven musicians and eight dancers lauded as “the next Riverdance” in their recent television run. Entirely written and choreographed by the talented young group, the show draws its themes from the Wild Atlantic Way on which they have all been born and reared, and represents a fusion of all the traditional arts in an uplifting, raw music and dance experience. Gone are the rigid hands and the wigs traditionally associated with Irish dancing, in their place is a release of a wonderful rawness of mixed step and exhilarating sean nós dancing featuring traditional brooms and barrels, alongside powerful percussion pieces where the shoes do the talking.
Between them, the dancers hold 10 World Champion titles with six of the dancers currently placed in the Top 8 in the world. Equally talented are the musicians, with numerous Fleadh titles to their credit. They provide a unique accompaniment to the dancers with intermittent uplifting music pieces to get every hand clapping. The new show also features original new tunes composed from entirely within the cast.
Tradbeats will be performed by Atlantic Rhythm in Ballina Arts Centre on Tuesday, August 7 at 8pm. Doors open from 7pm. Tickets on sale now - contact the Ballina Arts Centre Box Office on 096 73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
FOXFORD TRADITIONAL WEEKEND
5th - 8th October 2017
A weekend of Traditional Irish Music, Song & Dance for all ages with concerts, master classes, workshops, sean-nós dance competitions, music sessions and lots, lots more. Foxford is a small town in county Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland, steeped in Irish music. for more info see - http://www.foxfordtraditionalweekend.com/
Seán Keane in Concert
Thursday 5th Oct @ 8pm, Secondary School Hall
Seán Keane will bring his very popular concert to Foxford on Thur 5th Oct at 8pm. Seán will be joined by band members Pat Coyne, David Doocey and Stephen Doherty and the venue for this concert is the hall in Foxford Secondary School. Seán will perform songs like Isle of Hope Isle of Tears, Home, From Galway to Gracelands, Home Away from Home, No Stranger to the Rain and many, many more. This promises to be a great night’s entertainment and the perfect start to our jam-packed musical weekend. Tickets for this event will be sold locally and are also available from Tel. 086 3999774 or foxfordtraditionalweekend@gmail.com.
Booking advised as this concert is expected to sellout. Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets €20.
Féile Concert
Sat 7th Oct @ 8pm, Mayfly Hotel
Featuring ‘Guest Tutor’, and world renown concertina player, Noel Hill and many visiting musicians and weekend tutors, the concert will commence at 8pm in the Mayfly Hotel on Saturday 7th Oct. This promises to be a fabulous evening of music, song and dance with some ‘Special Guests’. The concert will feature Alannagh Thornburgh, Seán Lynch, Kevin Corbett, Siobhan O’Donnell, Brona Graham, Mark Burke, David Crowe, Cathal Corbett, Brian Donnellan, David Doocey, Anne Brennan, Stephen Doherty, Aileen Bourke, Shane Mulcrone, Tom Doherty, Maria Lynn, John McHugh and the Aughamore set-dancers. This promises to be a great night of music, song and dance .
See below a great clip of Noel Hill playing Come West Along the Road and The New Mown Meadow with Tony MacMahon on Accordion.