John Carty, fiddle/banjo/flute

Born in London, fiddler John Carty developed his love for fiddle, banjo, and flute, all of which he has mastered, through his multi-instrumentalist father who was a member of the Glenside Céilí Band in London in the 1960’s.

Awarded the TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003, he has produced three solo fiddle albums, two solo banjo albums, two group albums and a sprinkling of recorded tenor guitar and flute music recordings. July 2005 saw the launch of Carty’s latest CD featuring banjo and tenor guitar, I Will If I Can. Accompanied by Alec Finn, Brian McGrath and Johnny McDonagh, Carty once again shows his plectrum prowess to full affect on this CD.

John performs regularly with Chieftain’s flautist Matt Molloy exploring the North Connaught tradition they both love. He also regularly tours the UK, US and Ireland with re-formed super group, Patrick Street that includes musicians Andy Irvine, Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly and Ged Foley. He has also appeared as a special guest with the Chieftains and De Danaan.

www.johncartymusic.com/

Luke Cheevers, voice

Luke Cheevers is from Ringsend, Dublin and is renowned for sharing Dublin songs and wit with all and sundry. One of the founding members of the Góilín Traditional Singers Club in Dublin Luke was also one of the organisers of the Frank Harte Festival. Over the years, Luke has featured on many TV shows and radio programmes, and has performed as a guest singer at numerous festivals in Ireland, as well as Girvan (Scotland), Whitby and Sydmouth festivals (England).

Rita Gallagher, voice

Rita comes from Ballymacahill, Frosses, Donegal and still lives and works in the county. She is a three times winner of the Comhaltas Ceoltórí na hÉireann all-Ireland title for female singing in English and has toured extensively in Britain, Canada and the USA.

She has one of the most mellifluous voices in the Irish tradition: low, beautifully articulated and of considerable range. Her decoration is reminiscent of the late Brigid Tunney of Belleek, Co. Fermanagh and it is not surprising that she counts Brigid's famous son, Paddy among her most significant influences. Her performances are mature, assured and riveting, and therefore her appearances at festivals and sessions in Ireland are much appreciated.

Barry Gleeson, voice

Barry Gleeson is a traditional singer from Artane, Dublin. He generally sings unaccompanied and has been a stalwart of the Góilín Traditional Singers' Club for more than 30 years. He's also a regular at the Clé Club in Liberty Hall and Howth Singers' Circle. Barry has performed at the National Concert Hall, the Mansion House and at festivals and clubs in Ireland, England, Scotland and America. His highly individual and expressive style is a reflection of a rich and varied range of material and influences. Whether he is singing a gentle love-song or a boisterous come-all-ye, he invariably remains true to the soul and sentiment of his material. Urban or rural, patriotic or music hall, sea shanty or parlour song, from the ballads of anonymous poets to those of James Joyce and W. B. Yeats, Barry imbues all with freshness and energy in his own unique style. His two critically acclaimed CDs, 'Path Across the Ocean' and 'I Heard a Bird at Dawn' have enhanced his reputation as one of Ireland's foremost traditional singers.

Kieran Hanrahan, banjo

Kieran Hanrahan is an Irish radio host and musician, born in Ennis, Co. Clare in 1957. He began playing traditional Irish music on the tenor banjo at the age of fourteen, and had won the All-Ireland title in banjo by the time he was eighteen. Over the years, Hanrahan has helped to found a number of traditional bands, including Inchiquin, Stockton's Wing, and the Templehouse Céilí Band.

Hanrahan has hosted radio programs for the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ since 1991. Currently he hosts Céilí House, a radio program on traditional Irish music aired weekly in Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.

Catherine McEvoy, flute/whistle

Catherine McEvoy was born in Birmingham, both her parents having emigrated there from Co. Roscommon. Coming from a very musical family, she began to learn the accordion at the age of thirteen and has been playing traditional music ever since. Catherine has played extensively around England and Ireland at Fleadhanna, Céilís, Fleadh Cheoil and Oireachtas competitions over the years. She is one of the leading flute players in Irish music today, and one of the most popular teachers of that instrument (she has been one of the senior flute tutors at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare). Catherine is a former member of "Macalla," the first all female traditional group. Her recordings include two excellent CDs of traditional flute music, her self-titled "Catherine McEvoy" (1998) and with her brother, fiddler John McEvoy, "The Kilmore Fancy" (2004).

Jacinta McEvoy, concertina

Dublin born Jacinta McEvoy is an accomplished concertina player, whose subtle style has been showcased on numerous TV and radio programmes, including Ardan (TG4) and the Liberty Hall concerts (RTÉ). Jacinta’s playing displays refreshingly lyrical melodic ideas, and meticulous attention to rhythm. This approach has won her acclaim at major festivals both in Ireland and the UK and an All-Ireland Trio championship. Jacinta is also a gifted accompanist both on guitar and piano. Jacinta’s deep understanding of the concertina and her sympathetic accompaniment can be heard on Chris Droney’s CD “Down from Bell Harbour”. Jacinta currently lives in Navan, Co. Meath with her husband John and three children Fiadhna, Patrick and Conor, all talented musicians in their own right.

Mick O'Brien, uilleann pipes/flute/whistle

Mick O'Brien is a highly regarded performer and teacher of the Uilleann pipes. Born in Dublin to a very musical family, Mick started learning the pipes at the age of nine in the famous Thomas Street Pipers club in Dublin.

As a performer, Mick has appeared on TV and radio extensively both as a soloist and with various artists with whom he has made numerous recordings. He has performed and travelled with the Norwegian group “Secret Garden” and has recorded on their last two albums “Dawn of a New Century” and “Once in a red moon”. In 1996, Mick released his first solo album entitled “May Morning Dew” to much critical acclaim.

Mick’s traditional style shows great delicacy and subtlety, strong in rhythm and enlivened by his unique inflections and nuances, his performances always throw new light on even the most familiar tune. Now much in demand as a tutor, Mick has travelled to Europe, Canada and the USA conducting master classes.

Paudie O Connor, box and Aoife Ni Chaoimh, fiddle

Born in Ballyhar, Co. Kerry, Paudie is a box player well grounded in his local Sliabh Luachra tradition as well as being a nationally recognised performer. He learned much of his music during his childhood from local heroes such as Johnny O Leary, Denis McMahon, Anne and Nicky McAulliffe and Jimmy Doyle. Such influences are reflected in both the style and repertoire of his acclaimed 2005 CD release – “Different State”, a collection of dance music and slow airs from the Sliabh Luachra and Munster tradition. The album was listed in The Irish Times best 5 albums of 2005. Paudie’s music also featured on the album “The County Bounds”, a 1999 Ossian records production featuring a compilation of music from the Cork Kerry Border including contributions from Johnny O Leary, Jackie Daly and Peadar O Riada.

On “Different State”, Paudie is joined by his wife Aoife, a fiddle player from Tralee, Co. Kerry. Aoife learned her music from local teachers Anne and Nicky McAulliffe. She plays a style very much in synch with the Sliabh Luachra Tradition and contributes much to unique settings and rhythm that typifies their duet playing.

Paudie and Aoife’s music features regularly at music festivals both in Ireland and abroad and has been broadcasted on many RTÉ and TG4 programmes including the “The Late Session Live from Liberty Hall” series of concerts in 2003.

More info at www.paudieoconnor.com

Caoimhín O’Raghallaigh, fiddle/whistle

One of the finest young fiddle players to emerge in recent years, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh started learning fiddle at the age of ten before picking up the tin whistle, flute and uilleann pipes over the next few years. In constant demand as a teacher and a performer, Caoimhín’s style is characterised by extensive use of drones and a swinging, easy-going tempo.

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh has spent much time listening to archival recordings of old fiddle players from Munster such as Patrick Kelly, Denis Murphy, Mrs. Galvin and Pádraig O'Keeffe. He released a limited edition CD in 1999 entitled 'Turas go Tír na nÓg' which was highly sought after. He also released a CD “Kitty Lie Over” with uilleann piper Mick O'Brien to great acclaim.

More info at www.stateofchassis.com

Michael O’Raghallaigh, concertina

Concertina maestro Micheál Ó Raghallaigh is no stranger to the world stage. As both a soloist and a member of traditional group ‘Providence’, he has performed in the U.S.A., as well as throughout Europe. He has also been part of two Céilí Bands who won the much coveted ‘three-in-a-row’ senior All-Ireland titles, namely ‘The Táin’ Céilí Band and more recently, The ‘Naomh Pádraig’ Céilí Band.

As one of the highest profile concertina players of his generation, Micheál has been engaged for events such as the ‘Catskills Irish Arts Festival’ in New York, workshops in Germany, ‘Tocane’ in France, the ‘Scoil Eigse’ as part of the All Ireland Fleadh, ‘Eigse Mrs.Crotty’ in Kilrush, Co Clare, Feile Frank McGann, Co Roscommon, as well as numerous third level institutes where the skills and expertise of such a performer are in great demand.

Following the unprecedented success of his debut album ‘The Nervous Man” in 2001, he surpasses all expectations with this second helping, “Inside Out”. They give us a glimpse of a musician totally at one with his craft.

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