"We’re thrilled to launch our brand new season of tours, running from September to November. This adds to our work so far this year which brought live music to 18 counties with 26 partners in 30 venues through our National Touring Programme." Chief Executive Sharon Rollston
We are pleased to announce our Autumn 2023 tours. This season, we will be working with 13 partners and venues to bring world class music and unforgettable concerts to audiences in 11 counties across Ireland.
Our first tour features an extraordinary multi-media composition for sound and video, which will be closely followed by a programme of awe-inspiring jazz and exquisite early music from an amazing line-up of Irish and international musicians.
The season kicks off on 19 September with Oscailt, a new Music Network commission by maverick Irish composer Jennifer Walshe. Oscailt opens as part of Dublin Fringe Festival before touring to Kildare, Limerick, Cork and Mayo from 19 – 26 September. Developed by Walshe and her ensemble with the help of secondary school students from across the country, this show will draw on their experience of growing up in a world mediated by technology, incorporating film, improvisation and artificial intelligence (AI) into the live performances.
Through a series of workshops, together they have explored and created sounds using instrumental, vocal and computer improvisation techniques that will feature in the concerts. Students will join Walshe and her ensemble on stage to perform some of their co-created material for audiences at their local venues.
Walshe’s fascination with AI and all its applications for music and performance will also be evident in the piece, which she’ll be presenting in collaboration with Elizabeth Hilliard (soprano), Nick Roth (saxophone) and Panos Ghikas (viola/electronics).
October brings the Sultan Stevenson Trio, led by the trailblazing young pianist and composer Sultan Stevenson. The trio is currently taking the UK jazz scene by storm and will be joined on stage for this tour by immensely talented saxophonist and Mercury Music Prize winner Denys Baptiste.
Stevenson has emerged as a musical force to be reckoned with, and his trio are hotly tipped for huge international success following the release of his incredible debut Faithful One earlier this year. This tour brings together four of the most exciting jazz artists the UK currently has to offer. Expect sublime and delicate playing alongside exhilaratingly high-energy musical exchanges from this powerful quartet who are touring from 24 – 29 October.
From 22 – 30 November a trio of internationally renowned artists Anna Dennis, Jonas Nordberg and Liam Byrne will perform together for the first time in Ireland.
Recently awarded Best Singer at the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2023 Awards, Dennis is one of the UK’s leading sopranos. Paired with the captivating sounds of Nordberg on lute and Byrne on viola da gamba this is sure to be a magical musical experience.
This programme of early music will transport us from the musical landscapes of the Jacobean English drawing room to the sumptuous salons of Venice. Music, poetry and song will intertwine as the warm tones of lute and viola da gamba blend with the enchanting sound of the soprano voice. The tour will feature works by Dowland, Monteverdi, Purcell and Telemann alongside a new Music Network commission by Irish composer David Coonan.
Music Network continues to bring a rich and varied programme of concerts to communities across Ireland. Speaking about the announcement, Chief Executive Sharon Rollston said:
‘We’re thrilled to launch our brand new season of tours, running from September to November. This adds to our work so far this year which brought live music to 18 counties with 26 partners in 30 venues through our National Touring Programme. We’ve also provided 10 artist residencies together with our partners, commissioned 7 new works by Irish composers and placed musical instruments in the hands of approximately 5,000 musicians, both amateur and professional, through our Music Capital Scheme.
We’re aiming to finish this year as strongly as we started with an incredible line-up of musicians for audiences to enjoy this season. So, whether you are drawn to contemporary sounds, transcendent jazz or the elegance of early music, we hope you’ll find a concert you love at a venue near you.’
Music Network has been bringing affordable, exceptional quality live music to Irish venues for 37 years. Our tours and programmes support musicians to develop sustainable and fulfilling careers and provide opportunities for performance and participation in live music in communities across Ireland.
Tickets for Music Network’s Autumn tour season are available to purchase now at MusicNetwork.ie or from your local venue.