Two renowned duos. Two gifted sisters. Two extraordinary guitarists. One multi-faceted, unique quartet, for two very special concerts on the Artsreach circuit!
Some of the most important names in Irish music – legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn, virtuoso fiddler Nollaig Casey and brilliant harper Máire Ní Chathasaigh – came together in 2009 to record with Britain’s finest flat-picking guitarist Chris Newman. This resulted in The Heartstring Sessions, an inspired CD from this Irish supergroup with soul, which crosses boundaries of world-class guitar-playing, sensuous singing, fiddle-playing of heart-melting lyricism and harping of power and passion.
MÁIRE is Ireland’s most influential harper. As a teenager in Co Cork in the early 1970s she invented an entirely new style that quickly became the norm amongst both her contemporaries and the younger generation of harpers. A multiple All-Ireland and Pan-Celtic winner, in 1985 she recorded the very first harp album to concentrate on traditional Irish dance music, The New-Strung Harp. In 2001 she received Irish music’s most prestigious award, that of Traditional Musician of the Year, “for the excellence and pioneering force of her music, the remarkable growth she has brought to the music of the harp and for the positive influence she has had on the young generation of harpers”.
CHRIS explored the jazz scene in his late teens, playing with Stephane Grappelli and Diz Disley and honing his skills as a gifted improviser. After a brief foray into the commercial world (that resulted in a silver disc for producing the Top Ten hit The Oldest Swinger in Town), Chris resolved to concentrate on his first love, the acoustic guitar. An ex-member of Boys of the Lough, he has produced many successful albums for other artists and is principal guitar tutor for Newcastle University’s Folk Music. He and Máire have toured together worldwide since 1988, including several Artsreach tours in Dorset.
Máire’s sister NOLLAIG is one of Ireland’s most eminent musicians, with her own unique way of playing traditional Irish music on the fiddle. Her utterly distinctive and inimitable sound and style has held such appeal for other musicians that there hardly exists any major Irish artist of the last 20 years with whom she has not worked. Her powerful presence has graced two of Ireland’s most influential bands, the legendary Planxty and Coolfin. Nollaig has also worked and recorded with Enya, Van Morrison, Sinéad O’Connor, Nanci Griffith, Rod Stewart, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Mary Black, Spandau Ballet and Sharon Shannon, among many others. On the world stage she has performed at the 2003 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony and has toured globally as featured fiddle player with the international hit show Riverdance. She’s been a featured soloist in over 20 films, including Dancing at Lughnasa and Waking Ned.
ARTY is one of the best-known and most influential musicians in Ireland, with a unique understanding of the music he performs. Touring professionally with showbands and rock bands throughout Ireland, the UK and the USA from the age of fifteen, his playing soon came under the influence of Wes Montgomery and Thelonius Monk. He later revived his interest in Irish traditional music and in 1979 recorded McGlynn’s Fancy, the first recording of the guitar played in an authentic traditional style. He subsequently became one of the most sought after musicians in the country, playing and recording with Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Jerry Douglas, Donal Lunny, The Chieftains and countless others. He also played as a member of Planxty and was for a number of years lead guitarist with the Van Morrison Band. Arty is equally in demand as a live performer, recording artist and producer.
The Heartstrings Quartet’s two Dorset concerts later this month present a very rare opportunity to hear this inimitable quartet play live. Tickets have been selling like hot cakes so advance booking is strongly advised.
Portesham Village Hall Sat 25 Feb, 8pm 01305 871925
(£12 / £8 (u18) / £32 (family of 4)
Studland Village Hall Sun 26 Feb, 7:30pm 01929 450204
(£12)
“Inspired… a contender for album of the year” fROOTS
“Traditional music at its very best” THE IRISH TIMES
“Two of the mightiest pairings in current folk combine to give a tour-de-force of breathtaking order. Classic.” THE LIVING TRADITION
“A dream quartet – the sweetest and most exciting music to emerge from the British Isles for a
long time. Matching virtuosity with sheer good taste, this album of traditional and original music pours
joyfully from the speakers… amazing, majestic, delightful” DIRTY LINEN (USA)
