Sligo Events

Music Generation Sligo Young Musicians Feature in a Céilí House Special

Sun 27th May: The Bad Plus Pack ‘Rite’ Punch with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Hawk’s Well Theatre

Over the past ten years The Bad Plus have broken down the walls of jazz convention and created an uncompromising body of work. Few jazz groups in recent memory have amassed such popularity and critical acclaim. While the bulk of their output has been original music, they are equally at home with tunes by Blondie, Bacharach, Nirvana and Aphex Twin. ON SACRED GROUND sees the piano trio take on Stravinsky’s iconic Rite of Spring. The famed ballet that caused a riot on its premiere, opened the door to 20th Century music and animated Disney’s Fantasia. The Rite is a touchstone rooted in tribal and Russian folk music. Virtuoso, playful and visceral, The Bad Plus’ mutli-media show, On Sacred Ground, breathes new life into this popular masterpiece.

Igor Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) is often held up as a masterwork that changed modern music forever. Music commentator Miles Hoffman takes the distinction one step further. “The Rite of Spring,” Hoffman says, “represents one of the greatest creative leaps in not only the history of music, but in the history of the arts.”Stravinsky’s music is famous for causing a riot at its premiere. It was a warm spring evening in Paris on May 29, 1913, and Hoffman says the well-heeled crowd at the Champs Élysées Theatre was not ready for jagged rhythms, crunching discord, and the strange jerking of the dancers on stage.

“The ballet was choreographed by the great Nijinsky,” Hoffman says, “and the noise, fighting, and shouting in the audience got so loud, he had to shout out the numbers to the dancers so that they knew what they were supposed to do.”

One shrewd musicologist wrote that “the pagans on stage made pagans of the audience.” Hoffman says that the idea of pagans is right on the mark.”The subtitle of The Rite of Spring,” Hoffman says, “is ‘Pictures of Pagan Russia,’ a celebration of pagan rituals that eventually leads to a sacrifice of a chosen young woman to propitiate the gods of spring. It’s not what you call a happy tale.”

The shock of the new, in 1913, quickly gave way to a warm embrace. More performances of The Rite of Spring followed close on the heels of that famous first night, and by the 1920s, it was played in the U.S. In the 1940s, the infamous piece gained a permanent place in pop culture when Walt Disney used part of it as the soundtrack to Fantasia. Today, The Rite of Spring remains a classic, but it also still packs a punch.

The Bad Plus will perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Hawk’s Well Theatre on Sun 27 May at 8pm as part of a nationwide tour which includes performances at Mandela Hall, Belfast, The National Concert Hall, The Riverbank in Kildare, The Belltable Arts Centre in Limerick and the Triskel Christchurch in Cork. Tickets for the Hawk’s Well show are €25 and are available from the Box Office on 071 916 1518 or from www.hawkswell.com
“By turns cerebral, visceral, and disarmingly emotive, The Bad Plus boast a rare onstage magnetism that transcends genre” Time Out New York

“It’s about as badass as highbrow gets.” Rolling Stone

“If the Coen Brothers put together a jazz trio, perhaps it would be like this, the comic and the dramatic rolled together.” The Guardian

“Audacious, rule-breaking jazz trio crunches and at times pulverizes swing to let improvisational freedom shine…Dynamics play a huge roll in the act’s music, as does humor, an element sorely lacking in most of contemporary jazz. But beauty is also key… jazz purists tremble while the vanguard flocks.” Billboard

June 23rd: Andy Irvine at The Model

€20/€18/€16 / €16 Early Bird tickets available for a limited time.

“..one of Ireland’s most creative talents for over 20 years.” – Boston Globe

Andy Irvine has enjoyed a long and successful career as a traditional Irish musician. He has travelled the world as a solo artist and as a member of legendary Irish groups such as Planxty, Patrick Street and more recently Mozaik. Throughout his extensive career he has maintained and developed the qualities in his music, which endear him to his audience and fellow musicians alike.

Now the legendary Irish singer/songwriter Andy Irvine is coming to perform at The Model. With his impressive repertoire of Irish traditional songs and dexterous Balkan dance tunes, he creates an exciting new fusion of Irish and World Music not to be missed.

Andy continues to pursue new combinations and styles of music. He has broadened his musical horizons over the course of his forty-year career to encompass the musical styles of countries he visits, such as the Balkan folk style of playing. Between the achievements of his solo, group work and collaborations, he is a highly revered troubadour of the Irish music world.

“Andy Irvine is someone whose singing I have always loved. He always takes you to the place he’s in. He creates a world … Andy singing a song like Bonny Woodhall or West Coast of Clare, or a song like The Jolly Beggar, songs of another era, but tapped into beautifully by Andy and his treatment of them.”
Donal Lunny

themodel.ie/music/andy-irvine

Sunday Informal Music Afternoons at The Model

Informal Music Afternoon
First Sunday of Month
03 Jun, 01 Jul, 05 Aug, 1-3pm.
€5/Children Free

For the summer months, The Model is embarking on a new musical venture called Informal Music Afternoon. This will be a monthly event-taking place in the performance space on the first Sunday in June, July and August from 1pm-3pm.

The Informal Music Afternoon offers an opportunity for all to sit back and relax on a Sunday afternoon and listen to exceptional chamber music that incorporates a mixture of different musical periods and genres. These music events will differ from rigidly structured events synonymous with classical music. The atmosphere is intended to be casual, making this new venture ideal for introducing children (and others) to a rich variety of different types of music in a comfortable setting.

Set in cabaret style surroundings it leaves out what can be perceived as off-putting rigid concert conventions. Audience members are free to come and go during the performance and children go free! Promoted by a group of Sligo musicians with a passionate commitment to live music performance in partnership with The Model these events are supported by Con Brio and Sligo Baroque Orchestra.

The first Informal Music Afternoon on Sunday 03 June, will include performers: Nicola Cleary, violin, who has international experience as a soloist and chamber musician as well as having played with orchestras; Frances Bell, viola, a founder member of Sligo Baroque Orchestra, a regular performer in string quartets; Anna Houston, cello, is as at home playing a Beethoven trio or Baroque cello sonata as she is performing with No Crows ;

Felip Carbonell, guitar moved from Mallorca to become a major figure in Sligo’s musical scene, performing in a number of jazz, Latin and other ensembles, Darragh Houston, piano – young talented jazz pianist; Rod Alston, harpsichord, instigator of many musical events in Sligo over the last twenty odd years with a programme that includes a Beethoven trio,a Corelli violin sonata a cello sonata by, G. Sammartini, a duo by Paganini for violin and guitar some Jazz and pieces that defy categorisation

Fri 18th May: Oddsocks Revival at Furey’s Pub

Sat May 19th: We Cut Corners & Come on Live Long at The Model

We Cut Corners and Come on Live Long
Sat May 19 @ 8pm
Tickets only €10

A double bill of two of Ireland’s finest emerging music acts.
We Cut Corners
Choice Music Award Nominees 2011, We Cut Corners write short songs on drums and guitar. The critically acclaimed debut album ‘Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards’ was released in Ireland in Nov 2011. 
The Irish Times 4**** “‘Three People’, ‘The Leopard’ and ‘A Pirate’s Life’ echo The Frames and Conor O’Brien (Villagers) in their ebbs and flows, while ‘Go Easy’ is a magnificent, heartwarming thrill.”

“2011 has finally produced its first buzz band”. The Sunday Times

Come on Live Long
 play samplers, synths, ukelele, guitars, keys and percussion…by blending a common love for all things electronic with their folk and rock roots the band attain a unique sound that is both energetic and melodic.
With members from Sligo, Roscommon and Meath, the Dublin-based band recently released Mender, an EP which sees them mature and focus on what has been described by The Irish Times as a full and widescreen sound.
Come

On Live Long were recently picked as the State Magazine Faces of 2012 and The Irish Times’ Top 5 Acts of 2011.

“Ever since their appearance last year, this five-piece Dublin-based band have been shining increasingly brighter… Go see them live where they really shine.” The Irish Independent
“One of our favorite new Irish bands” State.ie
Booking and Information: www.themodel.ie / 071 9141405

Wed 16 May 2012: Con Brio presents Guitar Recital at The Chapel, Markree Castle

The Chapel, Markree Castle, Collooney 8.30pm
Ticket Sales: The Hawk’s Well Theatre Tel: 071-9161518
Or book on line www.hawkswell.com

€15 (€10 students at the door only)

PROGRAMME
Tarrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Sor: Mozart Variations
Koshkin: Usher Waltz
Ian Wilson: Sternlos
Albeniz: Asturias

- Interval -
Domeniconi: Koyunbaba
JK Mertz: Elegy
Ginastera: Sonata
A York: Sunburst
Tarrega: Capricho Arab

Michael O’Toole is one of the leading figures in the Irish guitar scene today. He has given many memorable solo recitals and also contributed significantly to the development of the instrument as Artistic Director of both The Waltons International Guitar Festival and The Chord Ennis International Music Festival.

He has performed extensively at home and abroad and on national radio and television, His commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to work with prominent Irish composers such as Eric Sweeney, Jerome de Bromhead, David Fennessy and Ian Wilson as well as international composers such as Clark Ross and Philip Glass.

“…I was knocked out by his performances… he revealed a talent for telling stories with his hands and weaving meticulous trains of musical thought, delivered with a fair punch.” Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine.

michaelotoole.net

Sat 28th: The Kanyu Tree at Tricky’s McGarrigles

Doors are 9.30pm and Admission is e5.

Sun 6th May: Shane McGowan & Seamie O’Dowd, Lavagh

The Acoustic Room @ The Model presents… The Henry Girls, David Hope, Miss Paula Flynn

Fri May 11 @ 8pm

Tickets 15 / 12

Amazing Early Bird value of €10 when you book before Mon Apr 23^rd

A treble bill of incredible talent.

The three performances lined up for our next Acosutic Room Session present some of Ireland’s finest roots musicians.

The Henry Girls are a musical sister trio from County Donegal with a unique rootsy sound that blends Irish Folk with Americana. Described by Folk and Roots UK as ‘so devilishly talented’ they are renowned for their fine close harmonies and musical arrangements.  They have been likened to The McGarrigle Sisters and their sound also reflects the influences of such great musical acts as Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Dixie Chicks. The Henry Girls will capture the hearts and minds of fans of every style and genre of music.

‘ A Very Beautiful Album’ – Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2.

www.thehenrygirls.com

David Hope .. is one of the very best roots related outfits operating at present .. seamlessly belnding folk and roots infections with grittily intelligent lyrics and enviably catchy choruses “

– Whisperin and Hollerin (UK)

Described as Ireland’s answer to Johnny Cash, David’s multifarious influences stem from the sounds of blues, folk and roots music such as Howlin’ Wolf, Guy Clarke, Bob Dylan and Luke Kelly. A strong vocalist and performer, David has toured extensively both in Ireland and Europe, building up a loyal fanbase both at home and abroad. Performances include numerous festivals in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden and encompassed tours with The Duke Spirit (UK), Sophie Hunger (CH), Baum (CH) and Beth Hart (USA).

David has independently released three critically acclaimed records including the album, ‘A Picture’, produced in 2007 by Terry Woods (The Pogues / Steeleye Span) , A 7-track EP ‘Daybreak Someplace’ produced in 2009 and in 2011, the EP ‘Hell or High Water’ which was produced by the highly acclaimed musician and producer, Declan Sinnott (Christy Moore / Moving Hearts). The first single ‘Hell or High Water’ was released in April 2011 to great reviews and radioplay. David was crowned winner of the ‘What the Folk?’ competition in summer 2011, which resulted in winning a slot at the inaugural Spirit of Folk Festival in September 2011.

Links:

http://breakingtunes.com/davidhope

http://facebook.com/davidhopesings

http://twitter.com/DavidPHope

Miss Paula Flynn has shared stages with everyone from Forkhill Folk Choir to the Fall and from Joe Dolan to Jinx Lennon. To many others though she’s best known as the voice from the Ballygowan advert. Let’s Dance became very popular very quickly. EMI released it as a single which reached number 1 in the download chart and number 5 in the physical charts.

Musically Miss Paula Flynn bridges the divides between Bjork and Hank Williams, with songs that love a good story and come delivered with the sultry passion that is the hallmark of her vocal style.

Paula combines her love for music and radio with a weekly show called ‘The C Word’ on RTE’s digital station 2XM which Hot Press (December 2009 edition) described as ‘the best show on radio’.

www.themodel.ie