On October 7 and 8, the National Concert Hall, together with the Arts Council, present the next instalment Tradition Now. This autumn’s edition sees award-winning duo Ye Vagabonds and acclaimed concertina player Cormac Begley headline a multi-room takeover of the NCH by Ireland’s most exciting new folk and traditional artists. The two-day event also sees performances from Liam O’Flynn award recipient Strange Boy, masterly fiddle player Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, legendary singer and flautist Cathal McConnell, Scottish smallpipes virtuoso Brìghde Chaimbeul and more.
The series, which has developed into a veritable highlight of the folk calendar, celebrates invention and evolution in traditional music, while staying true to its roots.
Saturday headliner Ye Vagabonds (October 7) are still basking in the glow of the widespread praise for their latest long-player Nine Waves, a delicately crafted masterpiece of originals and covers which won Best Album at the 2022 RTÉ Radio One Folk Awards. The record follows on from their first two exalted outings 2017’s Ye Vagabonds and 2019’s The Hare’s Lament. The duo, which comprises brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn have a slew of additional accolades under their belts, including a BBC Radio Two Folk Award for Best Traditional Track and several more RTÉ Folk Awards including Best Group.
Sunday night (October 8) sees revered concertina player Cormac Begley’s first headline performance in the National Concert Hall. Cormac’s career has gone from strength to strength over the past year, winning Best Folk Instrumentalist 2022 at the RTÉ Folk Awards and receiving glowing reviews for his second solo album ‘B’. His music is central to the award-winning show Mám and to Pat Collin’s film, The Dance.
Limerick poet/rapper Strange Boy (October 7) performs in the NCH for the first time since receiving the 2023 Liam O’Flynn Award. His unique method of combining hip hop and Irish traditional music with hard-hitting lyrics saw his debut album Holy / Unholy win rave reviews. He presents new work developed as part of his residency at NCH supported by the Liam O’Flynn Award.
Accomplished fiddle player, sean nós singer, academic and broadcaster Doireann Ní Ghlacáin (October 8) presents her new multimedia project at Tradition Now. Say a Song combines the worlds of music, literature and technology to breathe new life into the sean nós tradition, with the help of leading Irish writers and visual artists.
In addition, Fermanagh’s legendary singer and flute player Cathal McConnell (October 7) will take to the NCH stage with singer and flautist Nuala Kennedy, Clare fiddle maestro Tara Breen and Dublin guitarist Tony Byrne. Cathal will discuss and perform some of his uniquely creative ‘variations’ on traditional tunes and talk about his life in music.
Elsewhere on the bill, Irish tenor banjo player Damien O’Kane (October 8) joins forces with American bluegrass banjo player Ron Block for a very special sonic union of transatlantic cultures, and Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul (October 8) makes a welcome return. Brìghde has just released sublime second album Carry Them With Us.
Tradition Now is an initiative of the Arts Council and National Concert Hall and is supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Tickets €25
Tickets include entry to all Tradition Now concerts for the date purchased.
10% Discount for Friends of NCH
