New traditional music festival for Mayo's county town
A NEW traditional music festival - Music of Mayo Festival - a convening of traditional artists from around the county - will take place in Castlebar from June 16 to 18.
It is organised and curated by the cultural organisation Music of Mayo, which explores and promotes the rich traditional arts of the county.
Artistic director Emer Mayock has continued to develop the organisation since she founded the initiative in 2017 as part of an artist in residence period at the Linenhall Arts Centre.
Said Emer: “We are delighted to present the first Music of Mayo Festival in the lovely bar and venue Bridge St, Castlebar. It is an opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy of the traditional arts in Co. Mayo, past, present and into the future, all of which is reflected in the artistic programme presented by the festival.”
Events feature the launch on June 16 of the excellent book 'Cry of a People Gone' - Irish Musicians in Chicago 1920-2020 by Richie Piggott which features accounts of over 60 Mayo musicians with origins in Co. Mayo. Traditional music relevant to this era will be played by Emer Mayock, Julie Langan and John Hoban. The evening will also see a social gathering of musicians and singers from around the county and an opportunity to talk and play music informally.
June 17 introduces traditional music of Mayo, from the ancient to the modern, when Laoise Kelly will present her fascinating research on fellow Mayo harper Hugh Higgins whose music was notated in the late 1700s. Laoise will play a number of pieces associated with Higgins.
This will be contrasted by New Music of Mayo featuring music, song and poetry from a range of performers commissioned by Music of Mayo and the Linenhall Arts Centre in 2021. Performers on the evening include John 'Twin' McNamara, Fiachna Ó Mongáin, Holly Geraghty, Mary Staunton, David Doocey, Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, John Hoban, Joe Carey, Stephen Doherty and Ger Reidy.
June 18 is entitled Ceoltóirí Óga Mhaigh Eo and features a group of young traditional musicians aged 12 and under playing exclusively Mayo tune repertoire; young sean nós singers Paddy Heneghan and Lucia Ní Chlochartaigh, four fantastic young musicians will perform together - Hannah Lyons, Méabh Dunlop, Áine Fox and Catherine Joyce; a solo performance from musician Peter Fox, and much more.
All events are strictly ticketed on Eventbrite. Booking is essential at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-of-mayo-festival-a-convening-of-traditional-artists-16-18-june-tickets-641181590397.