Music acts set to move Mayo audiences

THIS September and October boasts a multi-faceted mix of live music to experience at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, featuring various tempos, themes and genres.

On September 24, Migrantes communicates what migration sounds like through a deeply moving musical odyssey.

Created and performed by Mauro Sigura and Andrea Manzoni, it unfolds in three acts: The Dream, The Hope, and The Journey. Audiences are guided through evocative soundscapes where jazz, Mediterranean, Arab-Ottoman traditions, classical music and global influences intertwine, to focus on movement of the soul, rather than across geographical borders.

Classically, the Raja Quartet opens up a treasure trove of music from the first half of the 20th century, specifically Ukraine, Argentina, Austria and Ireland, on the Linenhall stage. A programme of Prokofiev, Webern, Aloys Fleischmann and Ginastera will be deftly showcased on October 7 by violinists Phoebe White and Claire Wells, with Callum Owens on cello and Martin Moriarty, viola.

Singer and bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell, widely regarded as one of the most powerful voices in contemporary Irish folk music, performs solo on October 8. A product of Dublin’s legendary An Góilín Traditional Singers’ Club, Farrell has built an international reputation for his deeply authentic interpretations of traditional songs and stories.

Fusing powerful vocals with rich storytelling and masterful accompaniment, he breathes new life into the Irish folk tradition.

BRIDGE OF SONG

Bridge of Song, Castlebar’s monthly intimate listening event, celebrates its seventh anniversary with a milestone show featuring the legendary Luka Bloom, with special guests, on Wednesday, October 21.

Founded in 2018 by Eamonn Mulderrig to spotlight Mayo’s singer-songwriter scene, Bridge of Song has grown to attract national and international acts, known for its respectful, attentive audiences.

This special concert pays homage to 50 years of songcraft, drawing from Bloom’s landmark triple-album Wave Up To The Shore alongside tracks from Bittersweet Crimson, Refuge, and Frúgalisto.

Also on the music front, fresh from being named TG4’s Gradam Cheoil 2026 Music Group of the Year, Cherish the Ladies bring their beautiful sounds on Saturday, October 10.

The Pale Blue Dot presents The Voyager Golden Record Reimagined For Our Time on November 5, with new music by Irish composers Linda Buckley and Jonathan Nangle, weaved into a rich sonic landscape.

Find out more on the venue’s programming via thelinenhall.com, or the box office team can be contacted on (094) 9023733 with queries.