The 16th annual Ennis Trad Festival is on for November 5th through the 9th.
http://www.ennistradfestival.com/top_level/festival.asp
Here are the highlights of the festival by date:
Thursday, November 5th
7:30pm at the Templegate Hotel is the Festival launch at the by Áine Hensey, radio broadcaster with RTE & Raidio na Gaeltachta which is to be followed by a free concert by the trad group ’Mother‘.
11:30pm in The Sanctuary at the Queen’s Hotel is a concert (€15) by Angelina Carberry (banjo) Peter Carberry (accordion) and Paul Meehan (guitar).
I had the pleasure of playing in a session with Angela, along with Martin Quinn, a few years back at Club Aras na nGael in Galway city. She is lovely banjo player. Here is video of them playing a few tunes.
There are sessions from 10pm through 12:30am at various venues, for the schedule throughout the festival check the Session Trail at http://www.ennistradfestival.com/top_level/sessions.asp.
Friday, November 6th
1pm at Glór is a lunchtime session.
8pm at the Auburn Lodge Hotel is a CD launch for harmonica players John Gavin and is daughter Pauline.
Starting at 9:30pm there will be sessions at various venues.
11:30pm at the Auburn Lodge Hotel is a concert (€15) by the trad group ‘At the Racket‘ featuring John Carty (fiddle, banjo, flute), Brian McGrath (piano, mandolin, banjo), Seamus O’Donnell (flute, saxophone, vocals) and Brid Dooley (vocals). The saxophone is an interesting instrument for playing trad music.
Saturday, November 7th
11:30am in Brogan’s is Irish Language for Beginners with Olive Keane.
11:30am - 3:30pm workshops or master classes (€25) for flute, fiddle, uilleann pipes, concertina, accordion, harp, banjo and piano accompaniment [with a lunch break from noon to 1pm] at the Christian Brothers school on New Road.
Noon at Cois na hAbhna is a Sean Nós Dance Workshop (€5) with Suzanne Leahy. Some dancing experience would be beneficial.
7pm in The Sanctuary at the Queen’s Hotel is a CD release ‘Faoi Bhláth’ with Dave Sheridan (fiddle) and Ciáran Somers (flute). Guitarist Nicolas Quemener and bodhrán player Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh are also on the CD.
7pm at the West County Hotel is Árd Ghaisce na mBuíonta or the Great Céilí Band Challenge (€15) with 10 Céilí Bands competing against each other. There will be the official adjudicators decision along with audience balloting as well.
1opm at Cois na hAbhna is a Set Dance led by the Kilfenora Céilí Band in celebration of 125 years of the GAA (€10).
There are sessions from 10pm through 12:30am at various venues.
11:30pm at the Auburn Lodge Hotel is a concert (€20) by the trad group Lúnasa, who are Kevin Crawford (flute) Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes) Seán Smyth (fiddle) Paul Meehan (guitar) Trevor Hutchinson (upright bass) left to right in this recording.
Sunday, November 8th
Noon at Cois na hAbhna is a Set Dance Workshop (€5) with Geraldine Green, beginners welcome.
Sessions starting at 1:30pm and again at 9:30pm at various venues.
4pm at Cois na hAbhna is a Set Dance (€10) led by the The Four Courts Céilí Band.
7pm at the Temple Gate Hotel for Steph Geremia (flute) with the CD launch of ‘The Open Road’.
10pm at the Old Ground Hotel is a concert (€15) by Frankie Gavin (fiddle) and Tony McMahon (accordion).
Monday, November 9th
1pm a lunchtime session at various venues.
9:30pm sessions at various venues.
11:30pm at The Sanctuary at the Queen’s Hotel is the Finale Concert (€15) with the Alan Kelly Quartet with Tola Custy (fiddle), Aidan Brennan (guitar & vocals) and Jim Higgins (bodhran & percussion).
This looks to be an excellent trad festival for musicians and dancers alike.
