Donegal International Folk & Roots festival only a few weeks away

Donegal Folk & Roots Weekend logo 2016

Audiences are in for a treat this summer with the second annual Donegal International Folk & Roots festival only a few weeks away.  According to Shaun Hannigan, Manager of the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), the Donegal International Folk & Roots festival is one of the biggest music festivals ever held in Letterkenny and is part of the Earagail Arts Festival.

 

“The festival features a jam-packed programme of talks, music sessions, busking and concerts in a variety of international folk and roots styles including the first ever Irish concert by Chouk Bwa Libete, one of the foremost Haitian Voodoo bands”.

Shaun Hannigan (RCC Manager)

“There is an incredible series of concerts at the RCC including Bellows & Bows on Wednesday 13^th featuring tutors from this years Ceol na Coille Summer School, master uilleann piper Padráig McGovern and harpist Sabina McCague”.

 

“There is a special focus this year on Irish and English Folk song and this is part of Ireland 2016 centenary programme.  Folk song has formed an important part of the cultural legacy of both these islands and we want to use this as a medium to gently explore the complex and sometimes not so complex relationship between Ireland and England”.

 

The three days of Irish & English Folk kicks off on Friday 15^th with a brilliant double bill of raw, fresh contemporary folk featuring Lynched from Dublin and Stick in the Wheel from London.  Two legendary folk singer song writers Andy Irvine from Ireland and Chris Woods from England will perform on Saturday 16^th and Richard Dawson, the experimental, folk-tinged singer and guitarist from Newcastle will play later that day.

Lynched

The final English/ Irish folk gig will take place on Sunday 17^th with Sam Lee’s ‘Other Voices’.  The Mercury Prize nominated folk singer brings together some Irish Traveller singers, hosting a unique sing-around to share some of their incredible voices and unheard songs.

 

Also on Saturday renowned singer and Fear ‘a Ti, Jerry O’Reilly of the Goilín Traditional Singers Club in Dublin will provide a keynote address looking at the relationship between Irish and English folk song and this will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Andy Irvine, Chris Wood chaired by Grace Toland Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Another panel discussion will take place on Sunday at 3.30pm looking at folk songs today and the panel will include Sam Lee, Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh and Grace Toland, chaired by Ben Mandelson founding Director of Womex.

 

The majority of concerts and talks take place at the RCC with the final gala concert ‘Home to Ballybeg’, a tribute to Brian Friel by Manus Lunny, taking place at An Grianán Theatre on Sunday July 17^th.

 

There will be music throughout the town with the Letterkenny Busking Festival on Saturday 16^th and pub music sessions on the 16^th and 17^th.

 

For more information visit  www.eaf.ie or www.regionalculturalcentre.com or call An Grianán Theatre on 074 9120777.