Between the Reels and the Ragas is a new innovative collaboration between highly respected Irish percussionist Tommy Hayes and Australian born mongrel Matthew ‘Mattu’ Noone. 

Matthew, an ex-indie rocker and well-known performer of the 25 stringed lute called sarode, has studied North Indian Classical music in Kolkata with Sougata Roy Chowdhury for almost a decade.  More recently he has taken guidance from UK based sarodiya, K. Sridhar.  He has performed Indian music across the globe and was a founding member of successful Galway group, The Bahh Band. 

In a career that has exemplified diversity, Tommy Hayes has performed and recorded with most of the great names in traditional music and beyond and has been at the forefront of Irish music for over 30 years.  He was a founding member of traditional group Stockton’s Wing and is considered one of the greatest bodhran players of all time.

This unique project was formed after Matthew was awarded funds from Music Network Ireland to design and purchase a hybrid sarode for collaborations within the Irish music tradition.  This  project draws upon the slow lyrical style of East Clare music as well Indian drones, a plethora of percussion and experimental acoustic loops.