The 21st Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance proudly presents Karan Casey, Niall Vallely and Caoimhín Vallely as part of their public concert series in Theatre 1 of the Irish World Academy.

Karan Casey:
Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. Her career has spanned twenty five years from the early days as a jazz performer in George’s Bistro in Dublin to her heady days in New York with the band Solas to her now established solo career and she has sold over half a million albums. Karan has won awards for “Best Folk Album” and “Best Folk Female” from Irish Music Magazine and been nominated for the BBC Folk Awards and the Danish Grammys and was a key member of Paul Winter’s Grammy-award winning “Celtic Solstice”.

Niall Vallely:
Over the years Niall Vallely has developed a unique approach to playing the instrument and has established himself worldwide as one of Ireland’s most significant musicians. He has recorded two albums with Nomos, a solo album, “Beyond Words” and a duet album with his brother Cillian, as well as two albums with his newest band Buille. Since 2000 Niall has been touring and recording as part of the Karan Casey Band as well as being in involved in projects with the likes of Tim O’Brien, Paddy Keenan, Mel Mercier and Asturian band Tejedor.  Over the past number of years Niall has also established himself as an accomplished record producer working with acts such as Karan Casey, North Cregg, Barry Kerr and Caoimhín Vallely.

Caoimhín Vallely:
Caoimhín Vallely first came to prominence as fiddle player with the Cork band North Cregg but has emerged in recent years as one of the most interesting and individual piano players on the Irish music scene from his work with Buille and with singer Karan Casey. In 2005 he released to universal critical acclaim his debut solo piano album – “Strayaway” – which is still one of the very few albums of traditional Irish music on the piano. He is a co-founder and current member of the group Buille, with whom he has recorded three groundbreaking albums. The band have toured all over Europe and the USA and have performed alongside such luminaries as Béla Fleck, Martin Hayes, Aoife O’Donovan, Máirtín O’Connor and Michael McGoldrick.

Venue: Theatre 1, Irish World Academy of Music & Dance

Tickets: http://www.uch.ie/event/blas-summer-school-karan-casey-niall-vallely-caoimhin-vallely/