Ar Thóir an Cheoil – New Traditional Music Series on TG4
Ar Thóir an Cheoil is a new series beginning in October on TG4 that explores the musical influences of six traditional-music bands – The Bonny Men (pictured), Lumiere, We Banjo 3, Buille, Caladh Nua and Beoga.
Beoga preview:
As well as live performances from each band, the series follows band members as they meet the people who have influenced them, musicians such as Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Mickey Dunne, Gino Lupari, Na Casaidigh, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Neil Lyons, Bobby Gardiner, Tom Doorley, Máirtín O’Connor, Mel Mercier, Cathal Hayden and Gerry ‘Banjo’ O’Connor .
Ar Thóir an Cheoil also explores the styles and influences within traditional Irish music and how different genres such as jazz, classical, folk and blues have impacted on the bands’ sound.
‘I have always been interested in traditional Irish music bands,’ says series producer and director Méabh O’Hare, also a fiddle-player. ‘When I was younger I would have listened to the likes of Altan, The Bothy Band, Flook and Dervish. I thought it would be nice to look at Irish music bands of this generation, and hear what their musical influences are. What is unique about this series is that the band members get to meet the musicians that have shaped their music individually, and in turn we get to see how that comes together to create a new sound in the band.’
The series is produced by Sonas Productions who have produced a number of music documentaries for TG4, including Ceol na bhFánaithe, which looked at the importance of Travellers’ music within Irish folk and traditional music, and Ceird an Cheoil, which examined the role of individual instruments within traditional music.
Ar Thóir an Cheoil will begin broadcasting on 27 October at 10pm. The first programme of the series features Dublin-based band The Bonny Men with Liam Ó Maonlaí, Tom Doorley and Séamus Mac Mathúna. The programme will be available on the TG4 Player for up to one month after broadcast.