The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray has recently produced a very attractive CD called Mermaid 10, Live Music 2002 – 2012, consisting of some highlights of the live music concerts that have taken place at the Centre since it opened as recorded by their sound engineer Eóin Murphy of Big Garden Sound studio. Though Murphy has hundreds of hours in the archive, and we may hear more of it eventually, this one focusses on artists with a local Wicklow connection.

Meanwhile, the Centre continues the extremely high standard of programming that the CD reflects, and this Saturday hosts a double bill Music Network gig featuring the trio of piper Mick O’Brien, singer Nell Ní Chróinín and fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and the quartet This is How We Fly (who are recording their first album in Dublin at the moment).

This show is included in the Mermaid’s new promotional offer called the Seasonal Menu, meaning customers can choose from various ‘courses’ in a ‘menu’ of shows at the Centre for discounted prices: three shows for €33 or four for €40. The variety of the acts included give this a lovely ‘taster menu’ effect for people to sample a wide range of genres: Tavaziva’s Sensual Africa; Tigran Hamasyan; The Unusual History of Ether; Pierre Bensusan; Keith Farnan’s Seriously Funny; Rhyme, Rann, Rant; Kimmie Rhodes; Every Little Step: The Rhythm of Hope; Cosi Fan Tutte, Opera Theatre Company; and A Christmas Carol.

mermaidartscentre.ie.

The tracks on Mermaid 10 are as follows (with some notes on the local connections the artists have):

Carnival performed by Lunfardia
Performers/instruments: Dermot Dunne (accordion), Ariel Hernández (guitar, vocals), Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin), Malachy Robinson (bass), Frank Vidal (percussion)
Arranger: Ariel Hernández
Ariel Hernandez taught in Bray Music Centre for 7 years and also for the VEC in Killcoole and Blessington.

For Ébha performed by The New Triangle with Eomac
Performers/instruments: Roger Doyle (piano), Vyvienne Long (cello), Ian McDonnell/Eomac (laptop percussion), Niwel Tsumbu (guitar)
Composer: Roger Doyle
Composed for the birth of Doyle’s step- granddaughter Ébha Connolly
The New Triangle was formed during a residency in Mermaid by Roger Doyle and Niwel Tsumbu with invited guest Vyvienne Long in 2011. All three musicians are County Wicklow based.

Glorious Days performed by Blind Yackety
Performers/instruments: Emma Cafferky (vocals, percussion), Niall Cloak (violin), Kevin McNamara (vocals, guitar), Kevin Moore-Murphy (bass), Niall Murphy (electric piano), Aoife Ní Mhurcú (clarinet, percussion), Shane O’Connell (drums), Holly Pereira (vocals, percussion)
Composer: Kevin McNamara
Members of Blind Yackety come from Delgany, Bray and Greystones.

Slán + Breatnach, Agur performed by Cormac Breatnach, Fiachra Trench and Gavin Ralston
Composer: Cormac Breatnach
Fiachra Trench has been living in Greystones since 1991. Gavin Ralston has been living in Newtownmountkennedy since 1999. Cormac Breatnach lived in Laragh from 1998, moving to Ashford in 2003.

Y Una Madre performed by Tarab with Savina Yannatou
Performers/instruments: Kate Ellis (cello), Emer Mayock (flute), Nick Roth (soprano saxophone), Francesco Turrisi (accordion), Savina Yannatou (vocals)
Composer: Traditional Sephardic (arranged by Tarab)
Tarab was Mermaid’s music ensemble in residence in 2010, with ensemble leader Francesco Turrisi residing in Bray since that year.

Enniode (a homage to Ennio Morricone) performed by Roger Doyle + Niwel Tsumbu
Performers/Instruments: Roger Doyle (piano), Niwel Tsumbu (guitar)
Composer: Roger Doyle
Roger Doyle has lived in Bray since 1995. Niwel Tsumbu has lived in Greystones since 2010. Roger and Niwel were Mermaid musicians in residence in 2011.

The Vaults performed by Harmonic Sound
Performers/instruments: Aoife Doyle (vocals), Joe Doyle, (guitar/vocals), Paddy Joyce (bass), John McLaughlin (drums), Oleg Panomorev (violin)
Composer: Joe Doyle
John McLaughlin, Aoife and Joe Doyle are from and live in Bray.

Meshuga performed by Alex Mathias Quartet
Performers/instruments: James Little (bass), Alex Mathias (tenor saxophone), Dominic Mullan (drums), Johnny Taylor (piano)
Composer: Alex Mathias
Alex Mathias is from and lives in Bray.

Seahorse performed by Vyvienne Long and guests
Performers/instruments: Roger Doyle (djembe), Raoul Empey (piano), Julie Feeney (accordion, vocals), Nora Hickey (vocals), Vyvienne Long (cello, vocals), Niwel Tsumbu (guitar)
Composer: Vyvienne Long
Vyvienne Long spent the first 2 years of her life in Bray to return in 2005. She currently resides in Ashford.

Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite Española performed by Redmond O’Toole
Performers/instruments: Redmond O’Toole (8-string Brahms guitar)
Composer: Isaac Albéniz. Arranged for guitar by Redmond O’Toole
Redmond O’Toole is from and lives in Bray.

Hicaz Zeybeck performed by Tarab with Pedram Khavar Zamini
Performers/instruments: Kate Ellis (cello), Robbie Harris (percussion), Pedram Khavar Zamini (tombak), Emer Mayock (flute), Nick Roth (soprano saxophone), Francesco Turrisi (accordion)
Composer: Bestekari Mechul (arranged by Tarab)
Tarab was Mermaid’s music ensemble in residence in 2010, with ensemble leader Francesco Turrisi residing in Bray since that year. Percussionist Robbie Harris is originally from Bray.

A Moment performed by Mike Nielsen
Composer: Mike Nielsen
Mike Nielsen lived in Greystones for 4 years and has currently been living in Glenealy for three years. He has been teaching in Bray Music Centre for nine years.

Old Blues in New Shoes performed by Bree Harris & the Meakins
Title: Performers/instruments: Bree Harris (vocals), John Kearns (bass), Brian Meakin (guitar), Michael Meakin, (drumkit) Terry Meakin (keyboards)
Composer: Paul Fairclough
The Meakin family are from Kilcoole. Paul Fairclough is from Bray and Bree Harris has been living in Bray since 1982.

S’all Vibration performed by Niwel Tsumbu
Composer: Niwel Tsumbu
Niwel Tsumbu has lived in Greystones since 2010.