PROJECT 06 IN GALWAY
PROJECT 06 is a one-off arts festival which will coincide with the Galway Arts Festival on 17-30 July. Born out of a dissatisfaction among artists in the west with the approach of the GAF – plenty of international acts but not enough nourishing of the local – Project 06 has drawn up a full programme in a very short space of time. Among its aims are to ‘Encourage both young, emerging and established artists to base themselves in the West of Ireland by offering access, help and support to develop a sustainable arts industry’ and to ‘Demonstrate that Galway wishes to export its artistic product, rather than its artistic talent’. Music events include: Andy Irvine’s Mozaik, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (below), guitarist John Feeley with poet Mary O’Malley, the Jinx Lennon Experience, ConTempo Quartet, Concorde, Polish pianist Derek Hoffmann, the Oirbsen Chamber Trio, pianist Tom Cullivan, cellist Nicola Geddes and pianist Elena Gekker, OGMA (a series of open instrumental acoustic sessions based on traditional Irish music), and reggae/dub outfit INTINN celebrating the Project 06 parade. Visit www.project06.com

3RD GUITAR FESTIVAL
The third Walton’s Guitar Festival of Ireland takes place on 3-9 July. Packed with concerts, workshops, masterclasses and the first ever ‘Guitar Traditions’ course chaired by internationally renowned guitarist John Williams, the festival also presents Williams and John Etheridge at the NCH on 8 July. International and Irish classical, jazz, flamenco and steel-string exponents are set to perform, including Manuel Barrueco (Cuba), Paco Peña (Spain), John Ethridge (UK), Xuefei Yang (China), Clive Carroll (UK), John Feeley (Ireland), Elena Papandreou (Greece), Steve Kaufman (USA), Lorenzo Micheli (Italy), Pavel Steidl (Czech Republic) and many more. Visit www.guitarfestivalofireland.com

TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVALS
Fifteen summer festivals in eight weeks. Take your pick: 1-9 July – Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare / 2-8 July – Douglas Hyde Traditional Music Summer School / 9-15 July – South Sligo Summer School, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo / 15-22 July – Joe Mooney Summer School, Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim / 10-21 July – Blas Summer School, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Limerick / 23-30 July – Fiddler’s Green Festival, Rostrevor, Co. Down / 27-30 July – Phil Murphy Weekend, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford / 4-7 Aug. – O’Carolan Festival, Keadue, Co. Roscommon / 4-6 Aug. – Ballyshannon Folk Festival, Co. Donegal / 10-14 Aug. – Feakle Traditional Music Festival, Co. Clare / 16-20 Aug. – Éigse Mrs Crotty, Kilrush Co. Clare / 5/13/16-20 Aug. – ESB Beo Celtic Music Festival, NCH, Dublin / 16-20 Aug. – Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry, Co. Cork / 14-20 Aug – The World Fleadh, Ballybunnion, Co. Kerry / 20-30 Aug. – Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

THE MOZART SESSIONS
The Mozart Sessions is a major new RTÉ television series beginning on 9th July and marking the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Broadcast every Sunday night on RTÉ 1 throughout July and August, the programme presents acclaimed Irish soloists with Gerhard Markson conducting the musicians of the RTÉ NSO performing some of the best-known of Mozart’s work. Continuing the format of RTÉ’s ‘The Symphony Sessions’, as they rehearse and record the artists talk about Mozart, their approach to performing his music, and their own lives as musicians. Soloists include Mairéad Buicke (soprano), Aisling Casey (oboe), Finghin Collins (piano), Doreen Curran (mezzo-soprano), Roland Davitt (bass baritone), John Ryan (horn), and Rebecca Ryan (soprano).

AN BÉAL BINN CD
The ever industrious An Béal Binn, which promotes song, poetry and drama in the Irish language in North Wicklow, has released its first CD, Amhráin na Séad – Jewels and Pathways by sean-nós singer Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill. An Béal Binn organises a singing club every Thursday (except in August) in the Sailing Club in Bray opposite the Harbour Bar. A sean-nós singing class takes place before the club from 8-9pm. Recent guest singers have included Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Áine Ní Dhroighneán, Brian Ó Domhnaill, Peadar Ó Ceannabháin and Máire Breatnach.
Email anbealbinn [at] oceanfree.net

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