Focus

Midsummer Reinvention Midsummer Reinvention Adrian Smith The world premiere of David Fennessy's 'Rosewoods' for guitar and orchestra took place on Monday 21 June as part of the Dublin International Chamber Music Festival. Adrian Smith reviews.
Within the Stillness Within the Stillness James Camien McGuiggan Released in March, 'Lipids' features three works by Barry O'Halpin performed by Crash Ensemble and the composer. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Avoiding Convention Avoiding Convention Mark Fitzgerald The first CD devoted entirely to the work of Irish composer John McLachlan has recently been released on Farpoint Recordings. Mark Fitzgerald reviews.
Through the Darkness Through the Darkness Don O'Mahony Cork house music duo Fish Go Deep have recently released a new album, 'This Bit of Earth'. Don O'Mahony reviews.
A Modern Tour of Ancient Music A Modern Tour of Ancient Music Brendan Finan The 25th Galway Early Music Festival took place on 21–23 May, featuring Enea Sorini and Peppe Frana, the Irish Consort and Siobhán Armstrong, Aisling Kenny, Róisín Elsafty, Resurgam and more. Brendan Finan reviews.
Exciting Scene Let Down by Stagnant Staging Exciting Scene Let Down by Stagnant Staging Andrea Cleary Andrea Cleary reviews 'Extraterrestrial' – an evening of music and spoken word at the National Concert Hall celebrating Black Irish artists.
We Need to Talk about Creativity in the Post-Pandemic Era We Need to Talk about Creativity in the Post-Pandemic Era Toner Quinn Right now, the world is talking about ‘creative solutions’ for the post-pandemic era, for the climate crisis, and for every other challenge that we face, but we need to get clear about what creativity means, writes Toner Quinn.
A European Tour Under Lockdown A European Tour Under Lockdown James Camien McGuiggan The Sligo International Chamber Music Festival took place online this year with four concerts and three new commissions from Irish composers. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
'Artists who are at their wits' end can’t afford another glitzy policy announcement': Basic Income for Artists Needs More Scrutiny 'Artists who are at their wits' end can’t afford another glitzy policy announcement': Basic Income for Artists Needs More Scrutiny Aengus Ó Snodaigh The basic income for artists was recommended in a government report last November, but since then progress has been sluggish and the ideas need much more scrutiny, writes Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD.
Airs for an Ocean Under Duress Airs for an Ocean Under Duress Adrian Scahill Máirtín O’Connor's new climate-emergency-inspired suite of music 'The Mighty Ocean' recently aired on TG4. Adrian Scahill reviews.

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