Two of Ireland’s most lauded traditional musicians perform together for Music Network: Live and Local.

Dermot Byrne Accordion
Steve Cooney Guitar

Dermot Byrne’s seemingly effortless playing, combined with great subtlety and a faultless ear, makes him one of the finest accordion players of his generation. As well as his mastery of the Donegal style and repertoire, Dermot can turn with ease to other styles and traditions such as French musette or South American choro music.

A member of the renowned Irish traditional music band Altan from 1994 to 2013, Dermot has also collaborated with many great musicians including Seamus and Manus McGuire, Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Pierre Schryer, Tim O ’Brien, The Stunning, Salsa Celtica and the late jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. Dermot’s self-titled solo recording has received great critical acclaim.

Steve Cooney was born in Melbourne, Australia and came to Ireland in 1980. He is best known for his development of an influential style of guitar accompaniment to traditional Irish dance music in West Kerry. Maintaining his connections with the Aboriginal culture, into which he was initiated, Steve has ancestral links with Tipperary, Cavan and Galway.

Having participated in the making of more than 250 CDs either as a guitar or bass player, or as producer and engineer, Steve is also a poet and songwriter. He has worked with many iconic international artists in rock and country music but his primary focus is Irish traditional music and fusions of that genre. He recently released a CD of solo guitar interpretations of ancient harp tunes, Ceol Ársa Cláirsí: Tunes of the Irish Harpers for Solo Guitar, which received outstanding reviews.

No strangers to performing together on stage and long-awaited since the beginning of lockdown, Dermot and Steve will take live traditional music to new heights. The concert’s programme promises to be full of lift and drive, combining stunning technique with rich, raw, inherent talent.