Cream of Irish musicians for Clifden Arts Festival

Limerick folk-rock acoustic band, Hermitage Green will be in concert at the Station House Hotel in Clifden on Friday, September 16, as part of this year’s Clifden Arts Festival.

Fronted by former Munster rugby player, Barry Murphy, Hermitage Green are a five-piece multi-instrumental outfit, playing bodhrán, djembe, rhythmic guitar and banjo. Their distinctive blend of instruments is combined with four part harmonies as they perform both ballads and more riotous songs, many with a traditional bent.

The previous night, Colm Mac Con Iomaire of the Frames and Kíla, will be in concert in Clifden.

Colm is primarily known as a fiddle player, but the composer and musical arranger is a multi-instrumentalist who is also comfortable playing banjo, guitar, piano and electric keyboard.

The Dubliner, who is a fluent Irish speaker, grew up in the world of Irish music, while from his mother’s side, there was a classical influence – he learned both classical violin and piano as a young child.

While he was still at school, Colm co-founded Kíla, a trad group with a distinctly experimental bent.

His own solo albums, The Hare’s Corner, And Now the Weather, and his work with the Frames demonstrate his broad musical span – his influences range from Irish traditional to classical with a flavour of the East and more

Colm Mac Con Iomaire will be in concert in Clifden on Thursday, September 15, also at the Station House Hotel.

■ For more information about the Clifden Arts Festival and ticket sales, go to www.clifdenartsfestival.ie