Lifestyle
Trans-Atlantic collective ready to rock Monroe’s
Trans-Atlantic collective Atlantic I/O will play Monroe’s Live on Saturday, May 24, bringing together musicians from Ireland and America for a refreshing dive into Irish traditional music, via pop, electronica, jazz and funk.
This touring project features the band Olllam, Pádraig Rynne, Jeremy Kittel, and star of US show The Voice and Usher protégé, Michelle Chamuel. It is a six-month writing collaboration that is culminating in a four-date concert series.
Atlantic I/O features a line-up who, between them, have played with Usher, Aretha Franklin, Donal Lunny, My Morning Jacket, Béla Fleck, Lúnasa and more.
Vocalist Michelle Chamuel came second in NBC’s The Voice, with R&B superstar Usher as her mentor. Michelle is looking forward to coming to Ireland for the first time and to “working with inspirational artists who push musical boundaries; to invite new audiences to experience the time-honoured Irish tradition. I am excited to contribute my vocals to this dynamic Irish-American collaboration.”
The Ollam features Belfast-born uilleann piper John McSherry and Detroit natives Tyler Duncan (uilleann pipes, whistles, guitar, Rhodes) and Michael Shimmin (drums and percussion). They describe their sound as being “somewhere between Radiohead and Planxty”.
Pádraig Rynne, meanwhile, has worked with acts like Arty McGlynn, Pauline Scanlon, Flook and Dónal Lunny. In 2005 he released his first solo album, Bye A While.
As well as playing songs from all the individuals, Rynne says Atlantic I/O will also be “taking some traditional pieces and immersing them in jazz, electronica and rock –all the time pushing into genre-busting realms”.