Entertainment
Uplifting Dan Deacon to be a festival hightlight
Groove Tube with Jimi McDonnell – tribunegroove@live.ie
Every year, the Arts Festival hosts dance theatre and exhibitions that either debut in Galway or are exclusive to here.
It’s also great when the Festival’s music bill can boast an exclusive musical act. That’s the case with Dan Deacon’s gigs in the Róisín Dubh on Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21. These are the only Irish dates that the American artist, who takes electronic and pop music to heady levels, has pencilled in this year.
Speaking to the Connacht Tribune from New York, Dan is still reeling from the mass shootings in Orlando.
“I feel terrible,” he says. “It’s insane to live a country where these things happen so frequently.”
He feels the the media must take some of the blame for America’s seemingly immovable gun laws.
“CNN, NBC and Fox News see a spike in ratings when mass shootings happen,” he says. “And because of that, ad space goes up. So of course they’re going to report on it in the most grotesque ways, it gets people to keep watching. And, ultimately, gets it to keep happening.
“That’s the sickest, saddest cycle. Not only is it this horrific culture of hate, but it’s also this sick cycle of capitalism that profits off of it, and wants to see more white supremacy, and white rage, gun violence, and for guns to exist. Because, ultimately, it’s good for business.”
Outraged and exasperated by the murders in Orlando, Dan talks at length about problems in the US.
For a total change in tone, it’s time to ask about his Galway gigs. He moves subjects with grace.
“Next time, close with the heavy question!” he says good-naturedly.
Earlier in his career, Dan played at crowd level, among the audience. He’ll be on stage in the Róisín though, where he’ll be presenting a new audio-visual show.
“I’ve been performing on stage for a couple of years now – the show has changed quite a bit. If I was doing the same thing I did 10 years ago, it would be odd,” he says. “I feel like I connect with the audience much more. Visual communication is really important, so much of my set is communicating with the audience, gauging how the show is going based on their reactions.”
At previous Dan Deacon gigs, individual audience members have been asked to lead the crowd in a dance competition. Is participation still encouraged at his gigs?
“Definitely,” he says. “I would say more so. It’s still very much not-normal!”
Dan is planning something special for his only two Irish shows this year.
“I haven’t done a club show in Ireland in a while,” he says. “This was supposed to be a tour of Spain, and then these shows came up. I love the Róisín Dubh, and it’s a long time since I’ve been to Galway. I’m changing up the lighting and video for this tour, so we’ll see what I’ll bring. A lot of that depends on my buddies in Ryanair, and how much they’ll let me put on the airplane before I buy them a new car!”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Folk duo Niall Teague and Pádraic Joyce are launching their new album What Will We Be, a blend of folk, Americana and acoustic music, this Friday, May 19, at 8pm in An Taibhdhearc.
The success of their well-received 2020 release Taobh le Taobh, as well as recent successes at the Pan Celtic and Oireachtas Song Contests, spurred the duo on to record this new album which represents many years of collaboration and musical development.
It features Niall and Pádraic on vocals, harmonies, and acoustic guitars, Maidhc Ó hÉanaigh on double bass and Neil Fitzgibbon on fiddle. The catchy title track, What Will We Be, features contributions from percussionist Jim Higgins (The Stunning, Christy Moore, Paul Brady) and haunting, driving melodies on vocals, guitar, and fiddle.
Themes of love and hope are woven through Come Away with Me which features interplay between piano and fiddle as well as rich vocal harmonies.
People, places, and broken dreams are celebrated and lamented on Martin and Tom, Guitar Gold, Memories of You and Achill Island. The influence of David Henry Thoreau’s novel Walden features on the tracks Simple and Wise and Walden, with the beauty of nature, escape and simple pleasures at their core.
The album moves from minimalistic folk ballads such as Galway Ghost to swirling, string-laden arrangements on the song Neptune, both of which are influenced by maritime tales from Galway. Much of the work on this album was supported by the Arts Council, including work with musical arranger Eoin Corcoran and the string ensemble Treo.
The album will be launched this Friday, May 19, at 8pm in an Taibhdhearc. Tickets €22, plus booking fee at Eventbrite.ie.
Dunmore is the place to be this weekend for lovers of traditional music, as the Galway County Fleadh will take place there from this Friday, May 19, to Sunday, May 23.
It is 10 years since Dunmore last hosted a fleadh and the local Comhaltas branch, which has re-formed since Covid, is looking forward to facilitating this gathering of music, song, dance and craic.
The official Opening Concert will take place in Dunmore Town Hall this Friday at 8pm with the acclaimed Mulcahy family from Limerick. Mick, Louise and Michelle are well known throughout the country, thanks to their live performances, television appearances and numerous CDs. They were the winners of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Grúpa Ceoil Award for 2023. Tickets for their concert can be purchased on the door and a great night of music is promised.
Two days of competitions will kick off this Saturday at the town’s Community School, with more than 1,500 competitors taking part. Participants will be hoping to qualify for the Connacht Fleadh 2023, which will be held in Ballina, County Mayo, from June 23 to July 2.
Competitions for those aged Under 10, Under 12 and Under 15 will be held in a large variety of instruments on Saturday, as well as in singing and Comhrá Gaeilge. Sunday’s competitions will be for the Under 18 and Over 18 ages groups, as well as in dancing.
On both days a large entry is expected for Grúpaí Cheoil and Céilí Band competitions across all age groups.
Seventeen Comhaltas branches from across Galway will have participants in this weekend’s competitions, which will result in a large number of visitors to the Dunmore area.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the competitions, which offer a great opportunity to hear and see the talent on display. There will be sessions in local pubs over the weekend as well and everybody is welcome to attend these.
For more information on the County Fleadh, go to www.galwaycomhaltas.ie.
Music for Galway’s concert with renowned Swiss pianist Cédric Pescia which had been due to take place on April 27 but which had to be deferred, will now take place next Tuesday, May 23, at 8pm, in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall at the University of Galway.
This concert of German classics with Bach at its core, will brings the Bach element of Music for Galway’s 41st season to an end.
This world-class pianist who won the famous Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition, has a repertoire that spans many eras from baroque to contemporary and he is widely known for his elaborate programmes. Cédric Pescia describes music as ‘language and movement at the same time’.
Audiences will have a chance to experience his soft, clear touch as he performs a programme for solo piano that will include classics such as Schumann’s popular Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), a suite of nine short pieces, and the penultimate of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, No. 31. These pieces will be interspersed with French Suites by Bach.
■ Ticket for Cédric Pescia’s concert are available at www.musicforgalway.ie, or by phone 091 705962 and on the door on the night. They cost €20/€18. The price for fulltime students of all ages is €6 while MfG Friends can avail of the friends’ rate of €16.
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