Alfi / Billow Wood
Date: 2 February 2024
Venue: Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Derry, Derry, Derry, BT48 7DF
Featuring an unusual line-up of harp, five string banjo and uilleann pipes, Alfi explores a combination of traditional Irish and Appalachian old-time music and song. Billow Wood, create a modern magic with their original fusion of folk, traditional Irish music and indie pop rock.
Alfi
Is tionscadal comhoibríoch é an tríréad Alfi, a bhfuil lear gradam buaite acu, leis na ceoltóirí Fiachra Meek, Ryan McAuley agus Alannah Thornburgh. Le meascán as an ghnáth de chruit, bainseó cúig shreang agus píb uilleann, déanann Alfi iniúchadh ar chomhcheangal idir an ceol agus amhránaíocht thraidisiúnta Ghaelach agus an sean-nós Apaláiseach. D'eisigh Alfi a gcéad albam, Say Old Man, i mí Iúil 2023 agus tugadh moladh mór dó; 'le faobhar turgnamhach, agus fuinneamh dána craiceáilte, tá an tríréad Éireannach Alfi i ndiaidh a mbealach féin a réiteach, trí iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na naisc agus na difríochtaí idir traidisiúin an cheoil tíre in Éirinn agus i Meiriceá' (Hot Press). Ainmníodh Alfi don ghradam An tEalaíontóir Ceoil Tíre is Fearr ag Teacht Chun Cinn ag Gradaim Ceoil Tíre RTÉ, agus chomh maith leis sin fuair siad Gradam Intinní Cruthaitheacha Ambasáid SAM, Gradam Chaoimhín Uí Dhochartaigh ag Féile Cheoil Idirnáisiúnta Imbolc agus Gradam Molloy ag Birmingham TradFest.
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Multi-award winning trio Alfi is the collaborative project of musicians Fiachra Meek, Ryan McAuley and Alannah Thornburgh. Featuring an unusual line-up of harp, five string banjo and uilleann pipes, Alfi explores a combination of traditional Irish and Appalachian old-time music and song. Alfi released their debut album 'Say Old Man' in July 2023 to great critical acclaim - 'with an experimental edge, and a brazen, madcap energy, Irish trio Alfi have carved out their own path, by exploring the connections and the contrasts between the folk traditions of Ireland and America' (Hot Press). Nominated for 'Best Emerging Folk Artist' at the RTÉ Folk Awards, Alfi have also received numerous accolades including the 'US Embassy Creative Minds Award', The 'Caoimhin O Dochartaigh Award' at Imbolc International Music Festival and Molloy Award at "Birmingham TradFest".
Billow Wood
Snoite ó fhiántas Iarthar amh garbh na hÉireann, tagann an fhuaim is úire an taobh seo den Atlantach. Cruthaíonn Billow Wood draíocht nua-aimseartha lena meascán neamhghnách den cheol tíre, ceol traidisiúnta Gaelach agus rac-cheol pop indie. Is seinnteoirí iluirlisí agus ilamhránaithe iad Mark O'Donnell, Ciara O'Donnell, Harry Lawlor agus Bríd O'Donnell a dhéanann speisialtóireacht de chomhcheol. Chomh maith le máistreacht ar a n-uirlisí, an chruit, an fhidil, an fhliúit, an fhideog stáin agus an cairdín san áireamh, tá mothú spreagúil acu atá fréamhaithe go domhain sa cheol thraidisiúnta ach a bhfuil tionchair air ón cheol nua-aimseartha, ceol tíre agus popcheol. Cuireann a bhfuaim fíneáltacht shaibhir agus brí le chéile, nó tá dóigh ag an cheathairéad as an ghnáth seo lena bhfuil traidisiúnta a choinneáil ach go fóill féin casadh úr neamhghnách a thabhairt dá bhfuaim.
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Chiselled from the wilds of the raw and rugged West of Ireland, comes the freshest sound this side of the Atlantic. Billow Wood, create a modern magic with their original fusion of folk, traditional Irish music and indie pop rock. Mark O'Donnell, Ciara O'Donnell, Harry Lawlor and Bríd O'Donnell are multi-instrumentalists and multi-vocalists who specialise in harmonies. Coupled with the mastery of their instruments including the harp, fiddle, flute, tin whistle and accordion, they have an uplifting vibe deeply rooted in trad but with modern, folk and pop influences. Their sound is a juxtaposition of rich delicacy and vigour as this quirky quartet has a way of maintaining the traditional, yet; still giving their sound a fresh and original twist.