Name: Altan - Belfast
Start: 2023-12-09T19:30:00Z
End: 2023-12-09T21:30:00Z
Location: Fitzroy Presbyterian Church

Altan - Belfast

We bring together exceptional artists and musicians from across Ireland and beyond to perform in iconic venues and unique locations, creating unforgettable live music experiences.Producing some of the best live music events across the North and South of Ireland—as well as nationally and internationally—we’re redefining what live music can be. Our mission is to inspire, connect, and move people through the extraordinary power of music. Because for us, music isn’t just something you hear—it’s something you feel. It’s the greatest force in the world.​

Music Capital

THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE CELTIC REALM” – The Boston Globe
“A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN” and “THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH BAND”

Fitzroy Presbyterian Church

Music Capital presents:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/altanofficial" title="https://www.facebook.com/altanofficial" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Altan</a>Special Guest <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aoifescottmusic" title="https://www.facebook.com/aoifescottmusic" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Aoife Scott</a>Fri 8th Dec 2023St Augustine's Church BT48 6PPDoors 6.45pm / Show Starts 7.30pmTickets - £28.50 +bf<a href="https://www.altan.ie" title="https://www.altan.ie" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.altan.ie</a><a href="https://www.aoifescott.com/" title="https://www.aoifescott.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.aoifescott.com</a>...............................................Altan have been long established as the best and foremost traditional Irish band to come out of Ireland.This was recognised on November 7, 2006, when the Irish Government through An Post (The Irish Postal Body), honored Altan by issuing a postal stamp featuring the band.This award showed Altan’s immense impact on recent Irish culture at home and abroad and the growing popularity of Irish traditional music generally.With their exquisitely produced award-winning recordings, their ground breaking ‘Island Angel’ recording going to no.2 in the Billboard World Music Charts in 1993, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching ancient ballads all the way to the energetic foot-tapping reels and jigs, and their heart warming engaging live performances, Altan have moved audiences from Donegal all the way to Tokyo, to Sydney, Seattle and beyond.Altan’s music is steeped in the rich and colourful heritage of County Donegal in the North West of Ireland.Co. Donegal has a strong fiddling tradition from which founding member, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh gets her inspiration and unique repertoire.Mairéad is also from the Gaeltacht area of Gaoth Dobhair (A Gaelic speaking region) where she learned many of the songs which Altan have recorded over the years.Altan have been touring consistently since their genesis in the early eighties, when Mairéad and her latehusband ,Belfast flute player ,Frankie Kennedy decided to leave their teaching jobs and pursue a career in music and tour the world with their friends.With members Mark Kelly (guitar), Ciaran Curran(bouzouki). Daithí Sproule(guitar) and past members Paul O’Shaughnessy(fiddle) and Dermot Byrne(accordion) and Ciaran Tourish ( fiddle&amp; whistle) and latest member Martin Tourish (accordion), Altan have been to the forefront of traditional Irish music worldwide.The Boston Globe wrote ,( Altan ) ”The hottest group in the Celtic Realm”.And the UK’s Q Magazine wrote “The Red Crow is a triumphant statement of the virtues of the traditionalapproach”On their last recording ‘The Poison Glen’(2012), Siobhan Long of The Irish Times wrote ”Altan have never sounded better or tighter.”Altan have always approached their music and arrangements with integrity and openness and have strived to share their culture to new expanding audiences worldwide.On this new recording , “The Widening Gyre” their spiral of music expands , envelopes and includes friends and music that they have met on the road over their 30 years of touring professionally. For this recording. during the summer of 2014 ,Altan went to the hub of country music, Nashville in Tennessee .There ,they set up camp in Compass Records own studios and co-produced this album with their friend Garry West of Compass Records and engineer Sean Sullivan.They wanted to try a new, fresh approach to recording and reflect how they have widened their musical horizons over their career and with the help of Garry produced “The Widening Gyre”, the title being a reference from W.B.Yeat’s poem ‘The Second Coming’.Over their time there, they invited and collaborated with their long time musical friends Tim O’Brien, Alison Brown, Darol Anger, Jerry Douglas, Jim Higgins. Bruce Molsky, Tod Phillips, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Natalie Haas, Garry West, Julee Glaub Weems, Kenny Malone, Mike McGoldrick, Eddi Reader, and Stuart Duncan. They jammed and recorded in the studio and produced tracks that spontaneously evolved as they chatted over coffee. Tracks like Buffalo Gals, Leather Britches and Leslie’s Reels.Some song suggestions came about the same way, songs like Gypsy Davey which is a version of the House Carpenter and No Ash Will Burn, has led to a very different recording from Altan but which still retains their roots in Irish Traditional music.Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh the lead singer of the band has just been announced as the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year Award which she was awarded it at the televised awards ceremony in February 2017.Aoife Scott is an award winning folk singer and songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland.Born into the legendary Black Family, Aoife is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, and has long enjoyed success as an established artist in her own right. Fragile and ethereal one minute and strong and vibrant the next, her dynamic and profound vocals explore the emotional depths of her lyrics, leaving the audience entranced.Aoife has a unique sound. Her music has a broad creative scope but is largely influenced by her own roots in folk and traditional Irish music.Following her highly celebrated debut album, Carry The Day, which was triumphantly launched at Temple Bar Tradfest in 2016 to rapturous acclaim, Aoife Scott released her much anticipated second album “HomeBird” in January at the Button Factory at Temple Bar Trad Festival 2020.Produced by 12 time Grammy Award winner, banjo and guitar virtuoso Ron Block (Alison Krauss &amp; Union Station, &amp; ‘Oh Brother Where art thou), her second album is in many ways a turning point in her musical legacy. Recorded in Nashville and Dublin, “HomeBird” is an impressive collaboration featuring the best of Irish folk musicians and Grammy award winning Bluegrass musicians Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan and producer Ron Block.It’s only a few short years since Aoife’s single “All Along the Wild Atlantic Way” also hit the number 1 slot, knocking Ed Sheeran off the top spot and was named “Song of the Year” at the Irish Folk Music Awards in 2017. While in America she received the award of Emerging Artist of the Year at the Live Ireland Awards (US) in 2018.In 2019, her most recent song “The December Letter” won Single of the Year at the ALSR Celtic Music Awards (US) and was the most played Christmas song on RTE Radio 1 for December 2018. Her career successes have seen Aoife and her cousins, Róisín O &amp; Danny O Reilly from The Coronas, release their single “Grace” which hit straight into the number 1 slot on iTunes in Ireland. This performance gained half a million views on youtube with their performance from Kilmainham Gaol as part of Centenary on RTE1.Aoife launched her second album “HomeBird” at Temple Bar TradFest 2020. And Already this year Aoife was awarded the ASLR Celtic Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year 2020, her album reached the iTunes No 1 - Ireland Album Charts and was Album of the Week - RTÉ Radio 1. ASLR Celtic Music Awards Female Vocal album of the Year 2021October 2020, Aoife Scott released a new single, ‘Sweet October’ born out of the downtime of a summer festival season cancelled and looking forward to a brighter future, a collaboration across the Atlantic with the producer of her last album grammy award winner Ron Block (Alison Krauss and Union Station) is now available. Featuring her co-writer Andy Meaney, with multiple award winning musicians Ron Block and Barry Bales (from O Brother Where art thou Soundtrack) and her Irish Band. The song is available across all platforms.Curated and produced by Music Capital

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Altan - Belfast

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