Celtic Christmas Strings (a festive feast of harp and guitar from Chris Newman & Máire Ní Chathasaigh)
There’s something magical about harps, and particularly at Christmas, though Máire and Chris’s alchemy on harp and guitar creates a very special magic at all times. Individually famed for originality, innovation and virtuosity on their respective instruments, together they have created one of the most distinctive voices in modern acoustic music and brought their unique musical vision to venues large and small in twenty-two countries on five continents. Their many recordings express both the depth of their commitment to tradition and an eternally playful, curious and adventurous spirit. Their new Christmas show features a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, swing jazz and bluegrass, plus festive favourites from their CD Christmas Lights given a fresh voice with arrangements that are intricate, inventive, moving and beautiful, and performed in their characteristically heart-warming style – a spellbinding treat for mid-winter.
“A delightful… satisfyingly original, often refreshingly unpredictable take on festive favourites… Joyful, gorgeous and uplifting” THE LIVING TRADITION “Both are in the virtuoso class” THE GUARDIAN “Masterful playing… (ranging from) the entrancing and delicate to the wildly celebratory…” **** FOLK WALES “(Their) mastery and magic… produced a rapt response” THE GUARDIAN.