Seamus Begley & Jim Murray

Two of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians perform in concert at Fairfield House on Saturday 18th April at 8pm.

Accordion player and singer Séamus Begley is one of the most popular Irish traditional musicians, coming as he does from one of the most musically acclaimed Irish families - his brothers and sisters are high profile music makers and singers and his own children look set to follow suit. He plays with great energy and adds frisky spontaneity to his box-playing. Séamus is in great demand among lovers of Irish dance and his musical skills were honed during a long apprenticeship in his father’s ballroom in Murrioch in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. His repertoire reflects his own place - slides, polkas and jigs take pride of place and his style of playing is much influenced by a now gone generation of accordion and fiddle players who came to céilí in his family home. His style is unique and he is considered by many to be one of the finest players of the dance music of West Kerry and is never happier than when people are dancing to his music. Séamus is much in demand as a session player and has recorded and toured with a host of musicians including The Chieftans, Mary Black, Steve Cooney and Altan.

Jim Murray is one of Ireland’s finest guitarists and his formidable reputation has been established as a player of traditional music - both as a melody player and as an accompanist. Jim hails from Macroom in West Cork, by the age of four he had began to play his fathers accordion which was his main instrument until he discovered the guitar at the age of ten. Over the last decade, Jim has combined a wide range of music and influences to create a unique and exciting modern sound in guitar accompaniment bringing it to the ‘now’. In April 2008, he co-wrote twelve musical pieces with Sharon Shannon for a performance with the RTÉ Irish Concert Orchestra at a one-off show in Dublin. Jim has recorded and toured with an array of artists including Sharon Shannon, Steve Earle, Jerry Douglas, Mike McGoldrick, Sinead O’Connor and Mary Black.

In 2001 Séamus and Jim released their first album, the highly acclaimed ‘Ragairne’ which was winner of the 2001 Hot Press Magazine ‘Folk and Trad Album of the Year’ and The Irish Times ‘Traditional album of the Year’. Their highly anticipated second album will be released in early 2009.

Tickets for the concert are $25 and seats may be reserved in advance by phoning 548-3640.

Event listed by growltiger

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