29th Guinness Irish Christmas
What's it about?
LAOISE KELLY (IE) CASSIE & MAGGIE (CA) GOITSE (IE) With a very diverse program, once again dominated by women power, we celebrate the twenty-ninth edition of the successful show Guinness IRISH CHRISTMAS - the original show. And yes, once more I can highlight that Sean Keane and I were the ones who had the idea for this concept tour in 1995, which we first implemented in 1996. Before that, the term "Irish Christmas" was not used for a music tour of Irish folk artists, and it remained an exclusive branding for several years until other Irish bands had the idea to organize similar tours in the USA. I have never really cared about copyright; everyone should be able to have a piece of the cake! Bad copies tend to fade away on their own! One of the very first artists to tour with this format was the great harpist LAOISE KELLY. She came to Austria in 1998 with her legendary trio THE BUMBLEBEES and the San Keane band and also enjoyed great success on subsequent tours. In 2010, she was again part of Guinness IRISH CHRISTMAS, and now she will participate for the third time as a soloist. In Ireland, no one can match her on the harp; as early as the 1990s, she was celebrated by the press as the “Jimi Hendrix of the Celtic Harp”! It was Laoise Kelly who revolutionized the Irish harp as a solo instrument back then! In 2020, she was honored as TG4 Musician Of The Year. Laoise Kelly is also known for her close collaborations with Kate Bush, The Chieftains, Mary Black, Christy Moore, and others, and has recorded seven albums so far. “Her right hand fires out tunes with a fluidity, creativity and clarity that has revolutionised the harp as a solo instrument; her left hand is the source of a new voice in the world of accompaniment and groove” - Niall Keegan, Irish World Academy. Also, CASSIE & MAGGIE MacDONALD are no longer strangers here; I have already toured with them three times, but they are performing at Guinness IRISH CHRISTMAS for the first time! I first heard these two sisters in 2013 at the Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton, Canada, and I was left speechless! There is hardly a more powerful, spectacular duo anywhere on this planet, and they have now received 17 awards and nominations at various Canadian competitions such as JUNO, East Coast Music Award, or Canadian Folk Music Awards. Deeply rooted in Nova Scotia’s folk tradition, they draw from the rich heritage of their Scottish ancestors and combine aggressive fiddle sounds with guitar/piano, two-part singing, and step dancing. Five wonderful CDs document their work. “It’s hard to think of a more entertaining act in music right now. As always, the bottom line is the music, and they play it superbly.” — Live Ireland Radio. The multiple award-winning Irish quintet GOITSE (Gaelic for "come here") performed at IRISH CHRISTMAS exactly ten years ago, and I am very pleased that they have confirmed for 2026. The band has made a name for itself worldwide with its dynamic sound, intertwined tunes, and the angelic voice of frontwoman Áine McGeeney. They experiment with tradition and let it shine in a new light through influences from other music styles. They also write their own songs and tunes, giving tradition a modern touch. Thanks to bands like Goitse, the evolution of Irish music progresses, and the audience is fascinated and enthusiastic, opening all doors to a successful future for Irish Folk. “Sprightly instrumentals with exciting and unexpected twists topped off with winsome vocals.” - fRoots Magazine.
Where?
Kulturzentrum ALFA Steyrermühl
Museumsplatz 1
Source: Eventim
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