Inside The Soul (Traditional Irish Music in the 21st Century) July 18, 2008

The phoenix rises from the ashes this weekend. Irish Soul Music is set to rise from the ashes this Friday night when Rosemary Scanlon and Donogh Hennessy will fill the great ballroom with the mystical essences and magical sounds of Irish Soul Music. Traditional Irish Music has come of age, everywhere, across the World it is venerated, but the deep rhythmic throb of the Irish Soul remains uniquely intimate, compelling and compassionate – years of domination and regeneration, sorry and joy, tragedy and jubilation are wrapped into the intricate, intertwining vibrations, of deep Irish soul music. The Phoenix Festival is setting this loose this year at Charleville Castle, this coming Friday. Irish music lovers you will stunned and amazed. Those not so familiar, from foreign parts, you will enter a voyage of discovery, from the moments of waiting, admiring the beautiful vaulted ceilings of Charleville castle’s Great ballroom, until you become immersed in what must be the most powerful and ancient music tradition that exists anywhere. The Phoenix rising from the ashes captures the picture of the story of Tullamore – this year “Inside The soul” promises another regeneration – Irish Soul Music rising from beneath the shackles of commercialism – setting our potential back on track.

Charleville Castle hosts a very magical evening of song with some of Ireland’s rising stars in Traditional music on Friday the 18th of July. Singer Pauline Scanlon will be joined by former Lunasa guitarist Donagh Hennessy, the vibrant and very skilled young accordion and melodeon player Damien Mullane, and banjo whiz Dessie Kelleher in the first half of the evening’s programme. This will be Pauline’s first trip to the enchanted grounds of Charleville Castle. ‘An extraordinary talent, Pauline spent three years with the Sharon Shannon band and then galvanized the Irish music scene with her stunning debut album ‘Red Colour Sun’ and critically acclaimed follow up ‘Hush’. Scanlon has entranced audiences the world over with her distinctly delicate intensity. Deeply immersed in the Irish tradition yet completely aware of the edgier developments in contemporary alternative music, she is capable of making the oldest ballads sound immediate and fresh while granting newer material a timeless resonance. ‘The Scene’.

Founding member of the chart-topping Lunasa Group, Donogh Hennessy is Ireland’s most respected guitarist. His last album was nominated by BBC Radio 2 Folk Album Of The Year Award. Donogh performed with Sharon Shannon for over years and most of Ireland’s Greatests. Damien Mullane hails from Comhaltas London with stacks of awards to go with his name. Multi-All Ireland Winner Dessie Kelleher will ensure a twist of wildness from the beaten buttons.

To ease into the later hours, local talent SPOOL, the up and coming Celtic Electronica band from Rahan. will provide a fitting epilogue to what promises to be a most soulful and spiritually cleansing evening of the best of Ireland’s music in the great acoustic atmosphere of the rapidly becoming world-famous, Charleville Castle Ballroom. Tickets from the Red Shop, a steal at €15.00 or call 087 6720102 – or just call the castle.

Official Website: http://questnews.net