MCGOLDRICK, MCCUSKER & DOYLE

Birnam Arts is delighted to present Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, three members of the BBC acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions, appearing here on a European tour – this is a rare chance to see three of the world’s finest musicians share a stage together.

Master of flutes, whistles and Uillean pipes, Mike McGoldrick is a founding member of Flookand Lunasa and is a current member of Capercaillie. Regarded as one of the greatest flute players of all time, Mike has toured with Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, as well as with The Afro Celts, RTE Orchestra and Kate Rusby . He has collaborated with the likes of Jim Kerr, Youssou N’Dour, John Cale and Zakir Hussain, amongst many others. BBC Radio 2 Folk Musican of the year 2006, he was again nominated this year. Michael has just completed his first soundtrack for TG4 and the Smithsonian channel.

John McCusker’s unique fiddle playing has earned him a worldwide reputation as one of the most gifted and versatile musicians of any genre. Joining the legendary Battlefield Bandat just 17 years old, John spent 11 years touring the world with them. Renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries, he’s worked with artists ranging from Paulo Nutini andJools Holland to Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash, and has recorded with Paul Weller andOcean Colour Scene. Like Michael, John also toured with Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler.

John Doyle’s gifts as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music. Now living in the USA, John was the recent musical director for Joan Baez, touring with her for two years. One half of the stellar duo Liz Carroll and John Doyle, he is also a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Irish-American group Solas. Now an active solo artist, in the past John has collaborated with the likes of Kate Rusby, Susan McKeown, Karan Casey and Heidi Talbot.

“Doyle’s intelligent guitar playing… McCusker’s deft fiddling… McGoldrick’s peerless flute playing, created tight harmonies that had even the unlikeliest members of the audience tapping their toes and nodding their heads in time.” The Guardian