Double Bill featuring Breaking Trad + Derek Hickey Quartet.

An exciting double bill that features the Derek Hickey Quartet and Breaking Trad.

Derek Hickey Quartet.

This talented quartet is made up of Derek Hickey on accordion, Liam Flanagan on fiddle, singer Deirdre Scanlan and Ryan O’Donnell on bouzouki. Not to be missed!

Biographies

Derek Hickey comes from Adare, Co Limerick. At 18 he joined the band Arcady and then at 21 was invited by Frankie Gavin to join De Danann. In his rich and varied performing experiences, he has shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest talents including Stéphane Grappelli and The Rolling Stones.  Derek is the resident accordion tutor at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance for the past thirteen years. Derek Hickey is acknowledged as one of Ireland’s most prominent, influential and master accordion players (Whyte/Boydell , 2013).  

Liam Flanagan is a native North County Cork and one of the most respected fiddle players in Irish traditional music today. He is a member of the popular traditional music group “North Cregg”, with whom he has performed, recorded and toured extensively with. Liam has also toured worldwide with internationally acclaimed trad band - Danú. 

Ryan O’Donnell (banjo / bouzouki / guitar) hails from Omagh, Co Tyrone and currently resides in Newport Co Tipperary. Ryan has played with the bands Pigeon Top and Good Morning to your Nightcap as well as playing on a range of solo CDs with artists including Paul McGlinchey, Stevie Dunne, Michael McCague and Shane McAleer. Ryan performs at many festivals in the traditional music calendar and has performed in many countries across Europe and beyond.

Deirdre Scanlan is a native of West Limerick, now living in County Clare. She quickly built up a reputation as one of Irelands leading female vocal talents earning no less than 7 All Ireland titles during her teenage years.  Deirdre toured the world with a myriad of groups including Ragus, Sessions from the hearth, and Booley House. Her debut solo album “Faces” released in 2008, sees her fusing her traditional style of song with her more contemporary influences to complete an album of excellence which confirms her place amongst the greatest ladies of traditional song in Ireland.

Duo Derek Hickey and Liam Flanagan are currently recording their album due to be released later this year.  

Breaking Trad is made up of Dónal Murphy (Accordion), from Abbeyfeale, West Limerick, winner of numerous All-Ireland titles on both button accordion and melodeon; Niall Murphy (Fiddle) from Camlough, South Armagh, a winner of multiple awards including All-Ireland Senior Fiddle competition, Fiddler of Dooney and Fiddler of Oriel, and also Mike Galvin (Guitar/Vocals), who has vast experience working in a wide range of musical styles from Rock and Roll to Irish Traditional.

Between them, they have toured extensively around the world, performing at major festivals and music venues and touring with some of the biggest names in several different music genres including Four Men and a Dog, Cara Dillon, De Dannan, Dance star Michael Flatley, Bluegrass guitarist/singer Dan Tyminski (Alison Krauss and Union Station), Country legend Randy Travis and many more.

Their music has been described as 'dazzling', 'unorthodox and unique', and 'high octane'.

“Breaking Trad is reviving Irish music with a fresh and modern twist with powerhouse tunes and exquisite vocals.”

Double bill also features a quartet made up of Derek Hickey on accordion, Liam Flanagan on fiddle, singer Deirdre Scanlan and ryan O’Donnell on bouzouki. Not to be missed!