About Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman’s duo
* * * * THE IRISH TIMES / * * * * SONGLINES / * * * * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY / * * * * * RnR / * * * THE GUARDIAN / * * * THE TIMES
“The pioneering partnership of “one of the UK’s finest and most influential acoustic guitarists” (fROOTS) with “the doyenne of Irish harpers” (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY) and “an absolute legend” (THE IRISH ECHO) has presented its unique musical vision in twenty-two countries on five continents to venues ranging from the tiniest of village halls to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney Town Hall and the Philharmonie in Cologne…
Chris has toured and recorded with many luminaries of the folk and jazz worlds, among them Boys of the Lough, Aly Bain, Diz Disley and Stéphane Grappelli. Máire, a Co. Cork native, is a recipient of Irish music’s most prestigious award, Traditional Musician of the Year (Gradam Cheoil TG4 – Ceoltóir na Bliana) and a multiple All-Ireland winner; she developed profoundly influential techniques for harp performance of traditional Irish music, heard on her iconic 1985 solo album, The New Strung Harp – “a milestone in Irish harp music” – which was re-mastered and reissued in 2023. Expect a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, spiced with striking new compositions, pieces from Chris’ groundbreaking new solo album Breaking Bach (* * * * THE SCOTSMAN * * * * * FOLK WALES “Dazzling… utterly breathtaking… a triumph.” * * * * RnR MAGAZINE “A colossal achievement” THE LIVING TRADITION “A magnificent tour-de-force” – and what THE WEST AUSTRALIAN calls his “delightfully subversive wit”!
“An eclecticism and spirit of adventure that is quite thrilling”
* * * THE TIMES
“Dazzling virtuosity”
* * * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“Chris is amazing… one of our greatest musicians”
BBC RADIO 2
“In a class of their own”
* * * THE GUARDIAN
“Music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music”
* * * * THE IRISH TIMES
“Blazing guitar and dancing harp”
DIRTY LINEN (USA)
”Brilliant, innovative harping and guitar-playing of astonishing virtuosity and versatility”
* * * * SONGLINES
“Remarquables de virtuosité et de grâce”
TRAD Magazine (France)
“Their stagecraft was masterly and their introductions informative and funny”
THE CHRISTCHURCH PRESS (New Zealand)
“Their blinding technique, sizzling Irish reels and hot jazz improvisation brought an extended standing ovation… Newman has the great gift of being informative and hilarious simultaneously”
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
