Newman & Ni Chathasaigh

Newman & Ni Chathasaigh Bring a Breathtaking Blend of Traditional Irish Music to Lancashire this November

After a gap of six years, spot On Lancashire is excited to welcome back Chris Newman & Máire Ni Chathasaigh to the county this November. After appearing in seven Spot On seasons from Autumn 2001 to Autumn 2016, the people of Lancashire have been missing out on this celebrated virtuoso partnership.

Máire Ni Chathasaigh is “the doyenne of Irish harpers” and the 2001 recipient of Irish music’s most prestigious award, Traditional Musician of the Year - Gradam Ceoil TG4. Chris Newman is recognised as “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists”.

The Rough Guide to Irish Music described Máire as “the great innovator of modern Irish harping, a player of outstanding technique and imagination”. She is one of Ireland’s most important and influential traditional musicians. As a teenager in the 1970s, she invented a new “traditional Irish” style of harping that quickly became the norm amongst both her contemporaries and the younger generation of Irish players, thereby spearheading the re-introduction of the harp into the mainstream of the living tradition.

Chris, described as “one of the UK’s greatest musicians” by BBC RADIO 2 has toured and recorded with many luminaries of the folk and jazz worlds, among them Boys of the Lough, Aly Bain and Stéphane Grappelli.

When combined, they’ve been described as “music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music”. They are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous. Expect a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chris’s delightfully subversive wit.

Together they have toured twentythree countries to venues ranging from the tiniest of village halls and historic European churches to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney Town Hall and Cologne’s Philharmonie. They have recorded nine CDs and given TV and radio performances on five continents.

The duo are delighted to be coming back to the county, “It’s been far too long, and we can’t wait to be, once again, with the amazing audiences of Lancashire” said Máire. Chris reminisced, “We’re so looking forward to coming back to Borwick and Priest Hutton Memorial Hall, almost thirteen years to the day - that was quite a party.”

“Chris and Máire are absolute stalwarts of professional rural touring circuits like Spot On right across the country. We are delighted to welcome them back since their superbly atmospheric Christmas 2016 tour with us. It’s been too long in the waiting and I can’t emphasise what a great night out these two provide. We look forward to offering them, and their audiences a warm Lancashire welcome” Says Spot On’s Sue Robinson.

Spot On Lancashire has, for 27 years, been bringing the best available professional performing arts direct to Lancashire audiences in local and accessible places such as village halls and libraries. Full listings for their busy Autumn season of seven different companies in 19 venues can be found at: www.spotonlancashire.co.uk

Chris Newman & Máire Ni Chathasaigh: Lancashire Tour Dates

Friday 18th November: 7.30pm - Garstang Library Saturday 19th November: 8pm - Borwick & Priest Hutton Memorial Hall Sunday 20th November: 7.30pm - Croston Old School