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Association "LIV AN NOZ" ( Couleurs de la Nuit )
L'Association LIV AN NOZ a pour but l'animation, la création et la diffusion d'activités culturelles à partir d'un lieu existant: le Café-Concert TOUCOULEUR
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ALAN KELLY GANG: Irish Music
Fronted by Ireland’s piano accordion maestro, described by New York’s Irish Voice as “in league with the best piano accordionists in the world”, and with three of Ireland’s finest musicians in tow, all critically acclaimed masters of their own craft, The Alan Kelly Gang have been taking their audiences by storm, impressing both music lover and critic alike. Performing powerful instrumentals and beautifully arranged songs, skillfully executed and soulfully delivered, their live performance has been described as “a true collective of musicians… their mastery of their respective instruments – sublime” Timber and Steel (Australia). Ireland is just the starting point for the Alan Kelly Gang as they catapult themselves and their audiences through the repertoire of the Celts, taking influence from regions including Ireland, Brittany, Asturias and America and combining these with original compositions that stem from a deep traditional understanding. “The arrangements are world class, as are the musicians, and Ireland is always somewhere in the mix” Irish Music Magazine. Over the past number of years they have forged a solid reputation for their live performance with their trademark mix of strong dynamics, driving rhythms and buoyant harmonies, but more importantly their impeccable musicianship and group empathy and ability to draw even the most fainthearted listener into the passion that they put into the music they play. Here, innovation meets sensitivity as the four musicians push the conventional boundaries of traditional music yet remain sympathetic to its past, present and future, infecting the listener with a sense of musical delight – magical, joyous and uplifting! The past two years have been an exciting time for the band with top festival appearances worldwide including: Australia’s WOMADelaide, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, Ireland’s Festival of World Cultures, Galway Arts Festival and Cork Folk Festival, plus Switzerland’s Sion Irish Festival. A particular highlight was an invitation from legendary Irish rock band, Horslips to open for them including a performance at Dublin’s O2. The gang have just released their first official ‘band’ album entitled Small Towns and Famous Nights (Sept. 2011) to critical acclaim, named as one of Folk Worlds ‘top ten trad albums of 2011’. Though on the road as a touring band for many years, this is the first time the four have taken to the studio together to produce and record a collaborative work. Guest musicians include: internationally acclaimed and mesmerizing, Scottish songstress, Eddi Reader, (of Fairground Attraction fame), Trashcan Sinatra’s guitarist and songwriter, John Douglas, Boo Hewerdine, Kevin McGuire and percussionist and long time friend and collaborator, Jim Higgins.
Alan KELLY: piano accordion Described by New York’s Irish Voice as “in league with the best piano accordionists in the world”, Alan Kelly is regarded as one of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians in any genre. He is a piano accordionist, composer and arranger, utterly at home in his own skin. Though Alan hails from the rich traditional musical landscape of Roscommon, in the west of Ireland, variety in repertoire is one of his hallmarks. To date, he has released three critically acclaimed solo albums: Out of The Blue (1997), Mosaic (2000) and After the Morning (2009) which was named as one of the ‘top ten musical highs of 2009’ by the Irish Times who gave it a coveted 5 star review and described it as a ‘humdinger of a collection’. He has also released a critically acclaimed duet album with his brother John, Fourmilehouse (2003) and his most recent Alan Kelly Gang album, Small Towns and Famous Nights (2011). Alan is truly one of the busiest performers on the traditional and folk music scene, touring and recording with artists such as: Eddi Reader, Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, Cathy Ryan, Arty McGlynn & Nollaig Casey, Michael McGoldrick, Karen Casey, Cathal Hayden, De Dannan, Lúnasa, Alison Brown and has contributed to a number of theatre productions from Boston to Edinburgh to Sydney working with prestigious award winning theatre companies such as Galway’s Druid Theatre Co., The Lyric in Belfast and Mabou Mines in New York. His critically acclaimed 1997 debut album Out of the Blue exploded onto the traditional scene with such impact that he is generally credited with ‘making the piano accordion hip again’. During this time he also recorded and toured with Mancunian, Michael McGoldrick on his groundbreaking albums Morning Rory 1996 and Fused 1999. Also in 1999 Alan toured with music Network’s ‘Best of Irish’ nationwide tour performing alongside such heavyweights as Cathal Hayden, Karen Casey and Michael McGoldrick. July 2000 saw the release of Kelly’s second solo album Mosaic. Produced by Arty McGlynn, Mosaic’s South American rhythms and cinematic jazz feel brought Alan’s music to a whole new audience. It showed not just what a good writer he is, but the breadth of his musical imagination. Mosaic was voted one of the ‘top ten trad albums’ by both the Irish Times and Hot Press Magazine. Irish Music Magazine also nominated Mosaic for ‘Best Crossover album’ of the year alongside Solas, Afro-Celts, and Sharon Shannon. Alan Kelly and the Mosaic Band quickly established itself as one of the hottest live acts on the Irish scene with its exciting blend of traditional, salsa and jazz rhythms, and propelled Alan onto the World Music stage. In 2003, Alan returned to his Roscommon roots and released the beautifully forthright and traditional Fourmilehouse, with his brother John, which received critical acclaim both at home and abroad and continued to pave the way for festival and concert appearances all over the world. For the last number of years he has been touring as a regular member of the Eddi Reader band and promoting his own group, the Alan Kelly Gang. A genuine musician, Alan’s playful, experimental approach to music has been described as magical, joyous and uplifting… always performed with flair and taste. Alan doesn’t just play the accordion, he celebrates it in a way that draws you into the passion he puts into the music he plays.
Bringing a sweet, soulful yet energetic air to her music, Steph is a vibrant and versatile musician who officially debuted on the scene in 2009 with the release of her critically acclaimed album, The Open Road. Described by Irish Music Magazine as “one of the most promising young flute players around” and “an unexpected treasure”, The Open Road was also named as one of Folk Worlds ‘top ten trad albums of 2009’. Taking inspiration from the Irish greats, such as Matt Molloy, she has also delved deep into other world music traditions giving her music a fresh perspective with depth and maturity. Though being a long-time Irish resident, Steph hails originally from New York where she first began playing traditional music. It was there she studied World Music, working with legends such as experimental jazz hero, Anthony Braxton. She later traveled to India to study the Bonsuri under PT Ginde, disciple of the legendary Panal al Gosh and then moved to County Sligo. Taken under the wing of several of the noted players from that area, she spent many years surrounded by great traditional stalwarts, such as Peter Horan, with whom she played with regularly for many years. She has collaborated with prestigious theatre companies from Edinburgh to Galway to the US including Galway’s An Taibhearc and the New York based, award winning & avant-garde, Mabou Mines, in their production of Peter and Wendy, on the original score composed by the late Scottish fiddle player, Johnny Cunningham. Steph has performed at top festivals worldwide as a member of the Alan Kelly Gang and has performed and toured with icons such as The Chieftains, Eddi Reader and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh.
Hailing from Dublin, Tony is a highly sought after guitarist who has performed and toured with artists including Danu, Sharon Shannon, Michael McGoldrick, Gerry O’Connor, the David Munnelly Band, Matt Molloy, Paul Brady, Julie Fowlis and Peter Browne. He has also performed with artists of different genres such as the legendary guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel and banjo virtuoso, Bela Fleck. Television credits include The Late Late Show, Geantraí, Later with Jools Holland and BBC Alba. Tony has also delved into the theatrical world when cast as a member of the award winning Irish play, “Trad” which has toured worldwide from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland) to the Perth International Festival (Australia). Tony contributes great vitality and energy and is a fantastic addition to the gang. His solid, rhythmic playing meshes with subtle, mischievous rhythmical interplay, offering up rich dynamic possibilities. He has been involved in music from a young age. Starting out playing in rock bands as a drummer at age 11, he began performing around Dublin city centre venues at age 12. Following family holidays in West Kerry, he developed an interest in Irish traditional music and has been involved in the performance, recording and teaching of it since. He is a music teacher in Ballyfermot Senior College, a position held for the past five years and has also taught guitar in the USA and throughout Europe at various festivals and workshops.
Maureen hails from Co. Galway and has been playing fiddle since the age of three. She has performed at many national and international festivals alongside legendary bodhran player, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh from De Danann. She has also toured Europe and the Eastern world with Michael Flattley’s Lord of the Dance and performed and toured with other outstanding groups including Arcady. Her fiddle style is unique, though reminiscent of the many great Connaught fiddle players from whom she has taken influence. Maureen is the youngest and newest addition to the gang and brings a fire, energy and deep musical understanding and capacity, allowing her musical style and personality to resonate through her performance. Maureen began learning music through the Suzuki method, however, by the age of six, she switched to classical music and was training in the Cork School of Music under the great violinist, Mr. Adrian Petcu. Alongside the classical music, Maureen began to learn traditional fiddle at the age of four under the instruction of Matt Cranitch from Cork. She encountered master classes with the great Martin Hayes and Tommy Peoples and while participating in Fleadh Ceoils, was under the instruction of Brendan Larrisey. Maureen won her first All Ireland at the age of seven and from the age of eleven, she had decided that she would become a professional within her field. She has completed a Masters in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick and is also a qualified school teacher.
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