The hot Irish group Réalta is coming in from Belfast, Ireland to perform at the Rialto Theatre in Lancaster on March 4. The concert is hosted by the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts and is a great way to get into the mood for St. Patrick’s Day month.
Réalta take a lively, exciting and respectful approach to Irish traditional music. This award winning multi-instrumentalist group has traveled extensively bringing their unique take on Irish traditional music to international audiences with an enchanting program of dance music interspersed with the occasional air and song.
While Conor Lamb and Loïc Bléjean pursue the melody on uilleann pipes and whistles, guitarist and vocalist Deirdre Galway explores the harmony and rhythms within the tunes. All-Ireland champions Dermot Mulholland and Dermot Moynagh complete the line-up with dynamic accompaniments on double bass, bouzouki, banjo, bodhrán and voice, making this one of the most exciting acts on the Irish music scene today.
Conor Lamb fell in love with the uilleann pipes and Irish traditional music when he first heard Liam O’Flynn perform at the Lorient Interceltic Festival. Now regarded as one of the leading exponents of uilleann piping, Conor is a founding member of several traditional groups including Réalta, Madagán and Music in the Glen.
Loïc Bléjean is a virtuoso uilleann piper and low whistle player from Brittany, that ancient land in the north-west of modern France. He started playing the pipes in 1989, under the tuition of Alain Le Hégarat and then traveled extensively in Ireland, where he met many wonderful musicians.
Deirdre Galway began her musical life studying and competing on piano and clarinet. After achieving distinction at Grade 8, she began experimenting with jazz, rock and Irish traditional music. Accompanying on DADGAD guitar and researching old songs, Irish music is now her passion. Deirdre is also an Irish speaker, with a first-class honors degree in Irish Language and Literature.
Multi-instrumentalist Dermot Mulholland adds his talents to Réalta on banjo, bouzouki, double bass and vocals. He is a winner of several All-Ireland titles and is a founding member of the BBC Folk Award winning band Ioscaid. Beyond Réalta, Dermot is highly sought after for various performing, teaching and recording roles.
Dermot Moynagh is one of the most influential and leading bodhrán players of his generation. His talents were highlighted when he won the prestigious All Ireland Fleadh-Cheoil championship at a young age and since then he has been in high demand as a live performer and recording artist.
The release of their second album, “Clear Skies,” has brought Réalta widespread critical acclaim, with the Irish Music Magazine summing things up by writing, “Réalta have grown bigger, bolder and braver and this is one of the best CDs to have come out of Ireland this year.”
The show on March 4 will begin at 7 p.m., admission is $18 per person. Visit the Rialto Theatre to purchase tickets in advance, or online at www.gnwca.org. For more information about this and other GNWCA shows, visit the website, find the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts on Facebook or call (603) 246-8998.