Líadan and Kansas City
Currently on tour with the Chieftains, the all-female Irish traditional outfit Líadan, graduates of the Irish World Music Center at the University of Limerick, are featured on Irish Abroad in the latest Irish Voice section.
Together now three years as Líadan, the six young ladies in their twenties studied around the same time at UL, all obtaining masters in traditional music performance though their paths had intersected over the years at various fleadhannas and festivals in Ireland.
The University of Limerick was once upon a time one of two National Institutes for Higher Education. I attended the other one which later morphed into Dublin City University. What both NIHEs had that I liked, was an innovative approach to third level education and its application to life beyond college.
That said my, ahem, Accounting & Finance, course was mind-numbingly boring and the interesting people were all in a course called Communications. It all worked out fine in the end though as I failed my degree spectacularly, and the Communications people ended up drinking tea with me all over Ireland in discussions on film, books, and breaking wind.
Last September [Líadan] released their first self-titled CD which has gotten rave reviews. In an early November performance in the Great Hall in Ennis as part of the Ennis Trad Festival, they held their audience in awe for well over an hour’s performance, including one of their big fans, accordion maestro Paul Brock, who also just finished a masters in Traditional Music Performance at UL.
Líadan, for what it’s worth, doesn’t rhyme with Amadán nor with Aladdin, because it is pronounced “LEE-a-dun”.
Irish Voice reports that Líadan have caught the eye of Irish Festival talent-bookers in Kansas City as well as Milwaukee. Read that report HERE
The current tour with the Chieftains finishes in New York City’s Carnegie Hall on St Patrick’s Day.
See Also:
• Top Irish Traditional Music Albums of 2006
• Racehorses, Romance, and the Irish
• New Videos on Irish KC
• Feast or Famine: Emigration Assistance
• Cathie Ryan in Concert: A Review
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Líadan and Kansas City
This group is wonderful! My wife and I saw them when we saw the Chieftains in Lincoln, NE, a few weeks back. Their voices are incredible and their tune-sets are great! The CD is very enjoyable!
Aaron