IMN - International Music Network

The Gloaming is a newly minted collective of five remarkable musicians poised to become a vital force in Irish music. Navigating between the contemporary and traditional genres, their creativity trumps predictability – with music that is haunting and beautiful in equal measure. The super-group features New York pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman, Anthony and the Johnsons, Martha Wainwright), Chicago guitarist Dennis Cahill, Irish sean-nos singer Iarla Ó Lionaird, fiddler and hardanger innovator Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh and fiddle master Martin Hayes – they came together at West Meath’s Grouse Lodge Studios in early 2011 to create something utterly new with a nod to the ancient. The Gloaming is set to release these recordings in Spring 2013, following a wildly successful tour of Ireland that included a sold out debut at The National Concert Hall of Dublin.

Iarla Ó Lionaird grew up and learned his craft in the musical heartland of Cúil Aodha in the West Cork Gaeltacht. Ó Lionaird established himself both as a masterful exponent of Sean Nós Song and as a pioneer in its renewal and development. Always an artist on his own journey Ó Lionáird signed to the prestigious Realworld label in the mid 1990’s he would go on to make many ground breaking recordings with the multi million selling Afro Celt Sound System. His solo career was inevitable and would begin with the acclaimed and powerful “Seven Steps To Mercy” (Realworld Records). Produced by Michael Brook, the album saw Ó Lionaird create a new and unique work in which is his voices soars with power and tenderness. He went on to release the soundtrack for “I Could Read The Sky” and the “Invisible Fields” (both on Realworld Records) which melds electronic soundscapes with sean nós to stunning effect . He releases his latest solo album Foxlight on Realworld in May.

Martin Hayes’ unique sound, his mastery of the fiddle, his acknowledgement of the past and his ability to place the tradition within a wider contemporary context, combine to create a unique and insightful interpretation of Irish music. He has drawn inspiration from many musical genres, but remains grounded in the music he grew up with in East County Clare where the tradition he inherited from his late father, P. Joe Hayes, was the formative influence on his musical accent and ideas. He has recorded two acclaimed solo albums, “Martin Hayes” and “Under the Moon” on the Green Linnet label and three duet albums with Dennis Cahill: “The Lonesome Touch”, “Live in Seattle”, and “Welcome Here Again”. His latest release is Triúr sa Draighean with Peadar Ó Riada and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh.

Dennis Cahill is a master guitarist, a native of Chicago born to parents from the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. He studied at the city’s prestigious Music College before becoming an active member of the local music scene. Cahill’s spare, essential accompaniment to Martin Hayes’ fiddle is acknowledged as a major breakthrough for guitar in the Irish tradition. In addition to his work with Martin, Dennis has performed with such renowned fiddlers as Liz Carroll, Eileen Ivers and Kevin Burke, as well as many Irish musicians on both sides of the Atlantic. He is a sought after producer for musical artists whom he records in his own Chicago studio and is also an accomplished photographer

Dublin-born Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh plays traditional and contemporary folk music on fiddle, 5-string viola and hardanger fiddle in small intimate listening venues. In 2007, he released Where the One-Eyed Man is King, an adventurous, self-produced little EP: Caoimhín has recently been studying the work of contemporary folk fiddlers from other countries, including Nils Okland, Dan Trueman and Johan Hedin, and has been writing new material that continues to explore that region where Irish traditional music begins to disintegrate. He has recently been involved in two acclaimed recordings, Le Gealaigh/A Moment of Madness with Brendan Begley and Triúr sa Draighean with Peadar Ó Riada and Martin Hayes.

Thomas Bartlett, aka Doveman, grew up in Vermont, and began playing ukelele at age three, after the wardens at his daycare found him strumming a block and decided he could probably put resonant strings to good use. He began playing piano at age five, and never stopped — dropping out of high school to study in London with Maria Curcio, one of the 20th century’s greatest classical music teachers. Thomas went on to Columbia University for a year but dropped out, again — this time to concentrate on his classical music studies, until he dropped out, again! — this time to play with bands. He quickly become one of the most in-demand sidemen in New York City. Thomas has played or recorded with Antony & the Johnsons, Nico Muhly, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, The Frames, Bebel Gilberto, Arto Lindsay, The National, and Yoko Ono. And that’s just the famous ones. He makes music as Doveman. When listening to this music you should keep in mind artists such as Frederic Chopin, Cat Power, Keith Jarrett, Talk Talk. His latest release is the eponymous Doveman on Brassland.