Farmleigh Affair Sunday 6th August

There are many music festivals throughout the Irish summer, but Farmleigh's is a bit special. Now in its second year, The Farmleigh Affair brings the world's leading jazz, world and traditional artists to the big stage set in the estate's scenic Pleasure Grounds, with historic Farmleigh House as a dramatic backdrop, and its all free.

Sunday 6th, its all about latin and soul, with uplifiting spirituals from The Dublin Gospel Choir, tango and other grooves of The Argentine from Dunne & Hernandez, sweet samba and bossa nova from Rio de Janeiro songstress Joyce, and old school r ‘n’ b from London’s Omar. There will be nothing like it. Monday 7th is roots and trad, with Ireland’s undercelebrated world champions, the mighty St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, Nordic fiddle meets West African kora with Ellika & Solo, hip Galician trad with Xose Manuel Budinho and his band, and Donegal’s finest export, Altan. Craic will be had.

There’ll be refreshments available, along with tasty treats from organic producers, and Farmleigh is the perfect spot for a picnic if you want to bring your own goodies. While you’re there, you can have a stroll in the gardens, a gander in the new galleries, or take a tour of the historic house.

The Farmleigh Affair is completely free but you will require tickets, limited to four per person . They’re available online from Friday 21st July onwards from www.farmleigh.ie or you can drop into one of the following Dublin outlets:

Central: Temple Bar Cultural Trust, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, D2 Northside: Raheny Library Howth Road, Raheny, D5 Westside: Ballyfermot Library, Ballyfermot Road, D10
Southside: Rathmines Library, 157 Lower Rathmines Road, D6
County: Dun Laoghaire Tourist Information Office, Ferry Terminal Building, Dun Laoghaire.

Space is limited so don’t be dissapointed, get your tickets early for what promises to the best musical experience you’ll have this summer. The Farmleigh Affair is brought to you by OPW on its 175th anniversary and produced by Improvised Music Company

14.00: Dunne & Hernandez
When Buenos Aires native Ariel Hernandez arrived in Dublin, he had little save his guitars and a repertoire of songs from his Argentine homeland, but he wasted little time in finding his feet. It helps that he's enlisted Ireland's leading classical accordionist Dermot Dunne, a musician who has assimilated the phrasing and nuance of Ariel's music with casual ease, and what began as a festival one-night stand has blossomed into an enduring partnership. A duo that marries virtuosity with emotion, they've found common ground in Argentinian music, from the urbane sound of Astor Piazzola's nuevo tango to the rustic rhythms of the milonga and chacarera. They've also brought along some special guests for the Farmleigh Affair, including violinist Ioana Petcucolan, bassist Malachi Robinson, and visiting Peruvian percussionist Frank Vidal.

http://www.arielhernandez.com/duo

15.00: Dublin Gospel Choir
They opened for us last year and the spirits moved us to bring them back. Dublin Gospel Choir are Ireland's busiest gospel choristers, with a resume that includes vicar street performanes with James Brown and John Legend, the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics and raising the roof at The Electric Picnic. From their base at The Capuchin Franciscan Friary of St. Mary of the Angels in D7, this twenty strong choir plus live band have taken gospel music in Ireland to a new level and with their debut release Nights of Soul , they joyfully mix uplifting spirituals from the church tradition and secular songs from the soul and r'nb' world. People get ready!

www.dublingospelchoir.com

16.00: Joyce
This native of Rio De Janeiro is truly the keeper of the Bossa Nova flame, so memorably ignited by Antonio Carlos Jobim in the 60s. A legend in Brazil, Joyce Silveira Palhano de Jesus recorded her first album as a teenager in 1968, in the heady period of the Tropicalia movement . A prolific songwriter, her work has been recorded by the cream of Brazilian musicians including Astrid Gilberto and Elis Regina, and the insistent groove of songs like Algea de Ogum have become a staple of jazz dance labels like Talkin' Loud. Her latest CD, Rio Bahia , adds a new chapter to the story of Brazilian music, with her sublime voice mixing a hip cocktail of laid back bossa grooves fused with cool jazz. This is the evocative sound of Brazil brought to life by one of its greatest artists.

www.joyce-brasil.com

17.00: Omar
A June appearance on Later with Jools was a timely reminder that Omar, author of the early 90's UK soul classic Theres Nothing Like This, hasn't gone away y'know. Indeed the roll call of soul aristrocracy guesting on his 6th and latest album Sing If You Want It, suggests he's hitting a creative sweet spot to eclipse all previous milestones. Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone are among the latest additions to a resume that also includes Lamont Dozier and Erykah Badu, all artists who've been seduced by Omar's catchy soul compositions that evoke Detroit and Philadelphia in their pomp. These days, this Londoner of Jamaican, Chinese and Indian descent is setting them to an infectious hybrid of reggae, hip hop, jazz and bossa. Farmleigh will be at its funkiest when he cuts loose with a touring outfit that's just back from critically acclaimed performances at The North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals, and includes the irrepressible guitarist Hawi Gondwe.