IMC Navigator Jazz Residencies: Ríona Sally Hartman at The Courthouse, Tinahely House, Co. Wicklow

IMC is pleased to announce the third part of the new Navigator jazz residency programme taking place in 2021, which will see bi-lingual vocalist, composer and songwriter, Ríona Sally Hartman in residence in The Courthouse Venue at Tinahely, Co Wicklow for ten days during October.

Ríona Sally Hartman’s music has become known for its lush vocal harmonies, acoustic softness and the surrealist stories that accompany her songs.

Ríona’s songs are sung from the point of view of a cast of characters; there’s Tom Peeping who falls in love with every woman he sees but never speaks to them, there’s the fish who’s so obsessed with Frida Kahlo it chases a spinner to wear it as an earring and then there’s Sally a very talented but frustrated fortune teller. Her debut album Big Starving Thing was released in May 2015 and described by The Irish Times as a "finely crafted debut album...fresh and unclichéd".

Ríona said, ‘’I’m excited to start this residency in The Courthouse Arts Centre and to have this time to focus on making new music for, and with, children. I’m hoping to write narrative-driven music inspired by metamorphosis myths from all over the world where humans change form and turn into animals. After so many months of being socially distant, I’m looking forward to getting to know the local community and local artists.''

‘’A Rising Star’ – Lyric FM

‘’beautiful, stylistic jazz sounds pour fourth in a honeyed stream from Riona’’ – Harmless Noise

The Navigator Jazz Residency programme, in collaboration with arts centres around the country, offers artists professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work with a deep sense of space, informed by community involvement.

The Courthouse Venue and Arts Centre is an important geographical landmark at the heart of the Tinahely, Co. Wicklow is a uniquely visible and valuable creative space in the cultural landscape of south Wicklow, north Carlow and north Wexford.

“The Courthouse Arts Centre is delighted to welcome Ríona Sally Hartman to Tinahely this autumn. We are particularly excited to have an artist of Ríona’s calibre here developing work for young audiences and engaging with our local community. We look forward to bringing our audiences high-quality improvised music that is influenced directly by our surroundings and locale, and inspiring the next generation of Tinahely jazz enthusiasts.” said Denise Mc Grath, Director at The Courthouse Venue.