Fiddle and Guitar Duo Head for Down Arts Centre

Fiddle and Guitar Duo Head for Down Arts Centre

On Friday 23 September, Zoë Conway and her husband John McIntyre will be bringing an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music to the Down Arts Centre. 

Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. The husband and wife folk duo possesses a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and express this material in way which not only displays the sheer range and knowledge of both instrumentalists but also exhibits the wonderful versatility of their instruments.

The recent release of the duos critically acclaimed album entitled ‘Go Mairir I Bhfad_Long Life To You’ has brought international attention to the duo and so they are increasingly in demand in Ireland and abroad. For this unique album, twelve leading Irish composers were commissioned to each create a piece specifically for Zoë and John, for fiddle and guitar. Liz Carroll, Máirtín O’Connor, Steve Cooney, Frankie Gavin, Andy Irvine, Charlie Lennon, Donal Lunny, Tommy Peoples, Peadar O Riada, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Niall Vallely and Bill Whelan were all involved in this exciting project. The album received a glorious five stars from national paper, The Irish Times.

Zoë, no stranger to the stage, has performed with an impressive list of international artists including Riverdance, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Rodrigo y Gabriella to mention but a few. In contrast to this, she has been an important figure within classical music circles in Ireland and abroad, as her crossover discipline has allowed her the pleasure of appearing as soloist with acclaimed orchestras such as The Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and German WDR Symphony Orchestra; pieces recited include her own compositions and works composed for her by world renowned Irish composer, Bill Whelan.

John grew up in the Cooley Mountains of north County Louth where he took up guitar at eight years of age.  He began his career as electric guitarist with the successful indie band, The Revs with whom he performed on many famous stages and festivals including Oxegen, and Slane in Ireland, Reading and Leeds in the UK, and toured extensively in USA, Australia and Europe. He has worked alongside many world renowned producers, and is now also producing and recording in many genres. John studied classical guitar and piano for many years, and from early childhood, he was immersed in the songs and traditional dance music of south west Donegal.      

Together, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have been described by the BBC as, “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” and audiences in Ireland and beyond keep coming back for more. They have performed for rock stars, millionaires and dignitaries around the world, including Irish Presidents Mary Mc Aleese and Michael D. Higgins. They were awarded ‘Best Live Show’ from popular YouTube channel, Balcony TV, and have received in excess of a combined 250,000 views online.

Show starts at 8pm and tickets are priced at £12/£10 concession. For further information or to book tickets please contact the Box office on 028 4461 0747 or visit www.downartscentre.com to see full programme of events.