Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, Nigel Waite

From Europe and North America to the Antipodes and Japan, this pair are individually famed for originality, innovation and virtuosity on their respective instruments of guitar and harp.

Chris is a prolific composer, arranger and record producer, as well as principal guitar tutor on Newcastle University’s Folk Music degree course. In addition to working with Maire for many years, he has played with many other luminaries of the folk and jazz scenes.

Maire has played the harp since the age of eleven, and is acknowledged as one of Ireland’s most influential traditional musicians, and has been the recipient of Ireland’s Traditional Musician of the Year award, as well as winning the All-Ireland and Pan-Celtic harp competitions several times.

Together they have created one of the most distinctive voices in modern acoustic music, and their work expresses both the depth o their commitment to tradition, and an eternally playful, curious and adventurous spirit.

In a rare opportunity to see these revered artists in such an intimate setting, Chris and Maire will present their wonderful Christmas show Christmas Strings: A Festive Feast of Harp and Guitar.

The show features a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, swing jazz and bluegrass, plus festive favourites given a fresh voice, with arrangements that are intricate, inventive, moving and beautiful, and performed in the heart-warming style characteristic of them.

A spell-binding treat for midwinter!