Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman

Venue website: croydonfolkclub.org.uk

About the artists:
This celebrated partnership has brought its special musical vision to venues large and small - from the tiniest of historic churches in England, Germany and Italy to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney Town Hall and the Philharmonie in Cologne – in twenty-three countries on five continents. Chris and Máire’s performances are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous: a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions - and what The West Austrailian calls Chris’s "delightfully subversive wit”!

A hectic schedule so far this year has included headlining appearances at festivals in New Zealand (Whare Flat Folk Festival), Ireland (The Gathering Festival) and the USA (North Texas Irish Festival), and extensive touring in those countries and in the UK. In 2015 / 2016 they toured in Australia (twice), the USA (four times), Canada, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland in addition to their UK work - giving thirty-seven festival performances in that period. Other notable events were the award to Máire of Female Musician of the Year in the Live Ireland Music Awards 2016 and four TV performances.

“Brilliant, innovative harping and guitar-playing of astonishing virtuosity and versatility” **** Songlines

“An eclecticism and spirit of adventure that is quite thrilling" The Times
"In a class of their own" The Guardian

“Music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music” The Irish Time

“This celebrated duo took the place by storm. Stately Carolan tunes, jazzy Django-ish numbers, dazzling Doc Watson style flat picking fliers, driving Irish dance tunes - this pair can nonchalantly do the lot. Guitar players applauded and went sadly home to burn their instruments!” The Belfast Telegraph

www.maireandchris.com