Donegal audiences have the chance to experience four great international concerts at Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny this October ranging from classical to traditional to country music. The first of two very different concerts this week features a solo piano recital by Nathalia Milstein from France, winner of the 2015 Dublin International Piano Competition, on Wednesday October 19th. Friday 21st sees a return visit to Donegal by Furnace Mountain from the USA, one of the finest Americana acts touring today featuring four the most innovative and gifted musicians in Virginia. Another leading American county act the Hot Club of Cowtown play the RCC on Wednesday 26th. This long established group have been setting stages ablaze, weaving together country, ragtime, big band jazz and blues to awesome effect for over a decade. The final October concert is RANT featuring four of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, Bethany Reid, Jenna Reid, Sarah-Jane Summers and Lauren MacColl, on Thursday 27th. All concerts start at 8pm, tickets priced €12 and €10 concessions can be booked at An Grianan Theatre Box Office on 074 9120777 or online at regionalculturalcentre.com. The RCC is part of Donegal County Council Cultural Services and is supported by the Arts Council, concerts are presented in partnership with The Earagail Arts Festival, Donegal Music Education Partnership and Music Network.
Nathalia Milstein
There is a rare chance for Donegal audiences to attend a solo recital by a world class pianist when Nathalia Milstein performs works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Bartók and Liszt at the RCC on Wednesday 19th as part of a Music Network Irish tour. She swept to victory in the 2015 Dublin International Piano Competition with what one critic described as an “electrifying” performance of Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto. While possessing a phenomenal technique, Nathalia has also been lauded for her wonderfully expressive, heartfelt playing and has quickly developed a reputation as an outstanding chamber musician in addition to her solo performances. Nathalia has won prizes at numerous competitions, including 1st Prize at the “Flame“ Youth Competition in Paris and 1st Prize in the Manchester International Concerto Competition For Young Pianists and recently gave her début recital at Carnegie Hall.
Furnace Mountain
Great music of a different kind can be experienced at the RCC on Friday 21st when the truly gorgeous Americana four piece Furnace Mountain bring their acoustic country bluegrass to Letterkenny. One of the fast-rising stars of the American roots scene, Furnace Mountain are true Appalachian musicians. With a repertoire largely drawn from the old-time, bluegrass and folk ballad tradition, the quartet’s members all grew up on or near the mountain in Virginia bearing the same name as the group. At times lively and raucous, at times poignant and poetic, Furnace Mountain have won critical acclaim for their fresh, authentic sound, which combines the heart-worn and effortlessly sweet vocal harmonies of Aimee Curl and Morgan Morrison with blistering musicianship. With Curl on double bass, Morrison on guitar and bouzouki David Van Deventer on fiddle and Danny Knicely on mandolin they are one of the tightest most exquisite acoustic quartets around.
Hot Club of Cowtown
For two decades Hot Club of Cowtown have been setting stages ablaze with their intoxicating blend of jaw-dropping virtuosity and down-home melodies, weaving together country, ragtime, big band jazz and blues to awesome effect. Based in Austin, Texas, the globetrotting trio have toured with everyone from Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to Roxy Music. Oozing warmth and charm, bassist Jake Erwin, guitarist Whit Smith and fiddler Elana James use every trick in the book to get those feet tapping: playing loose with tempos or ratcheting up the intensity with fretboard-blistering guitar licks, virtuosic fiddling and a Rockabilly-tinged slap-bass style.
RANT
Nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014, RANT is the meeting of 4 of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, two from the Shetland Islands and two from the Highlands. Bethany Reid, Jenna Reid, Sarah-Jane Summers and Lauren MacColl join forces to create a rich and vibrant sound. Using just their fiddles, they weave a tapestry of melodies, textures, layers and sounds. Known for their work as soloists and with various bands, this is a celebration of the instrument they all have a passion for. 4 fiddles: one beautiful sound! Since the release of their debut album ‘RANT’ in 2013 which won them critical acclaim, the band has made major festival and concert appearances across Europe. Described by Songlines as “An irresistible journey through reels, strathspeys and jigs” and by fRoots as “dignified, deep and profound music”, RANT is Scottish fiddle music of the highest order.
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