Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
News (in reverse date order)
17/1/2024
Our spring 2024 schedule!
We're driving to Ireland today to start recording a major project - info to follow!
Above is a list of our spring performances - a few concerts in England, followed by a harp festival performance in Ireland and another tour of the USA which will bring us to MA, NY, NJ, PA, MO, VT, ME, DE, CA, OR and WA.
Concerts are still being added, so for the most up-to-date details, click here.
Our Old Bridge Music shop website has been re-designed and re-written, and more functionality is still being added - do have a look! After it's finished the designers will start to re-design this duo website - we're looking forward to seeing what they come up with!
24/12/2023
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We've had an amazing year's touring in the USA (four trips), UK, Kenya and Ireland and are currently enjoying our Christmas break.
Our Old Bridge Music shop website is currently being re-designed and re-written, and after it's finished the designers will start to re-design this duo website. We're so much looking forward to seeing the new designs, but in the meantime both websites continue to operate as normal.
We're really looking forward to heading to Ireland in January to record a major project - info to follow!
After that, we have a few concerts in England, followed by a harp festival performance in Ireland and another tour of the USA which will bring us to MA, NY, NJ, PA, MO, VT, ME, DE, CA, OR and WA!
Details here.
17/12/2023
Our 2023 Celtic Christmas Strings shows have just finished!
We had a wonderful time as always presenting our Christmas show, Celtic Christmas Strings, during the last week. It's always such a joy to play to people in wonderfully celebratory mood!
We're now off to relax in the sunshine for a bit before going into the studio in January to do some recording!
15/12/2023
Review of the re-mastered 2023 reissue of Máire's solo album, The New Strung Harp, in Le Peuple Breton, December, 2023
Many thanks to Philippe Cousin for his nice review of the re-mastered 2023 reissue of Máire's 1985 solo album, The New Strung Harp, in the December issue of Le Peuple Breton, December, 2023!
More information and original reviews of the album are here.
29/11/2023
Our amazing trip to Kenya and lovely concerts there in November
We're just back from the most amazing trip to Kenya. We had a fun performance at the Embassy of Ireland, Nairobi, two brilliant concerts in beautiful locations - the Karen Country Club and the historic Muthaiga Country Club, Nairobi - and an unforgettable safari to the awe-inspiring Maasai Mara National Reserve (1510 km2 of wilderness) in between!
Máire took the photo above at the Maasai Mara in the beautiful light of dawn. It was such a massive treat to see the extraordinary wealth of wildlife there. We were fortunate enough to see baboons, lions, buffalo, hippos, topi, ostriches, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, warthogs, leopards, Thomson’s gazelle, impala, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, crocodiles, rhinoceros, tortoises, terrapins, many species of bird - and a super-cute miniature antelope called a dik-dik!
We are so grateful to the wonderful organisers for all their hard work and kind hospitality, and to the generous sponsors, among them Spicers Eastern Africa, Self Help Africa, Embassy of Ireland, Nairobi, and Sense of Africa, who made the trip possible!
Lots more photos of our trip to the Maasai Mara can be seen on our Facebook Page here.
01/11/2023
An excellent YouTube interview with Chris by Italian guitarist Roberto Dalla Vecchia
An excellent YouTube interview with Chris by Italian guitarist Roberto Dalla Vecchia - stories, influences and guitar style.
Roberto says:
"Here is my full interview with acoustic flatpicking guitarist Chris Newman.
Chris is "a brilliant English master of the acoustic guitar" (THE DAILY TELEGRAPH) and the UK’s premier flatpicking guitarist. A "dazzling player” (ACOUSTIC GUITAR, USA), he is one of the very few guitarists who excel in Celtic, European swing jazz, and American bluegrass styles."
Enjoy!
24/10/2023
Review of the re-mastered 2023 reissue of Máire's solo album, The New Strung Harp, in Folk Magazin (Germany), October, 2023
Many thanks to Gabriele Haefs for this nice review of the re-mastered 2023 reissue of Máire's 1985 solo album, The New Strung Harp, in Germany's Folk Magazin!
More information and original reviews of the album are here.
06/10/2023
Our super-enjoyable autumn tour of the USA has just finished
We're just back from a super-enjoyable tour in the USA, during which we played concerts in New Jersey, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and New York states. We had a brilliant time everywhere - huge thanks to all the wonderful presenters, and to the lovely audiences who came out to see us! This is a pic of the Three Sisters volcanoes reflected in Elk Lake, Oregon, taken on a day off a few days ago...
We're looking forward to our next US tour in April / May 2024 - details here.
11/09/2023
Fantastic review in today's Irish Echo (USA) of Máire's just re-released solo album, The New Strung Harp (originally released in 1985)!
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Máire is delighted with this review in New York’s Irish Echo of her just re-released solo album, The New Strung Harp (originally released in 1985)!
Here is a transcript:
“The New-Strung Harp was a game-changer in the world of harp music. Prior to its release, the harp’s role in Irish music was conservative and essentially constrained to a particular range of repertory and style. This, until Ní Chathasaigh came along and redefined what the instrument could do, changing the game.
A first-class musician, Ní Chathasaigh stands sui generis––one of a kind!––in the world of harp playing. From Bandon, Co. Cork, she grew up in a world of music, taking up the instrument when she was 11 and developing a technique suited to playing dance music, which was not the convention for harpists at the time. It was a truly groundbreaking approach. In her early career, she accrued all sorts of well-deserved awards and accolades at the Oireachtas, the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and the Killarney Pan-Celtic Festival. After many teaching accolades and acclaimed albums (including this one), she was awarded the Gradam for “Traditional Musician of the Year” in 2001. And she continues to be an important musician, teaching, recording, and touring frequently. She’s an absolute legend.
An excellent candidate for reissue, The New-Strung Harp was the first harp album that featured traditional Irish dance music and truly represented something new for the instrument. The music here is as sublime now as it was when it was released. It includes Carolan & Bunting tunes (as might be expected), songs (where she’s joined by her siblings Nollaig, Mairéad, and Greg in outstanding fashion), and a group of dance tunes that are beautifully rendered. The remaster really makes the music sound fabulous. The depth of Ní Chathasaigh’s interpretation of “Carolan’s Farewell to Music” jumps out of the speakers and dance tune tracks like “Humours of Ballyloughlin” and “The Gander in the Pratie Hole / Queen of the Rushes” sound amazing.
The New-Strung Harp is a wonderful album and this superbly done re-release will surely bring refreshed and well-deserved attention to this important album. Traditional music fans will love it and should be considered essential listening if you’re a harp player or a fan of harp music! To learn more and purchase, visit here. Highly recommended!"
Reviews received by the original 1985 release are here.
Listen to the album on Spotify here.
08/09/2023
Máire's 1985 solo album, The New Strung Harp, is being re-released today (distributed by Proper Music)!
"An intensely passionate and intelligent record... a masterpiece of virtuosity... a milestone in Irish harp music" CORK EVENING ECHO (Ireland)
"A classic exercise in music-making" THE SCOTSMAN
"Exquisite... exhilarating harp virtuosity... an undoubted classic" THE IRISH PRESS
The New Strung Harp, Máire's ground-breaking solo album, is of historical significance as the first harp album ever to concentrate on traditional Irish dance music, but also features traditional songs in English and Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and pieces from the 17th- and 18th-century Irish harp tradition. Máire's siblings make vocal and instrumental contributions.
It was first released in 1985 by Scotland-based Temple Records. Before his death in 2021, Robin Morton, the owner of Temple Records, decided to wind up the company and very kindly gifted the the album rights back to the recording artists. The New Strung Harp has therefore been digitally remastered, given a new cover and artwork (though it still features the original cover painting by Colm Murphy) and re-released by Old Bridge Music as OBMCD25 in September, 2023. The album's title is a quotation from the late-18th century crest of the United Irishmen. This consisted of a representation of an old Irish harp and the motto: "Equality: it is New Strung and Shall be Heard". Musicians:
Máire Ní Chathasaigh Irish Harp, keyboards, vocals
Nollaig Casey fiddle, backing vocals
Mairéad Ní Chathasaigh whistle, backing vocals
Greg Casey backing vocals Listen to it on Spotify here.
Further information and purchase links are here.
1/09/2023
Concert Schedule September - December 2023: USA, Kenya and the UK
Our tour schedule September - December 2023 will bring us to the USA (for our fourth trip this year!), Kenya and the UK. We're looking forward to visiting some beautiful places! Full details are here.
A preview of our 2024 plans is here.
1/09/2023
Video interview with Chris and Máire at Return to London Town Festival October 2022 +
Review of Chris and Máire's performance at Return to London Town Festival published in FolkWorld #80, March, 2023
Video interview with Chris and Máire at Return to London Town Festival October 2022
To watch, click here or on the image above.
Review of Chris and Máire's performance at Return to London Town Festival published in FolkWorld #80, March, 2023
We only just became aware of this review, though it was published last March!
"Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman brought their harp and guitar on stage for a fabulous selection of music spanning almost 400 years of Irish tradition - everything from 17th century harp airs to 21st century guitar solos. Carolan and Connellan pieces, Scott Skinner reels, new compositions and old were given virtuoso arrangements with Máire and Chris taking turns at melody and accompaniment, a master class in modern Irish music."
- Alex Monaghan, FolkWorld #80, March, 2023
The full festival review is here.
28/08/2023
TradMad Traditional Music & Dance Camp in Plymouth, MA, where we're currently having a wonderful week teaching and performing!
View from the porch of Hunsdon, where we're staying during our week’s teaching and performing at the fabulous TradMad Traditional Music and Dance Camp at Pinewoods near Plymouth, MA, USA. Also a view of gorgeous Round Pond, location for some lovely swims at all hours of the day and night!
19/08/2023
Video clip of Máire's home-town concert this evening with her sisters Nollaig & Mairéad (The Casey Sisters) at St Peter's Church, Bandon!
Máire and her sisters Nollaig & Mairéad (The Casey Sisters) had a fantastic turnout and a standing ovation for a home-town concert this evening in St Peter’s Church for the Bandon Walled Town Festival - here’s a video clip of a bit of the last set taken by their brother Gary! Huge thanks to the c.200+ people from Bandon and miles around who came along - it was brilliant to see so many fellow musicians & singers, old friends, schoolmates and neighbours there! Thanks a million to Maria Mc Laughlin and the Walled Town Festival committee for organising everything, to Ian Carey (who did a wonderful job on the sound) and the very welcoming Rector of of St Peter’s, Rev. Denis McCarthy. Still buzzing!
16/08/2023
Coming up soon - Máire's home-town concert with her sisters (The Casey Sisters) for the Bandon Walled town Festival on August 19th
On the way into Bandon this morning it was lovely to spot this hoarding advertising Máire's upcoming concert with her sisters (The Casey Sisters) on August 19th at St Peter's Church for the Bandon Walled Town Festival!
A full house is expected, so the evening should be a lot of fun!
12/08/2023
Live TG4 TV performance at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar this evening!
At the All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar, and looking forward to playing for a TG4 TV show tonight that will be broadcast live at 9:30pm (also featuring loads of other musicians, singers and dancers, including Cherish the Ladies, Máire's sister Nollaig, Joanie Madden, Kathleen Boyle Jordan, Mirella Murray, Enda Scahill, Mick Conneely, Liz Doherty etc etc)! We just spotted this ad for the concert series on the side of a truck…
Update: You can watch the programme on catch-up TV now on the TG4 Player at www.TG4.ie!
25/06/2023
Máire teaching and performing at An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Festival for Irish Harp for the 38th successive year
After performing at Old Songs Festival in NY yesterday morning and an overnight flight to Dublin, Máire will start teaching this morning at this fantastic harp festival - always a delightfully sociable event! Info here.
26/06/2023
Chris playing with Beppe Gambetta at the fantastic Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY
We've just had a wonderful trip to the USA, with concerts at the New Generation Theater in Brewer, ME, the Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield, NJ, Philadelphia, and culminating in an incredibly good-fun weekend at Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY.
We did a number of duo performances at the Festival, but here is a great video clip of Chris playing with our friend Beppe Gambetta - enjoy!
(Also on stage are Martin Carthy and Scott Ainslie.)
23/06/2023
Looking forward to playing at the fantastic Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY this weekend!
We're so much looking forward to playing this weekend at the wonderful Old Songs Festival - one of our all-time favourite festivals - and to seeing and playing with some old friends!
21/06/2023
Máire playing at our duo concert last night at Markeim Arts Center, Haddonfield, NJ
A pic taken with her iPhone by the wonderful organiser at last night's fun concert at the Markeim Arts Center, Haddonfield, NJ. The concert was co-sponsored by The Virginia Harp Center Philadelphia and Kathy deAngelo of You Gotta Have Harp Procuctions.
14/06/2023
We're off to the USA again today for Old Songs Festival and some concerts - our second trip to the USA this year!
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We're looking forward to playing concerts in ME, CT, PA, NJ, then finishing our trip with performances at the wonderful Old Songs Festival in NY.
28/05/2023
Facebook has just reminded us of of this wonderful tribute to Chris from the amazing guitarist Mark Cosgrove!
Amazing guitarist Mark Cosgrove (currently working with David Bromberg) said on his May 28, 2021 Facebook post in relation to Chris' solo album, Breaking Bach:
"My friend Chris Newman has really had some time on his hands during the recent pandemic. Already one of the best guitar players I've ever heard he put his time to great use at home in England learning and arranging completely by ear these beautiful and complicated Bach partitas for flatpicked steel string guitar. Upon first listen to this amazing recording I mentally asked the questions guitar players ask when confronted with such beauty and virtuosity. Heady stuff like, "gosh I wonder if he used a click?" Or, "gee do you suppose he edited something in this part?" But after getting over the punishing reality of how really good this man is compared to us mere mortal string stranglers I just close my eyes and enjoy how beautifully composed this music is and how right it sounds on a steel string in the hands of Chris Newman. I can't recommend this more highly."
04/05/2023
A festival in Norfolk coming up this weekend, and concerts in Dorset, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire next weekend
We're really looking forward to playing at Folk on the Pier - one of our favourite Festivals! - in Norfolk this weekend, and to three concerts next weekend: at the beautiful mediaeval St Peter's Church, Shaftesbury (Dorset) Fri 19th, Brailsford & Ednaston Institute, Brailsford (Derbyshire) on Sat 20th and the Embassy Theatre, Skegness (Lincolnshire) on Sun 22nd.
Details and booking links here.
After that, we'll pack our bags for another nice trip to the USA!
17/05/2023
Three concerts in Ireland coming up next weekend, in Cos. Offaly, Cork and Waterford!
Ag súil go mór le seo! Really looking forward to this - the second of three concerts in Ireland next weekend!
Fri 21 Tullamore, Co Offaly - Tullamore Club Sessions
Sat 22 Baile Mhúirne, Co Cork - Ionad Cultúrtha
Sun 23 Kill, Co Waterford - Gealach Gorm Theatre
Details and booking links here.
16/04/2023
Article in the Offaly Express prior to our concert in Tullamore, Co Offaly, next Friday 21 April!
Many thanks to the Offaly Express for this article published in advance of our concert for the wonderful Club Sessions in Tullamore, Co Offaly, next Friday 21 April. We had a fantastic evening last time we played for the Club Sessions and I'm sure we'll have a great night this time too!
Additionally, on 18 April, a preview of our concert in Baile Mhúirne, Co. Cork, was published in The Echo, and a preview of our concert in Kill, Co Waterford, was published in the Munster Express.
12/04/2023
After a wonderful US tour, we're now looking forward to some concerts in the UK and Ireland
After a wonderful US tour, we're now looking forward to a concert this week in Lincolnshire (UK) and a trip to Ireland for concerts and workshops in Cos. Offaly, Cork and Waterford next week - can't wait!!
Details here.
24/03/2023
Interview in the Utica Observer Dispatch prior to our concert tonight in Utica, NY
Interview with Máire published in the Observer Dispatch, Utica, NY, on 23 March, 2023 prior to our 24 March concert in the Irish Cultural Centre of the Mohawk Valley in Utica, NY, this evening - many thanks to Mark Sisti for interviewing us!
Interview with Máire published in the Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, 23 March, 2023
An interview with Máire was published in the Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, 23 March, 2023, prior to her 24 March concert with Chris at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, Utica, NY.
18/03/2023
St Patrick's Weekend concerts: last night at Old Songs, Voorheesville, NY, tonight in Middletown, CT, and tomorrow in Stone Ridge NY
We had a wonderful time playing last night at Old Songs in Voorheesville, NY, and are looking forward to concerts tonight in Middletown, CT, tomorrow at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge, NY - and next weekend at the Irish Cultural Centre of the Mohawk Valley in Utica, NY, the Blackstone River Theater in Cumberland, RI, and Fort Hunter Centennial Barn for the Susquehanna Folk Music Society in Harrisburg PA! Full details and booking links here.
10/03/2023
The atmospheric Lyric Theater in Harrison, Arkansas before our concert there this evening
The atmospheric Lyric Theater in Harrison, Arkansas, before our concert there this evening. We have another concert in Memphis on Sunday, after which we head north to Virginia for a concert and workshops in Charlottesville on Tuesday! Full details and booking links here.
04/03/2023
Our spring tour in the USA starts next Tuesday 7 March - here's the schedule!
We’ve just boarded our flight to the USA and are really looking forward to our spring US tour, which starts on Tuesday and brings us to seven states - TN, AR, VA, NY, CT, RI and PA! Full details and booking links here.
28/02/2023
A wonderful sold-out concert for Folk on the Moor in Plymouth on Sunday - "a bravura performance - breathtaking"
We had a wonderful time at a sold-out concert for Folk on the Moor on Sunday - thanks a million to Ben and all the organisers for having us! Huge thanks too to the audience members who travelled long distances to see us, especially the three couples from Cornwall who booked themselves into the hotel overnight to avoid a long late-night journey home after the concert - we were honoured that you took the trouble!
Folk on the Moor posted the following kind words about the concert on their Facebook Page today:
"Sometimes you just run out of superlatives. A full house on Sunday was treated to a bravura performance of musical excellence from the combined prodigious talents of Chris Newman and Maire ni Chathasaigh, both virtuosi in their own right. Chris is a master of his craft, and his jawdropping speed and technical accuracy were breathtaking in a set that ranged from Bach partitas to a barnstorming take on Gershwin's "I got rhythm", all the more remarkable for the fact that he doesn't read music, but learns by ear and memorises!
Maire's delicate harp playing is a thing of beauty. She is a superb interpreter of the Irish harp tradition, in particular the work of Turlough O'Carolan, the blind harpist and compoaser (1670-1738). Equally her own compositions show a deftness of touch and a real sense of the melodic. Then, of course you put the two together,and the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts, with effortless transitions between the two instruments and first one then the other takes the lead The supporting instrument then fills and accompanies with subtle but sublime harmonic progressions and counterpoint rhythms. The audience was held spellbound for the evening and responded enthusiastically after each number. All to soon it was over. If you haven't managed to catch Chris and Maire yet, go out of your way to do so. You will be more than amply rewarded."
26/02/2023
The beautiful David Hall in South Petherton, Somerset, where we played last night
The beautiful David Hall in South Petherton, Somerset, where we had a fantastic time playing last night. Now looking forward to a sold-out gig tonight at Folk on the Moor in Wotter, near Plymouth!
08/02/2023
The stage of the Bonington Theatre in Arnold, Nottingham, before our concert there this evening
The stage of the Bonington Theatre in Arnold, Nottingham, before our gig there this evening - we had a fantastic time playing to a full house of enthusiastic people! Thanks so much to everyone who came along, to all at the Bonington and to the sponsors, Live & Local. In January we brought Máire’s harp to France for a full refurbishment by the manufacturers - it had become rather battered after over 20 years of touring all over the world and hundreds of flights- and tonight was its first post-refurbishment outing. You can’t really see how nice it looks in this pic, but trust us, it looks amazing! A huge thank-you to Jakez and Eric of Camac for arranging such a stunning makeover - Máire is thrilled to bits with it!
31/01/2023
Some concerts in beautiful parts of England coming up in February!
After a fantastic January in Spain and France we’re now gearing up for gigs in some lovely parts of England in February, after which we head to the USA in March! Details and booking links here.
26/01/2023
An article about Chris and his Breaking Bach solo guitar album, published in Akustik Gitarre Magazine (Germany)!
An article about Chris and his Breaking Bach solo guitar album has been published in Akustik Gitarre Magazine (Germany)!
20/01/2023
Here’s a full list of our concerts and workshops in the UK, USA and Ireland this spring!
Here’s a full list of our concerts and workshops in the UK, USA and Ireland this spring. We’d love to see you somewhere or other! All details and booking links here.
01/01/2023
Happy New Year and every good wish for 2023 from West Cork!
Happy New Year and every good wish for 2023 from West Cork! Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís! (Pic taken on a walk in Kinsale a couple of days ago…)
Some fun times ahead - a month's R&R in France and Spain, followed by some concerts in the UK in February, after which we head to the USA for our spring tour! Our schedule is here.
Our news archive for 2022 and previous years is here.
