Music Network are thrilled to announce their spring programme of tours for 2025. They’re working with 29 different partners and venues in 22 counties across the island of Ireland to bring audiences world-class music and amazing experiences. The first tour in February, which features four of the finest musicians currently working in Irish traditional music, will set a high bar for the array of superb classical, jazz and folk music artists to grace our shores in the first months of next year.
The season begins on a high note with a curated tour featuring Derek Hickey (TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2024 Musician of the Year), The Kane Sisters (TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2024 Group of the Year) and Macdara Ó Faoláin (TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2024 Young Musician of the Year), all leading lights of Irish traditional music. Displaying incredible musicianship and mastery of their craft, each artist champions a performance style particular to their heritage which forms the bedrock of this fascinating collaboration. Simply put, you will not hear finer exponents of our indigenous music. The tour runs from 11-23 February and takes in venues in Galway, Limerick, Dublin, Kildare, Roscommon, Clare, Wexford, Cork and Kerry.
Derek Hickey, Liz & Yvonne Kane and Macdara Ó Faoláin
Derek Hickey, Liz & Yvonne Kane and Macdara Ó Faoláin
On tour 11 – 23 February Galway,
Limerick, Dublin, Kildare, Roscommon, Clare, Wexford, Cork and Kerry
http://Tickets from €10 – 25 (booking fees may apply)
From 7-16 March, Music Network presents the incredibly gifted pianist Yukine Kuroki. Kuroki has conquered the hearts of many in recent years, winning both the Liszt Utrecht Competition and Dublin International Piano Competition in 2022, as well as being awarded third prize at the prestigious Rubinstein Competition in 2023. Her mastery of the instrument prompted leading Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska to describe Kuroki as ‘a true poet at the piano, who can make you cry with a single note.’ Since then she has been performing all over the world, including sold-out debuts with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo New City Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. Her tour in Ireland kicks off in Sligo, and continues to Cork, Offaly, Dublin, Newry, Waterford, Westmeath and Kilkenny.
Yukine Kuroki
On tour 7 – 16 March Sligo, Cork, Offaly, Dublin, Newry, Waterford, Westmeath, Kilkenny
Tickets from €5 – 28 (booking fees may apply)
https://www.yukinekuroki.com/
In April, Music Network presents the remarkable guitarist Plínio Fernandes. Born and raised in São Paulo, Fernandes fuses the tradition of classical guitar with Brazilian folk music. He is undoubtedly a rising star on the international scene and is a regular collaborator of such renowned artists as Lang Lang and Sheku Kanneh-Mason. August 2024 saw Fernandes make his BBC Proms debut and also appear for the first time at the prestigious Lucerne Festival. An artist whose performances are full of heart and wide ranging expression, his versatility is evident from his sensitive delivery of works by Bach to his exuberant playing of the vibrant music of Brazil. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear such extraordinary talent. On tour from 5-13 April, his tour brings him to venues in Kildare, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Wexford and Waterford.
Plínio Fernandes
On tour 5 – 13 April Kildare, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Wexford and Waterford
http://Tickets from €5 – 25 (booking fees may apply) https://www.pliniofernandesmusic.com/
In May, Music Network presents the outstanding Genticorum. Winners of Ensemble of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards, the band has been described by The Living Tradition as having ‘a rightful place amongst the new generation of internationally recognized Québéquois bands.’ With intricate melodic combinations of fiddle, flute and accordion supported by energetic foot percussion and powerful guitar playing, their instrumental performances are spectacular, while their gorgeous vocal harmonies reinforce their status as ‘one of the tightest units on the planet’ (Roots World). The distinctive sound of Genticorum is truly sensational. Their tour runs from 7-18 May in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Armagh and Belfast.
Genticorum
On tour 7 – 18 May Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Armagh and Belfast
Tickets from €12 – 25 (booking fees may apply)
https://www.genticorum.com/
Finally in June, Music Network wraps up the season with the impressive jazz saxophonist Emma Rawicz performing with her exceptional quartet featuring Ivo Neame (piano), Kevin Glasgow (Bass) and Asaf Sirkis (drums). Rawicz is a multi-award winning young saxophonist and composer who is making waves on the UK music scene and beyond. Jamie Cullum refers to her as ‘an astonishing talent’, and as her live performances and recordings continue to garner widespread acclaim, it’s easy to understand why ‘the name Emma Rawicz is on everyone’s lips right now’ (BBC 3). At just 19, Emma released her critically acclaimed debut album Incantation, launching a UK tour that featured headline performances at renowned venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Jazz Cafe. Her latest album, CHROMA, released on the
ACT label, was selected as The Guardian’s Album of the Month and has earned her further international recognition. Since then, her international career has flourished and she has played in over sixteen countries, touring extensively in Germany and Scandinavia and she was recently selected as a BBC New Generation Artist, Emma and her quartet are in Ireland from 4-13 June playing in venues in Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon, Wicklow, Dublin, Kerry, Cork and Kildare.
Emma Rawicz
On tour 4 – 13 June Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon, Wicklow, Dublin, Kerry, Cork and Kildare
Tickets from €12 – 25 (booking fees may apply)
https://www.emmarawicz.com/
With so much exciting music to experience, 2025 is looking decidedly promising. And don’t
forget that music makes a perfect gift, whether as a birthday or anniversary present, or a
Christmas gift that the recipient can look forward to chase away the January blues!
Tickets, gift cards and further details are available on Music Network’s website http://www.musicnetwork.ie