Ashbourne and America join trad musical forces

NicGaviskey is a new transatlantic musical quartet of Bernadette Nic Gabhann on fiddle, Caitlin Nic Gabhann on concertina, Sean Gavin on flute and Sean McComiskey on accordian. The girls from Meath met the Detroit and Baltimore boys at the Catskills Irish Arts week in upstate New York in summer 2009. Their coming together in a spontaneous early morning session created a rhythm and feel to the music that was infectious not only to themselves, but to all those listening. These young musicians forged a mighty connection in those early morning hours, and what followed for two hours was four musicians playing as one. Miss McGuinness, Cramers, The Kinnegad Slashers, The Dances at Kinvara rolled off their fingers with a collective familiarity which surprised them all, and left them yearning for more months after they had departed to their homes far away. Recording sessions in Baltimore and Milltown Malbay in early 2010 led to debut CD 'Home away from Home', which stands as evidence of the kindred spirit that comes from the deepest well of the tradition of Irish music and dance. The girls are daughters of respected Mullahoran fiddle player Antóin MacGabhann, now living in Ashbourne. Caitlin is three times All-Ireland concertina champion, a regular performer on RTE radio, and has performed at festivals and in concert halls from North America all the way to Asia. Also an accomplished dancer, Caitlin has toured with many Irish dance shows, including Riverdance. Both girls dance on this album. Bernadette competed successfully at fleadhanna cheoil through the years, and has spent the past decade performing and touring North America, Canada, Korea, Taiwan and Japan with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Gaelforce Dance and other solo ventures. Sean Gavin's style on the flute reflects his lifelong immersion in, devotion to, and love for traditional Irish music. This was no doubt encouraged by his Clare born, fiddle playing father, Mick Gavin. Sean McComiskey is among the most innovative young performers on the button accordion. Son of North America's veteran accordion player Billy McComiskey, Sean's own unique harmonic style has earned him a spot in the pantheon of Irish accordionists far beyond his native Baltimore. See www.nicgaviskey.com for more info on appearances and www.myspace.com/nicgaviskey for audio clips. Nic Gaviskey and De Danann, perform as part of Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann in the Town Hall, Cavan, on Friday 20th August at 10pm; The Venue, Ratoath, on 27th August, and Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, The Naul, Fingal, Dublin, on 29th August.