The Chieftains recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary, their sphere of influence has been, and still is, global. It is unarguable that they have changed the face of Irish traditional music thanks to their huge popularity which grew following the release of their first album. It was thanks to a member of the Guinness family, Garech Browne, that the band was formed back in 1963. Garech owned Claddagh Records, he approached Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipe player) to form a group to make a one off record. Fortunately this was not to be a one off and the band carried on performing and attracting audiences far and wide. They built a solid foundation of fans through TV appearances as well as high profile concerts such as supporting Fairport Convention in 1970 at the National Stadium in Dublin. In 1975 they played the Albert Hall, London to great critical acclaim which set them on a full time professional globe trotting tour and they have never looked back!
Whilst they have a trademark sound which is instantly recognisable they have dabbled in all fields of music including country and jazz and they still continue to thrill audiences with their impeccable performances and cross collaborations, they are, without doubt a household name to many.
50th Anniversary Album: Voice of Ages
To mark their 50th landmark Anniversary they are to release a new star studded album ‘Voice of Ages‘ on 21st February which will feature:
The Decemberists
Punch Brothers
The Secret Sisters
The Low Anthem
The Civil Wars
Pistol Annies
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Lisa Hannigan
Carlos Nunez
Paolo Nutini
Imelda May
Bon Iver
“With 50 years of glorious music behind us,” Paddy Moloney says, “I can think of nothing more exciting than to spend another 50 years collaborating with the best voices of the future.”
The Chieftains Tribute Video
Geantraí recently hosted a tribute to The Chieftains which you can watch below.
00:18 The Chieftains with Kevin Cunniffe – The Wexford Carol/Peigí Leiter Móir (Peggy Lettermore)/The Ladies’ Pantalettes
06:28 Eddi Reader & Tim Edey – Galileo
09:38 Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O’Dowd – The Old Geese in the Bog/Reels
14:08 Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O’Dowd – Slow Air/Rocking the Boat
19:04 Paul Brady and Eddi Reader with Tim Edey – Follow On
23:36 The Teetotallers – The Green Fields of Woodford/Sean Ryan’s
27:41 The Teetotallers – The Clare Reel/The East Clare Reel/Sporting Nell
30:35 Eddi Reader – My Love is Like a Red Red Rose
Tour Dates
February 2012
February 17th – Santa Barbara, CA – University of California Santa Barbara @ Granada Hall
February 18th – Aliso Viejo, CA – Soka Performing Arts Center
February 19th – Tucson, AZ – University of Arizona Tucson @ Centennial Hall
February 21st – San Franciso, CA – San Franciso Jazz Festival @ Davies Symphony Hall
February 22nd – Davis, CA – University of California Davis @ Jackson Hall/Mondavi Center
February 24th – Athens, GA – University of Georgia Athens @ Classic Center
February 25th – Birmingham, AL – University of Birmingham @ Alys Stevens PAC
February 27th – Edmond, OK – Armstrong Auditorium PAC
February 28th – Fort Worth, TX – Fort Worth Performing Arts @ Bass Hall
February 29th – San Antonio, TX – Arts San Antonio @ Lila Cockrell Theatre
March 2012
March 2nd – Chicago,IL – Chicago Symphony Orchestra @ Orchestra Hall
March 3rd – Cedar Falls, IA – Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center
March 4th – Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Orchestra @ Orchestra Hall
March 6th – Carmel, IN – Center for Performing Arts @ The Palladium
March 7th – Kansas City, MO – Kauffmann Center for Performing Arts @ Helzberg Hall
March 9th – Philadelphia, PA – Kimmel Center
March 10th – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
March 11th – Virginia Beach, VA – Virginia Arts Festival @ Sandler PAC
March 14th – Boston, MA – Celebrity Series @ Symphony Hall
March 16th – Washington, DC – Washington Performing Arts @ Kennedy Center
St Patrick’s Day – March 17th – New York, NY Carnegie Hall
May 2012
May 29th – Grand Canal Theatre Dublin
May 30th – Waterfront Hall Belfast
June 2012
June 1st – Brighton Dome
June 2nd – Colston Hall, Bristol
June 3rd – St David’s Hall, Cardiff
June 5th – Symphony Hall, Birmingham
June 6th – City Hall, Sheffield
June 8th – Royal Albert Hall, London
June 9th – Ipswitch Regent Theatre, Ipswitch
June 10th – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
June 12th – York Barbican
June 13th – The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
June 15th – Newcastle City Hall
June 16th – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
June 17th – Usher Hall, Edinburgh
June 27th – The Anvil, Basingstoke
June 29th – Olympia, Paris
June 30th – Palais des Beaux-Arts, Bruxelles