#tradfest

Hozier and Allison Russell at TradFest, Dublin. January 26th 2024

Maria, you’ve been fortunate enough to carve out a successful career in both music and acting. But if you had to pick just one…?

“The two artistic mentors in my life, Patrick Scott and Patti Smith, taught me that your whole life is your art. The songs you sing, the stories you tell, the meals you share, the people you love. Others may want to focus on one bit of it more than another, but from my point of view, it’s all coming from the same well: me.”

Who was the artist that made you want to become a musician?

“Hearing Billie Holiday’s voice sort of changed everything. I had always loved music and would sing along to the radio or whatever I heard. Music could cheer you up, console you or make you dance… but her voice explained deeper things about the world: pain and tenderness and absolute honesty.”

If you hadn’t pursued a career in arts, what do you think you would have done instead?

“My mother always thought I’d be a teacher. I’m an eldest child (code for ‘has the potential to be bossy’) and I have a big voice…”

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

“Desperate panic is my only constant pre-show companion.”

What’s top of your tour rider?

“We have just started to ask folks to write down some jokes. Arriving into a venue and reading jokes, no matter how long or awkward the journey to get there, is its own entertainment. Honey is also up there…”

If you could share the studio with just one of your musical heroes, who would it be?

“Mimi Parker, singer in the band Low. The most beautiful voice in the world.”

Which traditional Irish folk artist has had the biggest influence on your songwriting?

“I am just discovering the songs of Elizabeth Cronin and it is opening a new world to me, but probably Donal Lunny has been the closest and most consistent presence in our lives. Kieran, my husband, made an album with him in the Nineties and we’ve had the chance to perform and collaborate with him a few times since. I’m always interested in what he is making and the sheer joy of his bouzouki playing.”

Losing my mind over Andrew and Allison Russell singing Allison’s song, Requiem at TradFest in Dublin, January 26th 2024

This week saw the start of: TradFest Edinburgh - Dùn Èideann

www.facebook.com/tradfestedinburgh www.tracscotland.org/festivals/tradfest

The festival encompasses traditional song, dance, music, storytelling and includes the famous Beltane Fire Festival.

There are events in venues all over Edinburgh. Some in Old Town, some in New Town, others in Southside, Dalry and Leith. Some of the better know venues are:

The Scottish Storytelling Centre Calton Hill The Queen's Hall The Filmhouse The Pleasance Quaker Meeting House Summerhall The Royal Oak

Music: randomly generated plinky plonks

#Event:  IFI & Tradfest to screen The Irishmen - an Impression of Exile on Jan 28th + Panel

The Irish Film Institute, in collaboration with Tradfest will welcome guests Professor Lance Pettitt, musician Órlaith McAuliffe, and publican Tom King to participate in a panel discussion following a screening of Philip Donnellan’s The Irishmen – an Impression of Exile at the IFI on Saturday, January 28th, at 1.30 p.m.

Directed by pioneering television documentarian Philip Donnellan,…