London Folk Magazine and News
Derek Hickey Album Launch Concert
IMDL and the London Irish Centre present a Derek Hickey Album Launch Concert, with Jack Talty (piano) and support from The Trad Gathering
Derek Hickey hails from Adare, Co. Limerick. Both his grandfathers played fiddle and his own musical career began at ten years of age when his uncle left an accordion in the family home. Derek progressed to dance tunes within weeks, though he didn’t begin lessons – under the tutelage of Donal de Barra – until he was 12. Derek’s professional career began three years later when he joined the Shannonside Céili Band. Formed by the Liddy family, the band was particularly popular in the north of the country. It also toured extensively in England and made regular trips throughout Europe. In 1991 Frankie Gavin asked Derek to join him for regular sessions in his then leased hotel in Kinvara, Co. Galway. One year later, at just eighteen years of age Derek joined Arcady, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh’s band. Frances Black, Brendan Larrisey and Patsy Broderick were also members of the band at that time and many other household names have played in the line-up including Sharon Shannon, Cathal Hayden and Gerry O’Connor. In I995 Derek joined the legendary De Dannan alongside Frankie Gavin. He toured with De Dannan until 2003. He spent some time teaching as a button accordion tutor on the BA Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy. Alongside teaching he returned to performing with De Dannan and he continues to tour nationally and internationally.
He will be joined for this concert by Jack Talty
Friday 21st April 2023 The London Irish Centre, Camden Doors 7.30pm, Music 8pm. Tickets £15/ £6 U18s
Support from The Trad Gathering
IMDL´s London-wide youth project The Trad Gathering features 30 young traditional Irish musicians led by Karen Ryan and Pete Quinn. This evening the group will perform tunes from the repertoire of the legendary Kerry fiddler, Julia Clifford. An icon of the traditional Irish music scene in London since the 1950s, Julia often played music here in the London Irish Centre.
The Trad Gathering was jointly commissioned in 2008 by the BBC Proms and Return to Camden Town Festival. In recent years, the group have been celebrating music from the repertoires of a number of prominent members of the London Irish music scene, including: Bryan Rooney (Leitrim fiddler), The McCarthy Family (Co. Clare), Roger Sherlock (Sligo flautist) and Lucy Farr (East Galway fiddler), Danny Meehan (Donegal fiddler) and John Bowe (Offaly accordionist). The group have performed on stages including: the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Kings Place, Cadogan Hall, Mayor of London´s St Patrick´s Day Festival (Trafalgar Square stage), Bush Hall, Rich Mix, Grand Junction and more.
Some other upcoming IMDL events and news:
The London Lasses 25th Anniversary Album LL25 - Now available to purchase as physical CD or download via Bandcamp
27th-30th October 2023 - 25th Return to London Town Festival - London´s annual Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance
Twitter: @IMDLEvents
Instagram: irishmusicdanceinlondon
YouTube: Irish Music and Dance in London
