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Who says the French have no taste in music? Music and meltdown in Iceland. Is the party over for Opera? What are the values inherent in traditional music? The April-May issue of The Journal of Music will be out this week. Subscribe now and get six copies a year for only €39, wherever you are in the world. www.journalofmusic.com/subscribe

The Ergodos Festival:Off Grid will take place in Dublin on 17–25 April across various venues, including the National Concert Hall and the Unitarian Church. This year's 'off grid' focus is described by the organisers as 'music that doesn’t fit the grid, that falls between the cracks, that evades definition ... a confluence of musical languages.' The festival features fiddle player Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh; Gamelan Sekar Petak, an Indonesian percussion orchestra playing traditional and new works; the British clarinettist Jonathan Sage; the hang and percussion player Salil Sachdev; Trio Scordatura; Morla; Paul G. Smyth; David Bremner and Jonathan Nangle; a portrait concert of the composer Judith Ring and a special concert celebrating the electric guitar, named after the Sonic Youth song, 'Expressway to Yr Skull'. The festival, which also features workshops, talks and installations will culminate with a performance of the American composer James Tenney's In a large, open space, in which the audience moves freely among the musicians. www.ergodos.ie

The Journal of Music is giving away two tickets to the singer, guitarist and songwriter Sarah McQuaid at the Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 on Saturday, 4 April. To win email benedict_at_journalofmusic_dot_com with your name and telephone number. McQuaid has also issued a request for participants in the concert. McQuaid is looking for singers to perform a six-part canon during the concert. The sheet music can be downloaded from www.sarahmcquaid.com

The Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway has appointed Seosamh Ó Neachtain as the first ever Sean-Nós Dancer-in-Residence. Dr Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre, said, 'The revival of sean-nós dancing over the past ten years has been quite extraordinary, to the point where it is now identified as one of the definitive and most popular expressions of Irish culture, at home and abroad.' Ó Neachtain, from An Spidéal, Conamara, is a graduate of NUI Galway and will be giving a series of workshops at the University, beginning on Tuesday, 7 April at 7:00pm. He recently featured in Ceolchuairt: Nua Eabhrac, a TG4 documentary about Irish musicians in New York that won at the Celtic Media Festival last week. www.nuigalway.ie

Readers of The Journal of Music Weekly are invited to join Roger Doyle for the launch of his new CD Cool Steet Army on the Psychonavigation label, at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, on Tuesday, 7 April, 5:30–7:30pm, with live music by the composer. Your name must be on the guest list. Book now: email psychonavigation_at_gmail_dot_com

Be our friend on Facebook! The Journal of Music now has its own facebook page at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54485034897 

Organised by Miso Music Portugal and the Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble, the Sond'Ar-te Composition Competition focusses on the composition of chamber music with electronics. Works of between seven and twenty minutes,incorporating all five instruments of the Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, piano, cello) will be considered. The deadline for entries is 30 April. www.misomusic.com

The launch of Danny McCarthy's book LISTEN hEAR and the Quiet Club's new CD, Tesla, takes place this week. The launch takes place on Thursday, 2 April at the Goethe-Institut, 27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 6:00pm. It will feature a short talk by Dr Francis Halsall and a performance by The Quiet Club joined by Anthony Kelly and David Stalling. www.farpointrecordings.com

The Milwaukee Irish Arts Festival is seeking four recent graduates or anyone over the ago of twenty-one to work on this year's festival. Two of those selected will be from the Republic of Ireland, and two from Northern Ireland. Flights, accommodation and meals will be provided. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, 31 March. www.tinyurl.com/milwaukeeif

Now that we've launched our new website, we have some fantastic opportunities for advertising online. Email benedict_at_journalofmusic_dot_com to find out how you can reach an audience of thousands for only €5 per day. www.journalofmusic.com

1.4.09 IMRO Showcase Tour: Dirty Epics, The Red Labels, The Dirty 9's, Land Lovers; The Limelight & Katy Daly’s, 17 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 8:00pm (www.imro.ie)
3.4.09 Ulster Orchestra; Jan Schultsz (conductor), Klara Ek (soprano), Mark Tucker (tenor), Stephen Gadd (bass), Belfast Philharmonic Choir; Christopher Bell (chorusmaster); Haydn: The Creation; Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 7:45pm; £20, 8 (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)
4.4.09 Ulster Orchestra; Jan Schultsz (conductor), Klara Ek (soprano), Mark Tucker (tenor), Stephen Gadd (bass), Belfast Philharmonic Choir; Christopher Bell (chorusmaster); Haydn: The Creation; Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 7:45pm; £20, 8 (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)

3.4.09 Badke Quartet; Jonathon Byers (cello), Heather Badke (violin), Emma Parker (violin), Eniko Magyar (viola); Market Place Arts Centre, Armagh, Co. Armagh; 8:00pm; £12/8 (www.badkequartet.co.uk)

1.4.09 Líam Ó Maonlaí; The Pavilion, Carey's Lane, Cork, Co. Cork (www.myspace.com/liamomaonlaimusic)
2.4.09 Peter Donohoe; Bach: The WEll-Tempered Clavier; Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music, Union Quay, Co. Cork; 8:00pm; €25/8

2.4.09 - 4.4.09 Imagine-Create Festival; Various venues, Derry, Co. Derry (www.creativetechnologies.info)
2.4.09 Badke Quartet; Jonathon Byers (cello), Heather Badke (violin), Emma Parker (violin), Eniko Magyar (viola); University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Derry; 8:00pm; £10/8 (www.badkequartet.co.uk)
4.4.09 Badke Quartet; Jonathon Byers (cello), Heather Badke (violin), Emma Parker (violin), Eniko Magyar (viola); Flowerfield Arts Centre, 185 Coleraine Road, Portstewart, Co. Derry; 8:00pm; £11/9 (www.badkequartet.co.uk)

1.4.09 Badke Quartet; Jonathon Byers (cello), Heather Badke (violin), Emma Parker (violin), Eniko Magyar (viola); Town Hall,, Bangor, Co. Down; 8:00pm; £9/7 (www.badkequartet.co.uk)

30.3.09 Cian Boylan (piano), Hugh Buckley (guitar), Damian Evans (double bass); Rathmines Public Library, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6; 1:00pm; Free Admission
31.3.09 The Badke String Quartet; Haydn, Wilson, Schumann ; Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire; 8:00pm; €17/15
31.3.09 Russian Festival: UCD Symphony Orchestra, Sasha Anissimov (conductor); UCD Philharmonic Choir; National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €18/8 (www.ucdorchestra.com)
1.4.09 The Mighty Diamonds, Firehouse Skank DJs; Crawdaddy, Harcourt St.,; 8:00pm; €22.50/17
1.4.09 IMRO Showcase Tour: Dirty Epics, The Red Labels, The Dirty 9's, Land Lovers; Andrews Lane Theatre, ; 8:00pm (www.imro.ie)
2.4.09 D12; Tripod, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2; 7:30pm; €30/25 (www.myspace.com/d12)
2.4.09 Danny McCarthy & The Quiet Club Launch: The Quiet Club, Anthony Kelly, David Stalling; Goethe-Institut, 37 Merrion Square, Dublin 2; 6:00pm - 8:00pm; Free admission (www.dannymccarthy.ie)
3.4.09 RTÉ NSO, David Hill (conductor), RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, Celine Byrne (soprano), Raphaela Mangan (alto), Timothy Robinson (tenor), Owen Gilhooly (bass), Jeffrey Ledwidge (bass), Martin Briody (bass); Mendelssohn (St Paul); National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €35/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
3.4.09 Beoga; Séamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, Co. Dublin; 7:30pm; €16
4.4.09 Double Trio: Cathal Roche (saxophone), Daniel Bodwell (double bass), Stu Ritchie (drums), Cliona Doris (harp), Richard O’Donnell (percussion), Mia Cooper (violin); Wilson; Marley House, Marley Park, Rathfarnham; 1:00pm (www.ianwilson.org.uk)
4.4.09 Double Trio: Cathal Roche (saxophone), Daniel Bodwell (double bass), Stu Ritchie (drums), Cliona Doris (harp), Richard O’Donnell (percussion), Mia Cooper (violin); Wilson; Church of Ireland, Kilternan, ; 8:00pm (www.ianwilson.org.uk)
4.4.09 The Greatest Story Ever Told: RTÉ Concert Orchestra, David Brophy (conductor); The Occasional Singers; National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €22, 27, 33, 38.
4.4.09 Sarah McQuaid; Unitarian Church, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2; 7:30pm; €12 (www.sarahmcquaid.com)
5.4.09 RTÉ Cór na nÓg; City Hall, Parliament Street, Dublin; 12:00pm; Free admission
5.4.09 Pendulum: TalkShow Trio: Cathal Roche (saxophone), Daniel Bodwell (double bass), Stu Richie (drums); JJ Smyth's, 12 Aungier Street, Dublin 2; 9:00pm; €10
5.4.09 Sundays at Noon: RTÉ Cór na nÓg; City Hall, Parliament Street, Dublin; 12:00pm; Free admission (www.hughlane.ie)

5.4.09 The Odd Couple; Phil Ware(piano), Eddie Lee(bass), Ken McDonald (drums) ; Murtagh's, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim; 7:00pm; Free Admission (www.sligojazz.ie)

1.4.09 Anáil Dé - The Breath of God: Iarla O'Lionard (voice), Gavin Bryars (double bass), Leo Abrahams (electric guitar), Lisa Grosman (viola), Cian O'Duill (viola), Kate Ellis (cello); St. Mary's Cathedral, Bridge Street, Limerick, Co. Limerick; 8:00pm; €20/15 (www.gavinbryars.com/)

4.4.09 IMRO Showcase Tour; Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth; 8:00pm

3.4.09 Patrick Byrne Traditional Music Weekend: Workshops with Oisín MacDiarmada, Gráinne Hambly, Damian Stenson, Angela Carberry, Paul Finn, Gerry Murray, Michael Horgan, Sean McElwaine, Tristan Rosenstock, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin; Carrickmacross, , Co. Monaghan
3.4.09 - 5.4.09 Féile Patrick Byrne; Community Centre, Corduff, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan (www.tinyurl.com/dbgr7k)

5.4.09 The Odd Couple; Phil Ware(piano), Eddie Lee(bass), Ken McDonald (drums) ; Tobergal Lane Café, Tobergal Lane, Sligo, Co. Sligo; 3:00pm; Free Admission (www.sligojazz.ie)

31.3.09 Anáil Dé - The Breath of God: Iarla O'Lionard (voice), Gavin Bryars (double bass), Leo Abrahams (electric guitar), Lisa Grosman (viola), Cian O'Duill (viola), Kate Ellis (cello); The Chapel, Waterford IT, Waterford, Co. Waterford; 8:00pm; €20/15 (www.gavinbryars.com/)

4.4.09 Chincho por Tatou; The Passion Fruit Theatre, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; 8:30pm

3.4.09 Jimmy MacCarthy; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow; 8:00pm; €20/18
4.4.09 Paul Brock (accordion, melodeon), Enda Scahill (banjo, mandolin); Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow; 8:00pm; €16/14

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our information, we advise subscribers to verify all details.

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