The Bamboo Sessions 9th August 2008
The Bamboo Sessions are back again on Saturday 9th August in the Mill Theatre, Dundrum. Six top Dublin singer songwriters will each perform their own songs with a live string quartet. You now have the opportunity to see the next wave of home grown talent in an exclusive setting, joined by Ireland's leading classical musicians.
The lineup of songwriters is:The DMT String Quartet are the “house band” for the Bamboo Sessions. Members of the quartet are highly accomplished players from different backgrounds. Individual members have played with the National Symphony Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, U2, R.E.M., Jack L and Cathy Davey.
Vyvienne Long from County Wicklow, is an Irish musician, most famous for playing cello on the Damien Rice albums "O" & "9", and as part of his live band. She also plays the piano and sings. Vyvienne released her debut EP 'Birdtalk' in Ireland in September 2006. She has started playing regular solo solo gigs and has already built a large fanbase for her original material. Her highly original writing and perfoming style has garnered massive critical acclaim, including praise for her cello led cover of 'Seven Nation Army' by the White Stripes. Vyvienne will be performing her songs on both both cello and piano at the Bamboo Sessions. She has also written new string quratet arrangements of some of her most popular songs.
Íse [ee-sha] has been singing since the age of seven. It was as vocalist with Sinead O’Connor’s original band “Ton Ton MaCoute” that Íse first got drawn into the world of rock and roll. But tiring of being a mouthpiece for someone else’s thoughts she left to form her own band “The Restless Natives ” where, following the death of her youngest brother she shaved her head, changed her name and screamed her anger and angst out in her pop/punk songs. Eventually ditching the electric guitar and drums for acoustic and keys, a more mellow sound emerged which attracted the interest of Enya’s manager Nicky Ryan. She has recently recorded an album called "Angel One". She will be performing her favourite songs from the new album for the Bamboo Sessions.
Robin James Hurt was born in Belfast, raised in Penicuik, Scotland and is now settled in Dublin where he plays guitar like a ‘demon gadgie’ (Edinburgh vernacular). Robin is a much in demand guitar player on the Irish music scene, having been an axe for hire with artists such as Ronnie Drew, Sinead O’Connor, Martin Furey, Linda Coogan and Camille O’Sullivan. Since 2006, Robin James Hurt has been performing solo, with a style all his own and a repertoire which runs the gamut of Scots, Irish and northern English folk music and beyond. Robin’s debut solo release, a 4-track EP entitled “The Spider’s Legs”, was unleashed on the world in March 2007. Since then, it has been picking up airplay on radio stations all over Ireland, and also further across the world. His debut album is due for release in the second half of 2008.
Celine Carroll hails from Dublin city, Ireland and having spent time with various bands including The Mississippi Mermaids, Celine is now swimming in solo waters. Her songs have a laid back melodic quality that reminds you of Paul McCartney, Randy Newman or Dusty Sprindfield. In 2007, Celine released her second studio album entitled 'Itch'. The album was recorded in only three days with the help of some of Dublin's best session musicians. Celine will be performing new arrangements of songs from 'Itch' as well as from her first album 'Catch You as You Fall'.
Jody Trehy is a songwriter from Dublin. He works full time on musical theatre productions. He has written a musical called 'Eeejit of Love' which was premiered in Dublin in June 2008. Following a successful run in the Pavilion Theatre, the show is booked for another run as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival. He also performs his own work as a solo artist, writing songs in the style of Brecht, Bowie, Bernelle and Brel. Drawing heavily on the tradition of musical theatre and cabaret his songs have a dramatic and lyrically powerful edge. In 2007, Jody released a full-length album of new songs entitled “Promise”.
Aidan Murphy is a songwriter from Dublin. His folk influenced singing and guitar style has been compared to many people such as Phil Ochs, George Harrison and Nick Drake. Aidan is much in demand as a musical arranger, having worked with Alphastates, The Global Funk Orchestra and The Blood Red Mountain Band. Aidan also provides the string music for the Bamboo Sessions, working in conjunction with the songwriters and quartet to produce the new arrangements.
The Mill Theatre is located in the heart of the new Dundrum Town Centre. Since opening in May 2006, the Mill Theatre has staged the best in theatre, comedy, music, kids stuff and much, much more. The wonderful acoustics of the Mill Theatre provide the ideal listening environment for Bamboo Sessions. Getting to the theatre is easy, being only a five minute walk from Dundrum LUAS station. There is also the Dundrum Centre car park which offers a special parking rate to theatre goers.