Hot Irish act set to star at Celtic Festival

Alex de Vos
Ireland’s hottest new musical sensation will headline this year’s National Celtic Festival at Portarlington this weekend.
Fresh from a New Zealand tour, Grada’s double bass player, Andy Larking, said he was looking forward to touching down in Australia and performing at the annual event.
“This will be our fourth time touring Australia and it’s always been one of our favourite places to visit,” Larking told the Independent.
“Most of the band is from the west of Ireland, so it’s a fairly big contrast to what we’re used to.”
Grada comprises Larking with flautist Alan Doherty, vocalist Nicola Joyce, guitarist Gerry Paul and David Doocey on the fiddle and whistle.
Larking said the band formed in 2001 with the intention of playing “one or two informal concerts at an Italian resort”.
“That never eventuated but since then the band has performed to the point where we play around 150 to 180 concerts annually in 25 different countries,” he said.
“Grada is to Irish music what Arcade Fire is to indie,” one critic said.
“Musically, Grada produces a fresh approach to playing, bringing together elements of jazz improvisations and the raw energy of traditional Irish music.”
Larking said the band drew inspiration from a “variety of international artists”.
“We play Irish traditional music that’s a little bit off the beaten track, blended with a number of influences including our own compositions, jazz and Americana styles,” he said.
“We draw inspiration from other Irish groups, jazz artists, Americana acts and The Pixies but that doesn’t come through in the music quite so much.”
The three-day National Celtic Festival event will also feature international artists The Young Wolfe Tones and Gavin Moore along with a variety of local and national acts including Bhan Tre, Braemar, Catherine Fraser and Duncan Smith, Claymore, Dalriada and Evenish.
The region’s Christian College Ceildh Band will also be on the card.
National Celtic Festival director Una McAlinden said revellers could expect “non-stop entertainment and activity for the whole family”.
“There’s just so much packed into the long-weekend festival – music, dance, poetry, workshops,” Ms McAlinden said.
“It’s going to be a great festival.”
Grada plays at Portarlington’s Celtic Club this Friday night.