TRISKEL ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL ECM WEEKEND 27 - 29 NOVEMBER

29th October 2015

The world’s most prestigious record label ECM arrives in Cork this November to Triskel Christchurch who are proud to stage the inaugural ECM Weekend Festival from Friday 27 until Sunday 29 November.

Four Concerts featuring well known artists including June Tabor, Arve Henriksen, John Potter, Iain Ballamy and Thomas Strønen will be the highlights of a weekend that also includes the screening of ECM movies, a “Banter” session with music Journalist Jim Carroll with special guests, and ECM listening sessions hosted by PLUGD records.

“To work with ECM artists in this way has been a long-held ambition in Triskel,” says Tony Sheehan, Artistic Director of Triskel Arts Centre. “The weekend will bring some of the most beautiful music in an eclectic selection of live concerts staged in the acoustic and visually beautiful surroundings of Christchurch. The Weekend itself will be a chance for fans and those new to the music to immerse themselves in an experience that will also include talks, vinyl record “listening sessions” and related fringe events and concerts, and screenings of ECM movies in a full digital cinema format”.

The weekend opens with the Irish premier of John Potter’s ‘Amores Pasados’ – a project that explores the true essence of the pop song. An ensemble of two voices (John Potter and Trio Medieval’s Anna Maria Friman) and two lutes (Jacob Heringman & Ariel Abramovich) performing lute songs by rock musicians alongside 17th century originals and transcriptions of songs by English composers of the early 20th century. Most remarkably, rock music giants have written music especially for ‘Amores Pasados’. Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has set three Spanish poems, Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks has set poems by Campion, and Sting contributed a song on the death of Robin Hood. ‘Amores Pasados’ will also include music by Warlock, Moeran, Finzi and others arranged for voices and two lutes.

Saturday night’s double bill begins with a solo concert by Norwegian Trumpeter Arve Henriksen whose distinctive trumpet sound combined with his rich vocal and electronic soundscapes have enchanted listeners for many years. His last appearance at Triskel nine years ago was a memorable concert still talked about by those lucky to have attended. He has collaborated with many ECM musicians as well, both live and in recordings, he has composed music for films and documentaries, and has won numerous international awards. Recording as well for Rune Grammafon, Arve has a long discography counting over 140 records.

Originally a quartet including the aforementioned trumpeter Arve Henriksen and bassist Mats Eilertsen, ‘Food’ has now reduced to its core and founder members Iain Ballamy and Thomas Strønen whose concept is to invite like-minded musicians to join them and engage with their contemporary and forward thinking approach to creating music, using sound space texture and contrast to create ever-changing moods and environments for true improvisation.
By combining acoustic elements including bells, blocks, gongs and lyrical saxophone, the music is enhanced and tempered with live sampling and drums creating moods which range from minimalist to very turbulent.

The final concert for the 2015 ECM Weekend is Quercus. Three of the UK’s most celebrated folk and jazz musicians come together to create mesmerising, lyrical chamber music

Quercus brings together three of the UK’s most creative, multi award winning musicians to create exquisite chamber music that weaves together the essence of folk and jazz. Drawing on their life’s work including original compositions, traditional folk songs and reclaimed standards, Quercus subtly colours each song to create a magical atmosphere.
Two time winner of the BBC Folk Awards Singer of the Year, June Tabor rose to fame in the mid ‘70’s and has maintained a high profile career ever since, working with the likes of Maddy Prior and the Oyster Band amongst many others. Listed in the BBC’s 100 Jazz Legends, Iain Ballamy is one of the UK’s most widely celebrated jazz musicians and composers, enjoying an international career stretching from Scandinavia to India. Welsh pianist Huw Warren’s distinctive and enticing music has led to collaborations with Maria Pia de Vito, Mark Feldman and Erik Truffaz.

Triskel ECM Weekend is presented in association with RTÉ lyric fm.

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