For anyone that cannot attend the event but wishes to donate please see below information about Adam's Camp NI and the Traditional Music Concert. Your support is greatly appreciated!

https://adamscampnorthernireland.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Adams-Camp-Northern-Ireland-1645709765696721/

Adam’s Camp was originally established in Colorado USA and has been operating for over 30 years serving 15,000+ families. The original camp was founded by parents who were determined for their children with special needs to have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

Adam's Camp NI was founded in 2015 by the mother of a child with Autism from Newtownabbey who attended Adam’s Camp in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Autism is a spectrum disorder therefore each child requires individual care and support tailored to meet their specific developmental needs.

In July 2016 the inaugural Adam’s Camp NI hosted 10 children with Autism and their families providing multi-disciplinary therapy for the children during a week-long residential camp at Corrymeela in Ballycastle, Co Antrim. The camp also facilitates activities for siblings and provides support and respite for parents. In July 2017 Adam’s Camp NI delivered 2 weeks of camp helping 20 families.  Adam’s Camp NI wishes to continue to provide intensive therapy to children and young people on the autism spectrum and provide support and assistance to families affected by autism during summer 2018 and into the future.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT FOR ADAM’S CAMP NI

A Traditional Music Concert will be held at The Duncairn, Antrim Road, Belfast on Saturday 14 April 2018 from 7.30pm. This concert will raise funds towards the running costs of Adam’s Camp NI in 2018.

The Performers

The following performers have very generously given up their time to perform in aid of the charity:

• Harry Bradley and Seamus O’Kane
• Edel Ní Churraoin and Kevin Sweeney
• Luke Ward
• Dianne Cannon
• Good Morning to Your Nightcap
• Aiden Walsh, Ruairí Cunnane and Jarlath McTernan
• Further special guests to be announced

Harry Bradley was born in South Belfast. The vibrant recording heritage from the 1920s and 30s has had a huge influence on his flute-playing style as has the playing of musicians such as Seamus Tansey, Dessie Wilkinson and piper Seamus Ennis, to name but a few. Noted for his
unique tone and driving rhythm, Harry has come to be recognized as one of the most distinctive flute players in Ireland today. He has toured internationally and recorded both as a soloist and with groups such as Cran and Altan. In 2014 he was the recipient of the TG4 Gradam Cheoil Traditional Musician of the Year Award.

Seamus O’Kane comes from Dungiven in Co Derry and is a renowned bodhran maker and player who has been playing for well over 40
years.  He has recorded extensively with a multitude of the leading exponents of traditional Irish Music and is well respected across the length and breadth of Ireland, Europe and beyond.  Having recorded several television documentaries on bodhran and harp making Seamus is very much in demand for concert performances, workshops and most importantly impromptu music sessions wherever he travels which keeps him fully immersed in the music.

Kevin Sweeney is a vocalist and guitarist who comes from Omagh via Canada. With Americana flavoured vocals of kickin’ American folk/blues songs and his pulsing accompaniment of traditional tunes, it's no wonder Kevin has been described as one the most exciting talents on the scene. Having played with the formidable traditional group, Pigeon Top, and Omagh’s fabulous six piece, The Dirty Blues Band, Kevin has gained a reputation for energetic live performances with virtuosity and vocal power.

Edel Ní Churraoin grew up immersed in the vibrant
Connemara music and dance tradition. Edel plays the tin whistle, button
accordion and piano and is also a vocalist and sean-nós dancer. She is a regular performer at music sessions and festivals all over Ireland and further afield. Having now lived in Belfast for several years, Edel has become established as a highly regarded accordion player and for her work at Radió Fáilte.

Luke Ward is a recent addition to the Belfast Traditional Irish Music scene and is a very fine musician who brings huge talent and great
experience to every performance. Luke comes from Cavan and has toured the world over with a variety of ensembles featuring on a range of instruments including bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals. Luke plays regularly across Belfast delighting audiences with potent songs and equally powerful musical accompaniment.

Diane Cannon is a singer and musician from Meenlaragh, a small town outside the village of Gortahork in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht who also has been based in Belfast for a number of years now.  Following the success of her first single ‘Seán Ó Duibhir a’ Ghleanna’ that was produced and recorded by Donal O Connor last year, Diane is currently working on recording her new album of contemporary and traditional music which is due to be released later this year.

Good Morning to Your Nightcap is a collaboration of 4 musicians from counties Antrim, Derry and Tyrone; Desy Adams, Ruadhrai O’Kane, Ryan O’Donnell and Paul Maguire. The band released their eponymous album in 2015 and currently Good Morning to Your Nightcap is preparing a second album for release later in 2018.

Desy Adams (flute) was born and bred in Belfast, Co Antrim and is a fine exponent of the Northern style of flute playing. Desy started playing tin whistle in the 1980s before moving onto the flute. He spent time living in Denmark and Galway before returning to Belfast in the early 2000s. Desy played with traditional group Na Dorsa with whom he recorded a CD in the late 1990s and has also featured on the Wooden Flute Obsession CD. Desy has toured and played at many festivals throughout Europe and America.

Ruadhrai O’Kane (fiddle) comes from just outside Dungiven, Co Derry and has lived in Belfast since going to university in 1995. Ruadhrai played fiddle with traditional Irish music group Óige for around 10 years up to 2001. In this time the band produced 3 albums together and toured extensively through Ireland, UK, Europe and beyond. Ruadhrai recorded a live CD 'Roguery Road' with Belfast based concertina player, Jason O'Rourke, in 2004. More recently he has taught fiddle for BelfastTrad and played at several European festivals where he has also given workshops.

Ryan O'Donnell (banjo / bouzouki / guitar) hails from Omagh, Co Tyrone and moved to Belfast to study at University in 2002. Ryan has played with the band Pigeon Top and played on several solo CDs with artists including Paul McGlinchey, Stevie Dunne, Michael McCague and Shane McAleer. Ryan performs at many festivals in the traditional music calendar and has performed in many countries across Europe and the USA.

Paul Maguire (bodhran) is a Belfast native who is well known within traditional music circles as ‘The Brother’. Now retired, Paul spent several years in his youth traveling the high seas exploring far-away lands which developed his appreciation for music and culture. He has played the bodhran for over 30 years and is a veteran of many fleadhs and festivals. Paul has developed a very unique and distinctive playing style which while unconventional is highly effective.

“The last couple of years have seen the emergence of some cracking Irish collectives, and this is no exception – it is exceptionally good.” – The Living Tradition

Aiden Walsh is a banjo player hailing from Tubbercurry in South Sligo, an area renowned for its unique style of Traditional Music. His foray into traditional Irish music began at a young age; he started on the whistle but later moved onto the Tenor Banjo, mainly learning from Tommy Finn, Peter Horan and Paddy Ryan. Aiden moved to Belfast in 1995 and
has been a regular on the local traditional scene since. He has played with various bands throughout Ireland and Europe and has also performed on both radio and television programmes on BBC and TG4.

Jarlath McTernan hails from Co. Sligo and has been playing the Uilleann Pipes from the age of twelve.  He has performed with a variety of artists over the years including the mighty Dervish, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, Seamie O'Dowd and other leading Irish Music luminaries. Jarlath has been based in Belfast for several years where he performs regularly within the traditional music scene and is noted for his extensive repertoire of fine piping tunes.

Ruairí Cunnane is a gifted singer and guitarist from Meigh, County Armagh who often duets with Barry Kerr, and has performed at numerous festivals throughout Ireland and beyond. Together with Forkhill singer/songwriter Briege Murphy, Ruairí has performed at many folk festivals, and counts Planxty, Woody Guthrie and Neil Young among his musical influences. His music, while mainly traditional/folk, can incorporate elements of blues, rock and country also, creating an appealing mix of sounds for his eager audience.