Trad gigs on the menu later this month at The Balor in Ballybofey

Aficionados of folk and traditional music will be casting eyes and ears towards the Balor Art Centre, Ballybofey where there are a couple of great gigs lined up before months end.

Saturday February 21st sees the formidable trio of Ger O Donnell, Don Stiffe and Trevor Sexton take to the stage while Clare contemporary trad trio megaTRAD promote the release of their debut album ‘It Begins With A…’ on Saturday February 28th.

The combination of renowned multi-instrumentalist duo Ger O Donnell & Trevor Sexton with Don Stiffe – one of the greatest singer / songwriters to have emerged on the Irish Folk scene in recent years - is one of the most exciting developments of recent times in Irish music.

These three powerhouses of Irish vocals have been selling out shows around Ireland and garnering international attention and acclaim abroad with upcoming Irish, UK, European and Canadian tours. When Sharon Shannon heard them play together she instantly signed them up for her next album (due out later this year). Sharon also repaid the favour, adding her talents to the trios forthcoming album joining other world class musicians such as Joanie Madden, Derek Hickey and John Carty.

Ger O Donnell is a true multi-instrumentalist, known best perhaps for his voice and mastery of the acoustic guitar, but also for many other wonderful and unusual instruments and studio production. He has exploded on to the scene and cemented his place in the genre with 6 chart topping hits in Ireland in the last few years. You’ll find many recordings of him on TV and all platforms with Dolores Keane, Cherish the Ladies, Sharon Shannon, Paul Brady Tommy Sands, & Sean Keane to name but a few.

Known for his powerful voice, amazing stage presence and exceptional skills across a variety of instruments, Trevor Sexton has become a highly sought-after performer. A phenomenal songwriter too, with hits like Fairytale topping the charts in Ireland and spreading all over the world. Together, Ger & Trevor have been touring and selling out venues all over the world in recent years. They have regular tours in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, the US and back home in Ireland. The duo have toured with Cherish the Ladies where they have teamed up with Don Stiffe and the combination of the three voices has become a phenomenon.

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Don Stiffe is one of the greatest singer / songwriters to have emerged on the Irish Folk Scene in recent years, receiving critical acclaim and awards both at home and abroad. Don is a passionate and talented singer whose impressive performance style has moved audiences all over the world. Stiffe’s version of the "Dimming of the Day", by Richard Thompson won “Vocal Cut of the Year’ at the Live Ireland 2010 Awards. This song featured on his debut solo album, “Start of a Dream, which was originally released in 2006, achieving much critical acclaim. The renowned Irish Music Magazine described the musical quality of the album as being “in the Premier League”.

megaTRAD is comprised of brothers, Cillian and Seán, from the musical East Clare O'Dálaigh family and Denis McAuliffe, a West Clare legend on the mandolin. All three are graduates of the esteemed University of Limerick's BA Irish Music and Dance programme.

megaTRAD was born in the trio’s stomping ground of The Glen Tavern, Limerick. Asked to provide entertainment, bringing whatever pedals and stompbox/beat’n’bass machines they had lying around with no rehearsals beforehand the result was musical magic - improvisation around concepts, playing while listening, no arrangement sheets, tailoring each performance to the occasion at hand. Each show is a unique, innovative and exhilarating musical journey affectionately termed Transcendental by their fanbase.

Shortly afterwards, in 2020, megaTRAD won best performance at Temple Bar Trad Fest’s ‘Live at the Hub’ securing a slot at Milwaukee Irish Fest for August 2020. They have also played at festivals such as Electric Picnic, All Together Now, The All Ireland Fleadh, Bloom Festival, and Shannonside Folk Festival.

They come to The Balor promoting the release of their debut album "It begins with a..." Join megaTRAD on a musical journey where tradition meets innovation and every note is an adventure, Immerse yourself in the contemporary, rich, and lively sounds of 21st century Irish Traditional music - megaTRAD style!

Ger O Donnell, Trevor Sexton and Don Stiffe play the Balor on Saturday February 21st at 8pm, tickets €25. Tickets for megaTRAD on Sautrday February 28th at 8pm are €15. Tickets for these and all upcoming Balor shows are available from The Balor Box Office 0749131840 or online at www.balorartscentre.com