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January 14, 2011

World's Fastest Fiddle Player Comes to Town

De Dannan The world's fastest fiddle player, Frankie Gavin, is set to wow music lovers in Kildare as Frankie Gavin and De Dannan prepare to play Riverbank Arts Centre , Newbridge Co. Kildare on Friday 21st January.

Frankie Gavin is one of the genuine legends of Irish music. Having worked with such luminaries as Earl Scruggs, Stephane Grapelli, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, and the ‘Rolling Stones’, ‘the prince of Irish fiddlers’ is one of the outstanding performers of the past thirty years. Frankie is also the original founding member of internationally acclaimed traditional super group ‘De Dannan’.

Responsible for bringing singers Dolores Keane, Mary Black, Maura O Connell and Tommy Fleming, amongst many others, to international prominence, the group disbanded in 2003.

In 2009, Frankie Gavin unleashed ‘De Dannan’ of the 21st century”, led by Frankie Gavin on fiddle, flutes & whistles with Damien Mullane on accordion, Eric Cunningham on percussion, flutes & whistles, Mike Galvin on bouzouki & guitars and Michelle Lally on vocals.

‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ has since played support to the ‘Rolling Stones’ at Slane Castle, performed with the ‘U.A.E. Philharmonic Orchestra’ in Dubai, performed with the ‘Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra’ during a tour of the USA and performed at The White House and at the US Capitol Building on three separate occasions for US President’s Clinton, Bush & Obama. The band toured China in July 2010 with the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra and played such venues as Shanghai Grand Theatre and Beijing Opera House. The tour was also aired on China Central TV to over 500 million viewers. They returned to China for the Shanghai Arts Festival and a performance at World Expo 2010 in September and performed for Prince Albert at a private event in Monaco in October. A new album featuring the most recent ‘De Dannan’ line up, entitled ‘Jigs, Reels & Rock ‘n’ Roll’, which includes a guest appearance by Ronnie Wood of the ‘Rolling Stones’ was released on September 23rd 2010.  Frankie Gavin entered the ‘Guinness World Records’ on the same day as the ‘Fastest Fiddle Player in the World’. 

Part of Frankie Gavin's enduring appeal lies in his astounding technical ability and unceasing quest for innovation – musical pieces more commonly associated with the like of the ‘Beatles’ and George Frideric Handel are now common place in Frankie’s repertoire as an Irish musician.  Most pertinent of all is the knack he has for imparting to his audience his own enthusiasm, the sheer joy, the magic of great music-making.

In establishing the new ‘De Dannan’ in 2009, Frankie has assembled a group of fiercely talented performers who during the first performance as a band in the USA received a number of standing ovations at Sander’s Theater at Harvard University, Boston-and the first was before the intermission! Rob Fabroni, Producer of the ‘Last Waltz’, who saw the band perform in the USA during their first tour in March 2009 summed up the thoughts of many in the hall: “this is the best incarnation of ‘De Dannan’ I have ever witnessed and I believe I have seen them all…sensational”.  

'Electrifying' is an adjective that's too often used to describe certain performances but this is one instance where it's absolutely unavoidable.

If you've never been lucky enough to see ‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ perform live, prepare to be... shocked.

To book tickets to see Frankie Gavin and De Dannan on Friday 21st January, 8pm call Riverbank Arts Centre on 045 448327 or book online at www.riverbank.ie

“Frankie Gavin and De Dannan are the jewel in the crown, and as the musicians hit top gear some of the fast reels in particular are mesmerizing” – Carl Dixon, The Irish Examiner, August 2009

"Rightly heralded as the greatest Irish fiddler player, Frankie Gavin has nothing left to prove...Gavin is a true fiddle-playing genius, one who continues to inspire and dumbfound in equal measure" - The Scotsman

Frankie Gavin & DeDannan

Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

Friday 21st January, 8pm

Price: €20/€18

Book 045 448327 // www.riverbank.ie