MUSIC Mayo musicians visit Clifden for arts week

Mayo musicians visit Clifden for arts week


Henry McGlade

Clifden Community Arts Week, which is celebrating its 34th anniversary, was officially launched last week by Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The festival is now in full swing, and this year, it features two Mayo artists from different ends of the music spectrum, mezzo soprano Anne Marie Gibbons from Louisburgh, and roots musicians The Mud Dog Boys from Castlebar.
From 2004 to 2007, Anne Marie Gibbbons was a company principal at English National Opera, where her roles included Dorabella Cosi Fan Tutte, Flora La Traviata, Ino Semele, Nero Agrippina and Annio La Clemenza di Tito. She has an extensive oratorio and concert repertoire, and her recordings include ‘Zulma Elvida’ and ‘Abra Il Diluvio Universale’ for Opera Rara, ‘Sister Mathilde – The Dialogue of the Carmelites’ and ‘Italian Girl in Algiers’ for Chandos. On September 25, she will perform in a special benefit concert in aid of the local Church Of Ireland Restoration Fund. 
Castlebar musical duo The Mud Dog Boys – Gary Lavelle and Nicholas Timothy – will launch their debut album in Mullarkey’s Bar on September 22. Recorded in Clifden this summer at Sean Scoil Studios, the album has roots in country, blues and bluegrass. Featuring all-Ireland fiddle champion Fergal Scahill, it contains plenty of raw vocals, powerful rhythms and musical talent.
Lavelle and Timothy have being playing together for a year, but have known each other for many more. They have just returned from Barbados, where they gigged for a number of months. The lucky pair are returning to the sun-kissed island in November for the Barbados Virgin Music Festival.