Bridge of Song - 5 Year Anniversary Concert
featuring The Emma Langford Trio plus Special Guest Brigid O Neill
Wednesday, 16 October 2024
8pm
€15
Bridge of Song celebrates its’ five year anniversary with a celebratory concert in the Linenhall Arts Centre, with a fitting headline performance from phenomenal singer-songwriter Emma Langford & her Trio with wonderful special guest Brigid O Neill.
Award-winning-and-losing, globe-trotting troubadour Emma Langford calls Limerick City in the West of Ireland home. Storytelling and wit sit at the heart of all she does; interweaving her live performances, and shining through her works. Hers is an inimitable, dreamy voice within the new wave of Irish folk.
Emma wrote and independently released her stunning sophomore album, Sowing Acorns at the height of a global pandemic – the gamble of releasing the record during such a precarious time paid off, and it received huge international praise. She solidified her place in the hearts and minds of the nation as she climbed the charts with the heart-rending The Winding Way Down to Kells Bay, and epic folk ballad Birdsong.
In 2023, after showcasing at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, Langford premiered new works inspired by pirate queen Gráinne Mhaol at Ireland’s National Concert Hall with the National Symphony Orchestra, and joined the star-studded Irish Women In Harmony on lead vocals on the main stage at Electric Picnic. She is currently working on new material around women in history, folklore and myth, and touring the USA, Ireland and the UK.
Brigid O Neill is an immensely gifted story teller from the celebrated Northern Irish Folk scene. Her music is crammed with confidence, charisma and choruses you’ll be whistling for months and sees her effortlessly weave elements of folk, country and more into her relatable tales of happiness, heartbreak and the human condition.
Bridge Of Song: With the popularity of streaming and downloading, it’s easy to forget that live performance was once the backbone of the music industry. Tapping into the need for this connection between performer and audience is Bridge of Song, a monthly Singer/Songwriter showcase that has exploded onto the music scene in Mayo. The brainchild of Mayo College of Further Education: Music Course Director - Eamonn Mulderrig, the idea was born in late 2018. Working with new Singer-Songwriters in the Music Course, it quickly became apparent that a local platform for new original music to be brought to a live listening audience was to be cultivated.
Forming a partnership with Bridge St Bar in Castlebar, the first Bridge of Song evening was launched in October 2018 showcasing new and established local talent. Established artists with national profile, headline the evening each month, giving them an opportunity to connect with a new audience and promote their music in the West of Ireland. The first night showcased Emma Langford, who since went on to glean a coveted RTE Radio 1 Folk Award and achieve international success.
In the five years since the debut night, Bridge of Song has become a community music project that stands alongside any in the country. ‘Being a once monthly event, we now have a waiting list of national acts looking for a spot' says Eamonn.
