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go2harsha-blog · 5 years

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Celebrating Woodstock - Part 1

With the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock festival round the corner, Harsha Prabhu looks back to visiting the US for the 40th anniversary

A Fairy Tale of New York

Parrots for Peace, Ecofest, Central Park, NYC, Oct 2009. Pic: Hans Lovejoy

Blog 1 on the Rainbow Dreaming US tour, covering NYC and Ecofest. Rainbow Dreaming is a photodocumentary on the alternative culture of the rainbow region of NSW, Australia. The curators were invited to set up the exhibit for the Woodstock 40th. See more at http://www.rainbowdreaming.org

Which Woodstock?

“Don’t even bother about coming to Woodstock for the festival in August,” said Nathan Koening, our host at the Woodstock Museum. “It’s mostly expensive hype. Come in October, when the weather is better and there will be more Woodstock-related events to celebrate the Woodstock legacy. And you can set up the Rainbow Dreaming exhibit.”

Woodstock Museum, Saugerties, NY, October 2009. Pic: Emi Iizuka

The Woodstock Museum were partners in setting up the historic Nimbin-Woodstock Connection in the mid-nineties, a rainbow bridge linking the alternative communities of Nimbin in north eastern New South Wales, Australia, with the whole hippie tradition of Woodstock. We had sealed the relationship by sending the Woodstock Museum an earlier exhibit from Nimbin, called Some Children of the Dream.

It’s now some fifteen years down the track. Walking down the main strip in Byron Bay I spy Hans Lovejoy sitting in a cafe, sipping on a latte. Hans, musician and journalist for the Byron Shire Echo, was in-between assignments.

“Fancy a trip to Woodstock?” I asked him.

“Which Woodstock?” he asked, undoubtedly knowing there were many: Woodstock, the town; the original Woodstock festival in 1969, which was held some 100 kms away; and the many, commemorative events down the years, held wherever the required permits could be obtained and the producers and sponsors lined up with the dollars.

“Not the festival,” I replied, “It’s a celebration of the Woodstock legacy.”

“Why not,” he said.

Lords of the Material Universe

The first signs were auspicious.

At Brisbane airport, waiting to catch the flight out to LA, we bumped into Elizabeth Thorpe and Debbie Lee. Elizabeth and her partner Ray, proprietors of Happy High Herbs, were the principal sponsors of Rainbow Dreaming and Lee, artist and designer, is an old connection from Nimbin. Elizabeth and Lee were headed for USA to open Happy High’s first US store, in Arizona. And Hans and myself were headed for New York, bringing with us the stories and pictures of life in the rainbow region.

From the plane, the New York nightscape glowed and flickered like some gigantic circuit board. “The lords of the material universe have nice real estate here”, said Hans. Towers of ivory, streets of gold. Would the lords be kind to us? Would they let me in, with my Indian passport?

At immigration, there was a blip: Had my passport ever been stolen? Why was it registered as Australian? The question in my head went something like: So this is what it feels to be at the mercy of dodgy databanks and the mood of the assessment officer. But it turned out ok. After a few questions, Officer Pena waived me through.

Did I have anything to declare, the customs man asked? Don’t touch my bag if you please, I have a haversack full of rainbow dreams, I mused to myself.

At the airport, the smiling face of Benny Zable, waiving a rainbow flag, greeted us. Benny, Nimbin’s ambassador to Woodstock, was the kingpin in the rainbow bridge to Woodstock and beyond. Benny had arranged for us to stay in Brooklyn, at the studio of Traci Mann, a New York tap dancer.

Disoriented by jet lag, Hans had left his laptop on the airport bus. That first night, with the El roaring past our window, we fell into a troubled sleep, woken by the clatter of the El and the cries of children at the daycare centre below.

Through a Glass

Our first pilgrimage in New York was to the Yippie Museum in Greenwich Village. The Village was the bohemian hangout par excellence in the sixties. It still has a funky, if gentrified, look. Jazz bars and restaurants dot the streets.

The Yippie Museum resembles the Nimbin Museum, with a stage for performances. One night, we caught some fine performance poetry. It’s the headquarters of New York’s hemp legalization campaign. They knew about Nimbin. They were also involved with a global linkup of cities for 2010.

1st Oct saw the launch of Mark Roselle’s book “Tree Spiker”. Mark Roselle is the founder of Rainforest Action Network. He’s also the man who infiltrated a Nevada test site. The day was also Benny’s birthday, Benny, an agent provocateur with his rainbow flags. The Yippie Museum was a happening place, true to its name of promoting green(sic) issues through direct action.

It took us a while to work out what ‘uptown’ and ‘downtown’ meant in the subway, but we had worked it out by the time we left New York!

Hans slipped out one night for a dose of jazz; the girls went on a harbour cruise; Benny was beavering away at the Ecofest office. My jet lag meant that I saw the city as if through a glass darkly. One image remains: a black, immaculately dressed saxplayer, doing “In a Sentimantl Mood” in the subway at 50th St.

Ecofest

Ecofest, Central Park, NYC, Oct 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

The Ecofest office, off Broadway, was a hive of activity, presided over by Nanci Callahan, queen bee and director/producer of New York’s signature ecological fair, now in it’s 21st year.

We walked to Central Park to check out the site for this year’s Ecofest, passing Strawberry Fields and ‘Imagine’, the mosaic tribute to John Lennon. On park benches huddled New York’s homeless, shrouded in grey, under the shadows of the tall towers ringing the park. The Dakota apartments where Lennon had been shot were across the street. “Yoko Ono pays for the maintenance of this section of the park and the homeless are permitted to sleep here,” Benny explained. I thought of our homeless in Byron, chased from bus shelters, their beach humpies a mark for rangers. In this instance, New York seemed to have a heart.

Sunday 4th Oct was a fine day. The Ecofest site began to fill up with vedors and exhibitors, including the latest hybrid cars from Toyota and Ford.

Rainbow Dreaming at Ecofest, Central Park, NYC, Oct 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

We had been assigned the outer wall of the conference tent to set up the Rainbow Dreaming exhibit. Space restrictions meant only half the exhibit could be accommodated. We punched holes into the exhibition panels and strung them out on twine like washing on a line. It worked! Sayaka Nakao, Rina Terasaki and Saya Minami, our Japanese friends from Byron Bay, who had flown in the previous day via Tokyo to help with the exhibition tour, assisted us in this improvisatory task. Ever enthusiastic, our petite helpers were worth their weight in gold. Hans and I would have struggled to manage the show on our own.

Over 25,000 visitors streamed through Ecofest that day and, as we were positioned at the entrance, many of these stopped by to check the exhibit. Among these was Nirmala, Gina Lakosta’s daughter, who was in New York to perform a burlesque show, under the stage name La Viola Vixen. Another was a couple from Goonengerry, amazed to stumble upon a slice of life from the rainbow region in the heart of New York.

Tap dancers, including the amazing Mabel Lee, Traci Manns’s former teacher, all of 80; soul singers; stiletto heeled models strutting eco fashions; Rick Ulfik from We the World, the global peace network; Parrots for Peace from the Amazon rainforest; ending with a sing along with the legendary Pete Seeger, 90 years old and still singing his peace and environmental anthems.

Jam session, Central Park, NYC, Oct 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

The sun shone down on Benny Zable’s rainbow flags; children fed ducks in the pond; whole families happily picnicked under the trees; frisbees flew in the air. Catching the last of the sunset, the tall towers seemed to shower us with riches and green fields became fields of gold.

The evening ended with drumming. Three drum circles – Cuban, Haitian and African – rang out in the Park. The moon was full and so were our hearts.

Postscript: Hans’ laptop, lost on our first night, was returned to him by the New York City Transport Authority on our last morning in New York, in a fairy tale ending to our stay in the Big Apple!

Van Gets Ripped, or The Long Sleep of Unreason

Blog 2 on the Rainbow Dreaming US tour, taking in New York’s 13th Harvest Festival & Freedom Rally, Hancock, NY; and Woodstock Museum, Saugerties, NY.

Ma & Pa Woodstock, NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Rally, Camp Minglewood, Hancock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

New York Harvest Fest & Freedom Rally

Marijuana legalisation activists and their supporters on the East coast were to meet at Camp Minglewood in the Catskills, a couple of hours north of New York, for the Harvest Festival & Freedom Rally, on 9 Oct.

Rainbow Dreaming crew at New York Harvest Fest & Freedom Rally, October 2009

It was an opportunity too good to be missed. Our hosts from the Woodstock Museum, Shelli Lipton and Nathan Koenig, had booked us a spot at the Festival. They had also booked us into a bunkhouse, with 10 bunk beds. By now we had mushroomed to a party of 10.

It wasn’t pot, but potties that preoccupied us the three days we were there. The toilets were blocked. Much time and energy was spent agonizing over the situation and negotiating the portaloos well before the happy horde that had descended on the Camp trashed them every morning.

Harvest Fest, the child of Hemp activist and performance poet Rob Robinson, was now in its thirteenth year. The legal situation with pot in the US is complex and confusing. Some states (California) allow the medical use of marijuana. Others will bust you for possessing rolling papers. The talk at the Camp was all about the bust of a long-time hemp activist, who had been caught with a whole lot of pot that he was bringing to the festival. Regardless, the pot was plentiful.

Camp Minglewood, Hancock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

From pot to politics. I met Kurt Shotko, a member of the Greens party. Kurt was of the opinion that the Republicans and Democrats were cut from the same cloth, manufactured by big business. “Look at what Obama’s doing in Afghanistan. He’s sending more Americans to die there. We need an alternative to the main players. We’ve got to wake up to the reality that the American dream has been a nightmare for a lot of Americans and for the rest of the world, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have been asleep for too long. We need a revival of common sense. Only a massive program of self education is going to do it.”

Then he quoted from the Populist Program, published in 1892: “They propose to sacrifice our homes, lives and children on the altar of mammon; to destroy the multitude in order to secure corruption funds for the millionaires.”

1892! The sleep of unreason had been a long one.

But Kurt was hopeful of the next generation. That’s why he set up camp at festivals across the US. And that’s partly why we were there too.

Benny Zable in front of archival pic from Rainbow Dreaming, NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Rally, Camp Minglewood, Hancock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

The Rainbow Dreaming exhibit was attached to a wall in the main music hall. Thus many, mostly young, punters got to see the exhibit. This was where The Wailers played on Saturday. I caught the Wailers when they played in Byron and I’m happy to report that they are still wailing away.

But what struck me most about the music at Harvest Fest was the pervasive influence of the Grateful Dead, the legendary sixties psychedelic band from San Francisco. From Cabinet, an established US indi band that played the main stage, to camp fire songs at 4 am, the Dead were everywhere, on so many t shirts and stickers, in so many riffs and improvisatory moments, as a psychedelic glint in so many eyes.

George Clinton & Funkedelic, NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Rally, Camp Minglewood, Hancock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

I spoke with Jane, an artist from New York, who had a stall selling Dead memorabilia. She had grown up in San Francisco and was still a Deadhead. Her eyes misted when she spoke of Jerry Garcia: “You could see so much love pouring out of him. It was a love affair that lasted and lasted and it’s still going strong even when he’s gone.”

Minglewood Moment: across from the festival site, two lovers sit on the steps of a boat ramp. The dying sun paints purple tints on the tops of the maple and elm; waterfowl break the surface of the lake. A band is playing the Dead’s “China Cat Sunflower.”

Woodstock: The Town that Time Forgot

In Rip Van Winkle, Washington Irving’s story, a man who wanders off into the Catskill Mountains, meets some rather strange companions who serve up a suspiciously heady brew, and falls asleep under a tree. When he wakes up, he finds that some 20 years have gone by and his world has changed.

Woodstoock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

The town of Catskill is 30 minutes away from Woodstock. Some 40 years have gone by after the infamous Woodstock festival of 1969. And the world has changed since those heady days. But walking around Woodstock, the town that gave a name to the festival, (which happened in the neighbouring town of Bethel, some 100 kms away), you could be forgiven for believing that it’s still in the thrall of those halcyon days of hippiedom.

Woodstoock, October 2009. Pic: Emi iizuka

Our first port of call was the Woodstock Town Board meeting that night. Benny Zable, Nimbin’s ambassador to Woodstock, presented letters from Nimbin and the crew made a presentation on the Rainbow Dreaming exhibit and its relevance to the whole Woodstock legacy.

The meet was dominated by a spirited discussion over rezoning issues, something very familiar to us on the north coast. Would Woodstock go the way of other small towns and be besieged by rampant development, or would it stay true to its alternative legacy?

That night we also visited the Bearsville Cultural Centre (set up by Albert Grossman, one-time manager of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and The Band) and Alchemia Café to catch some live music, including a spirited set by Adam, a young musician we had met at the Byron market drum circle!

Guided around by Benny, on our very first day in Woodstock, we met some representatives of Woodstock’s hippie past: Jogger John, the local village savant, who used to jog everywhere, but, due to his advanced age is now is on a bike; Day A, the village barber, who runs a soup kitchen for the Rainbow Family in town; Grandpa and Grandma Woodstock, an elderly couple, dressed the part, almost town mascots. Woodstock itself is full of funky cafes and art galleries. Turn a corner and spy a Zen garden, complete with waterfall and pergola.

Peace Pole, Woodstock, October 2009. Pic: Emi Iizuka

In the centre of Woodstock town is the village green and the peace pole, with peace messages in several languages. We bumped into Fr John, a priest and peace activist. When he heard that two of our crew, Sayaka Nakao and Rina Terasaki, were from Tokyo, he beamed at them and said: “ Let’s set up a peace link between Woodstock and Tokyo. All it takes is five people. Five is the magic number. Can you find five friends in Tokyo who may be interested?”

Hippie Church, Woodstock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

Fr John also runs the Hippie Church, on the hill overlooking Woodstock. This was the very church where Bob Dylan was rumoured to have married the love of his life, Sarah, his sad eyed lady of the lowlands. The church wears the patina of age, its icons fading in the dim, dank light streaming through stained glass windows.

Path to Buddhist monastery, Woodstock, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

In stark contrast is the Buddhist monastery next door. Set up in 1975, the monastery is linked to the 10th century Tibetan Kagyu lineage. Its halls are huge and lushly decorated with tankas, its massive Buddha is gold-painted, its prayer lamps cast a beatific glow on meditating monks and visitors; its gift shop bulges with merchandise, all a tribute to Buddhism’s growing influence in the new world.

Prophesy

The next morning, my very first snowflakes, fine and feathery.

It was too cold to venture out. Emi Iizuka and Simeon Michaels, both from Byron, had joined us in Woodstock. We were toasty warm at the Woodstock Museum, hosted by Shelli and Nathan.

Under the tutelage of Shelli, the sacred Indian corn was brought out and inspected. Purple, yellow, orange, red and black, this was authentic Hopi corn. The girls played with the corn silk, good for medicinal tea and dress ups, fake moustaches and beards. They were transformed into imaginary characters, magical beings, the warrior princesses of Genghis Khan, dressed as men to pass unnoticed amidst the ripening corn. Shelli makes beautiful corn necklaces, a craft she learnt from Rainbow Weaver, a Mohawk Clan Mother.

Padmasambhava, Buddhist monastery, Woodstock, October 2009. Pic: Emi Iizuka

Nathan spoke about the connection between the Hopi and the Tibetans. “Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, said: When the iron bird flies and the horses run on wheels the Tibetans will be scattered over the face of the earth and the dharma will come to the land of the red man.”

Nathan went on: “The Hopi’s felt that this might have something to do with the dharma coming to the US. They have prophesies too. After the swastika and the sun, there would be another force, symbolized by the colour red. This force will wear a red cloak or red cap. Spiritual wisdom will come from the East. This spirituality must spread. If that does not take root, others with the red symbol will invade from the West and crawl over the land in one day. The Hopis think this could be the ‘red’ Chinese.” 

“When the Tibetan Karmapa visited Hopiland in 1974, he said: We must have know each other before; your features, ceremonies and way of life are similar to our own. When we bought Hopis to the monastery in Woodstock in 1979, the two cultures again recognized each other, and the Hopis said that the Tibetans may very well be the long lost brother who left them at the beginning of time and went to the other side of the earth to balance the earth spiritually.” Said Shelli: “When the shit hits the fan, we won’t survive unless we cooperate with each other. That’s also what the Hopi prophecies speak of. The Hopis are known as the ‘peaceful ones’.”

While we spoke of prophecies, outside, in the gathering gloom, Tiago Guimaraes, a Brazilian artist, was busy carving out a statue of a man with a guitar, the quintessential hippie hitchhiker, his hand raised, his fingers flashing the peace sign.

Elliot Landy’s book on Woodstock

The Rainbow Dreaming opening at the Woodstock Museum on Sat 17 Oct was a modest yet sweet affair: local musos were in attendance and we joined the members of the Woodstock drum circle in a bongothon.

Rainbow Dreaming crew with Elliot Landy, Woodstock Museum, October 2009. Pic: Hans Lovejoy

The highlight of the evening was meeting Elliot Landy, the famous Woodstock photographer. Elliot was all praise for the exhibit, gave away signed copies of his book to all the crew and offered to help us find a publisher for a book on the exhibition. (Sadly, I was to leave my copy on the street in San Francisco while moving house.)

The Last Hippie, Woodstock Museum, October 2009. Pic: Harsha Prabhu

The last act of the day was raising the sculpture of the hippie hitchhiker and placing him on his pedestal: a symbol of Woodstock’s hippie past and a pointer to its uncertain future as a cultural pilgrimage centre.

Woodstock Earth, after the drum circle, October, 2009. Pic: Simeon Michaels

On our last evening in Woodstock, we participated in the Woodstock Earth drum circle. Some 30 drummers were gathered in the backyard at Day A’s house. In summer, the drummers gather at the village green and spill out onto the road. As the sound of the drums rose over the autumn dusk, we were again reminded of how lucky we were with our vibrant culture of communal drumming and dancing in the rainbow region.

Last days in New York: the Bangladeshi cigarette sellers; the African rickshaw pullers in Central Park; the old men and women carting large bundles of recyclable cans and bottles; the man in Times Square offering to sell me a 15 carat gold ring or Obama condoms.

While the crew went shopping and sightseeing I wandered back to Central Park. More than the statue of Liberty, than Ground Zero, than the suicide gulches and canyons of Wall Street, I was drawn to the spot with the Imagine mosaic and tribute to John Lennon. Park benches line the walkway, each with its dedication. I sat there, amidst the touros and derros, as the shadows lengthened.

Then I saw these lines from Dylan Thomas, carved on a park bench: “Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.”

Celebrating Woodstock - Part 2 on San Francisco’s Westfest and the Beats to follow. Please check my blog...

by Harsha Prabhu

Rainbow Dreaming crew at Magic Mountain, Woodstock, October 2009

NOTE: An edited version of A Fairy Tale of New York was published in the Byron Shire Echo, October 2009. While the words and sentiments in the blogs are my own, this project has been a community cultural initiative, helped along by many hands, hearts and minds. Many thanks are due.

First up, Benny Zable, Shelli Lipton & Nathan Koening for setting up the Nimbin Woodstock Connection and the sister village link between the two communities. I would like to acknowledge the help and guidance offered by the Rainbow Dreaming crew – Benny Zable, Hans Lovejoy, Saya Minami, Sayaka Nakao, Rina Terasaki, Emi Iizuka & Simeon Michaels – on this amazing journey to the US. Thanks to our hosts in the US, including Traci Mann & Nanci Callahan in NYC; Rob Robinson at Harvestfest; Shelli Lipton & Nathan Koenig at Woodstock Museum; and Douglas Kolberg & Boots Hughston at Westfest. Thanks to our principal sponsor Happy High Herbs and our media sponsors Byron Shire Echo & Bay FM. Thanks to all those who donated to the community chest to make this project possible, including all the artist and performers from the rainbow region who helped raise funds for the US tour. And a big thank you to all the freaky people of the rainbow region, who are the inspiration for this project. And the writers and photographers who so generously donated their work. This project was auspiced by Byron Community & Cultural Centre, assisted by Lismore Regional Gallery and supported by Byron Neighbourhood Resource Centre and Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre. Rainbow Dreaming was curated & produced by Harsha Prabhu & Graeme Batterbury for the Rainbow Collective. More on Rainbow Dreaming, including how to get a copy of the book, at: www.rainbowdreaming.org

#woodstock #woodstock festival #newyork #woodstockmuseum #nimbin #byronbay #photography #hopi #rainbowregion #padmasambhava #ecofest #cannabislawreform #elliotlandy #hemp #woodstockanniversary

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aislingagnew-blog · 8 years

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Full Concert Dates & Events

2018

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Friday 19th Jan 2018

Rannoch Music Society

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Friday 26th Jan 2018

Closer, Belfast

*******

FLUTE PHONICS & CARLUKE

Saturday 17th February 2018

Renfield St Stephens, Glasgow

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Sunday 4th March 2018

COMA, Belfast

Thursday 8th March 2018

International Women’s Day, Belfast

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Saturday 10th March 2018

Passau Festival, Germany

*******

AISLING AGNEW

Saturday 24th March 2018

Flight of the Bumblebee, Glasgow

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Tuesday 27th March 2018

Peter Rosser Competition, Belfast

Wednesday 28th March 2018

UYO Collaboration, Belfast

Thursday 12th April 2018

Maynooth University

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 15th April 2018

Chamber Babies, Belfast Music Society

*******

AISLING AGNEW & ALEX PETCU

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Moving on Music Showcase

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 12th May 2018

Involute, Belfast

*******

FLUTE PHONICS

Saturday 19th May 2018

Barshaw Park, Glasgow

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Sunday 27th May 2018

Pamplemousse, Belfast

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Saturday 2nd June 2018

St Iberius Church, Wexford

Sunday 3rd June 2018

Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin

*******

DRAKE MUSIC

Saturday 9th June 2018

Showcase Concert, Belfast

*******

IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Tuesday 12th June 2018

Cadogan Hall, London

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Saturday 17th June 2018

Bari, Italy

*******

FLUTE PHONICS

Saturday 23rd June 2018

Renfield St Stephens, Glasgow

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Saturday 7th July 2018

CGR, Cumbrae

*******

2017

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 21st Jan 2017

The Viola in my Life, Belfast

Tuesday 21st Feb 2017

Sight & Sound, Belfast

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Thursday 9th March 2017

Gordonstoun Concert Series

*******

FLUTE PHONICS

Sunday 19th March 2017

Celtic music, Lochwinnoch Arts Festival

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Thursday 23rd March 2017

Chichester Concert Series

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 29th March 2017

Beyond the Spectra, Belfast

Thursday 30th March 2017

Bitesize Spectralism, Dublin

Thursday 20th April 2017

UYO Workshop and Concert, Belfast

Saturday 22nd April 2017

Xenakis, Belfast

Friday 5th May 2017

While You Listen, Belfast

Saturday 6th May 2017

While You Listen, Dublin

*******

RED NOTE ENSEMBLE

Saturday 13th May 2017

Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Friday 26th May 2017

Peter Rosser Award, Belfast

*******

SALISBURY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

9th/10th June 2017

Vox Balanae - Salisbury Cathedral

*******

ST ANDREWS OPERA

16-25th June 2017

The Cunning Little Vixen - St Andrews/Berwick

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

7th - 16th July 2017

Camino Artes, Spain

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Monday 11th Sep 2017

BBC Hear and Now, Belfast

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

16th September 2017

National Chamber Music Day

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Monday 30th Oct 2017

Season Launch, Belfast

Thursday 2nd Nov 2017

Tempered Music Festival, Belfast

*******

IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Fri 3rd Nov 2017

Athenry, Galway

Sat 4th Nov 2017

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

*******

DAVE HEATH & FRIENDS

Fri 10th Nov 2017

Fringe of Gold Festival, St Andrews

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 2nd Dec 2017

Fusion Concert, Belfast

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Wed 6th Dec 2017

Bideford Music Club

Sun 10th Dec 2017

Balmoral Golf Club

*******

IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Fri 8th Dec 2017

Glor, Ennis

Past Dates:

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 6th April 2016

Schoenberg Chamber Symphony, Belfast

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MOVING ON MUSIC

Thursday 7th April 2016

BBC Ten Pieces Workshop, Newry

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AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Saturday 23rd April 2016

Linlithgow Arts Guild

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 4th May 2016

Solo Contemporary Flute Recital, Belfast

*******

BELFAST MUSIC SOCIETY

Saturday 7th May 2016

Chamber Babies Concert with Ryan Molloy

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Friday 27th May 2016

1st Peter Rosser Composition Award, Belfast

*******

ST ANDREWS OPERA

18th June - 8th July 2016

Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw

*******

FLUTE PHONICS

Sunday 24th July 2016

Joint concert with the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, Glasgow

*******

IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Thursday 18th August 2016

Ennis Fleadh

25th-28th August 2016

Burren Summer Festival, Ballyvaughan

http://www.clarememoryorchestra.com/festival.html

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 18th September 2016

Dalswinton Festival

Thursday 13th October 2016

National Gallery, Edinburgh

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Monday 31st October 2016

Season Launch, Belfast

Thursday 3rd November 2016

Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 21st January 2015

Arts & Business Annual AwardsThe Mill, Newtownabbey

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Thursday 29th January 2015

Ye Cronies Concert Series

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 4th February 2015

Night Music The Mac, Belfast Belfast Music Society/Moving on Music

*******

AISLING AGNEW & CHRIS BAXTER

Tuesday 10th February 2015

Loretto School, Edinburgh

Friday 13th February 2015

Sphere, Renfield St Stephens, Glasgow

Saturday 14th February 2015

Younger Hall, St Andrews

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 28th February 2015

Donatoni Portrait Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast http://tinyurl.com/phdgjsg

*******

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 8th March 2015

Bruch, Haydn, Mozart Younger Hall, St Andrews

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 15th March 2015

Newton Stewart Music Club

*******

Passauer Saiten Festival, Germany

AISLING AGNEW & SHARRON GRIFFITHS

Tuesday 17th March 2015

Guest with BARDIC TRIO

Friday 20th March 2015

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Thursday 9th April 2015

Westbourne Music, Merchants House

7 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1BA

12.45pm http://www.westbournemusic.com/concerts

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Pierrot Lunaire

Friday 10th April 2015 - Derry

Saturday 11th April 2015 - Belfast

Sunday 12th April 2015 - Dublin

Monday 13th April 2015 - Maynooth

http://tinyurl.com/o8k2x5b

*******

AISLING AGNEW & CHRIS BAXTER

Saturday 25th April 2015

St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee

1pm

*******

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 26th March 2015

Elgar ‘The Apostles’

Younger Hall, St Andrews

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Wednesday 13th May 2015

Nyköpings Gitarrseminarium 7pm Nyköping Theatre, Sweden

*******

AISLING AGNEW

Soloist with Grampian Concert Orchestra

Saturday 16th May 2015

Ferryhill Church, Fonthill Rd, Aberdeen

7.30pm

http://gco-aberdeen.org.uk/

*******

BACH 'A MUSICAL OFFERING'

Sunday 17th May 2015

Wallneuk North Church - 2pm

Sunday 31st May 2015

Cathedral of the Isles, Cumbrae - 3pm

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Friday 3rd July 2015

Cathedral of the Isles, Cumbrae - 8pm

*******

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Friday 24th July 2015

Ballyvaughan Church, Clare - 7.30pm

Saturday 25th July 2015

Glor, Ennis - 8pm

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 26th July 2015

Couthouse Gallery, Ennistymon- 3pm

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

7th - 16th July 2015

Camino Artes:

Iglesia de San Martin in Fromista

Iglesia of Santa Maria del Camino in Carrion de los Condes

Iglesia of San Tomas in Moratinos

Monasterio of San Anton in Castrojeriz

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

26th August - 3rd October 2015

US Tour:

26th Aug - Ventura County Classical Guitar Society

27th Aug - Recording at GSI, Los Angeles

13th Sep - Concert at St Barnabas Church, St Catherines Canada

15th Sep - Masterclass for Oberlin Conservatory of Music

16th Sep - Concert for Oberlin Conservatory of Music

18th Sep - Concert for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

19th Sep - Masterclass for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

27th Sep - Concert for La Guitarra California Festival

2nd Oct - Concert in Novato

3rd Oct - Concert for South Bay Guitar Society

4th Oct - Masterclass for South Bay Guitar Society

5th Oct - Workshops in San Jose

*******

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA

7th - 11th October 2015

Jeonju Int’l Sori Festival

South Korea

*******

AISLING AGNEW & CHRIS BAXTER

Friday 23rd October 2015

At One With Music, Inverness

Sunday 25th October 2015

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 18th November 2015

Season Launch - Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Saturday 21st November 2015

Boulez & Reich - Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

*******

AISLING AGNEW

Soloist with St Andrews Chamber Orchestra

Tuesday 24th November 2015

Nielsen Concerto - Younger Hall, St Andrews

*******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Monday 14th December 2015

St Bride's, Fleet Street London

*Private Carol Service*

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Monday 8th December 2014

St Bride's, Fleet Street London

(Private Carol Service)

*******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 6th December 2014

Drawing on Feldman Belfast *******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Wednesday 26th November 2014

CMC Salon Series National Concert Hall, Dublin *******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Friday 21st November 2014

Season Launch Concert Belfast *******

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 2nd November 2014

Brahms, Beethoven, Mussorgsky Younger Hall, St Andrews *******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 19th October 2014

Belfast Music Society *******

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA

14-18th October 2014

Brian Boru Project Co. Clare, Ireland *******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Wednesday 24th September 2014

London Classical Guitar Festival Boliver Hall, London *******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Monday 11th August 2014

Oberste Stadtkirche, Iserlohn Germany *******

BACH 'A MUSICAL OFFERING'

Wednesday 6th August 2014

Old St Paul's Church, Edinburgh *******

RTE CONCERT ORCHESTRA

Friday 1st August 2014

National Concert Hall, Dublin *******

AGNEW MCALLISTER DUO

Sunday 13th July 2014

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh *******

CLASSICAL GUITAR RETREAT

2nd - 7th July 2014

Flute & guitar workshops and concerts Cathedral of the Isles, Cumbrae *******

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA

Thursday 3rd July 2014

Glendalough, Co. Wicklow *******

JAMIE MacDOUGALL & FRIENDS

Friday 20th June 2014

Haydn, Foster & Copland Folk Songs Cottier's Theatre Glasgow *******

ST ANDREWS OPERA

16th - 28th June 2014

Britten: Albert Herring St Andrews ~ Greenock ~ Perth *******

AGNEW McALLISTER DUO & STUART MUIR

Tuesday 3rd June 2014

Caird Hall, Dundee *******

AGNEW McALLISTER DUO

Thursday 15th May 2014

National Gallery Edinburgh *******

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Thursday 20th March 2014

Takemitsu, Hellawell, Wilson, Caffrey

Queen's University Belfast Time: 1.10pm *******

RECORDING

Solo & Duo works by Bach, Telemann, Towner & Thomas

*******

GLASGOW MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sunday 9th March

Conducting ~ Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall *******

AGNEW McALLISTER DUO

Wednesday 5th March 2014

J.S Bach, Alan Thomas, Irish & Scottish Baroque music

St Salvator's Chapel, St Andrews Time: 1.10pm *******

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 2nd March 2014

Verdi Requiem

Younger Hall, St Andrews Time: 7.30pm *******

SCOTTISH WIND ENSEMBLE

Friday 17th January 2014

Enescu, Gounod, Schubert, Francaix

Overton Church, West Kilbride Time: 7.30pm *******

***********************************

2013:

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Friday 13th December 2013 Conducting ~ Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble Govan and Linthouse Parish Church Tickets: £5

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 17th November 2013 Younger Hall, St Andrews

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA, IRELAND

Friday 8th November 2013 'The Clare Concerto' Glor, Ennis

CHILDREN’S CLASSIC CONCERTS

Wednesday 30th October 2013 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline Time: 1.45pm

HARD RAIN SOLOIST ENSEMBLE

Saturday 21st September 2013 Venue: The MAC, Belfast Time: 7.30pm

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA, IRELAND

Friday 9th August 2013 Feakle Traditional Music Festival Special guests Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Mairtín O’Connor http://www.feaklefestival.ie/programme_fri.html http://www.clarememoryorchestra.com/

CLASSICAL GUITAR RETREAT

Thursday 4th ~ Monday 8th July 2013 Agnew McAllister Duo Time: 3pm Tickets: £10 For further information visit http://www.cgretreat.com/concerts

CLARE MEMORY ORCHESTRA, IRELAND

Friday 28-30th June 2013 Kilkee Outreach weekend and concert with special guest Martin Hayes http://www.clarememoryorchestra.com/

FORFEST FESTIVAL - CZECH REPUBLIC

Monday 24th June 2013 Agnew McAllister Duo Time: 8pm Concert Venue: Picture Gallery of the Chateau Kromeriz, Czech Republic For further information visit http:///www.forfest.cz

ST PAUL’S DUNDEE

Saturday 22nd June 2013 Agnew McAllister Duo Concert: Saturday 3rd March Time: 1pm

HERE WE STAY, TRON THEATRE

Wed 19th & Thurs 20th June 2013 Time: 7.45pm Tickets: £4-6 Songs and life stories of refugees and local residents in Glasgow http://www.tron.co.uk/event/songs-from-here-we-stay—documentary-launch

ALZHEIMER’S FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Friday 14th June 2013 Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble City Chambers Glasgow

BACH MAGNIFICAT

Sunday 12th May 2013 Glasgow Lyric Choir and Orchestra St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow

PRIMAVERA CONCERTS

Sunday 14th April 2013 3pm Concert:Agnew McAllister Duo Venue: St Catherine’s Ontario For further information visit http://www.primaveraconcerts.ca

CANADIAN FLUTE ASSOCIATION

Saturday 13th April 2013 10.30am Workshop: Playing by Memory 8pm Concert:Agnew McAllister Duo Venue: Women’s Art Association Gallery, 23 Prince Arthur Avenue Toronto Tickets: Workshop $10, Concert $15, Joint ticket $20 For further information visit http://www.http://canadaflute.com/2012-2013.html#Aisling

SALFORD SONIC FUSION FESTIVAL

Saturday 23rd March 2013 Aisling Agnew with Re:search Venue: Salford University Time: 7.30pm Visit http://www.salford.ac.uk/home-page/events/events/salford-sonic-fusion-festival

KIRKCALDY MUSIC SOCIETY

Wednesday 13th March 2013 Agnew McAllister Duo Venue: St Peters Episcopal Church, Townsend Place KY1 1HB Time: 7.30pm Visit http://www.kirkcaldymusicsociety.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2012 CONCERTS

ST BRIDES, LONDON

Monday 10th December 2012 Carol Service for the Communications Industry Venue: St Bride’s, Fleet Street, London Time: 6.30pm Visit http://www.stbrides.com

MENINGITIS TRUST CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Thursday 6th December 2012 Conducting the Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble Venue: Glasgow Cathedral Time: 7.30pm Visit http://www.meningitis-trust.org

PERTH CHAMBER MUSIC CLUB

Tuesday 4th December 2012 Agnew McAllister Duo Venue: St John’s Kirk, Perth Time: 7.30pm Visit http://www.perthchambermusic.org.uk

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Sunday 25th November 2012 St Andrews Venue: Younger Hall, St Andrews Time: 7.30pm For further information visit http://www.heisenbergensemble.co.uk

FLUTE ENSEMBLE WEEKEND COURSE

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October 2012 Workshops and coaching the Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble Venue: New Lanark For further information visit http://www.gafe.co.uk

CLARE MEMORY ENSEMBLE, IRELAND

Friday 21st September 2012 Venue: Glor Theatre, Ennis Time: 8pm Tickets: Free ticketed event, contact box office Visit http://www.glor.ie/events#e199

NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC DAY, SCOTLAND

Saturday 15th September 2012 Venue: Perth Time: 1pm Tickets: free http://www.emusicscotland.co.uk/national-chamber-music-day-2012/

SIEGBURG, GERMANY

Saturday 8th September 2012 Venue: Stadtmuseum Siegberg Time: 7.30.pm Tickets: http://tix.concertin.com/1252481

BRITISH FLUTE CONVENTION

Monday 20th August 2012 Manchester Venue: Royal Northern College of Music Time: 2.15pm Tickets: For Convention tickets and further information visit http://bfs.org.uk

ISERLOHN FESTIVAL

Sunday 12 ~ Sunday 19th August 2012 Iserlohn Concert details tbc

NATIONAL FLUTE CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS

Saturday 11th August 2012 Las Vegas Venue: Caesar’s Palace Time: 10.30pm Tickets: For Convention tickets visit http://www.nfaonline.org

NENDAZ FESTIVAL

Friday 27th July 2012 Bleusy Chapel, Nendaz Concert: 8pm

CLASSICAL GUITAR RETREAT

Thursday 5th ~ Monday 9th July 2012 Cathedral of the Isles

ALZHEIMER’S FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Friday 8th June 2012 with Glasgow Amateur Flute Ensemble at Adelaide’s, Bath Street Glasgow

A CONCERT FOR ANDREW

In January Andrew McNicoll was in a fatal accident while cycling to work in Edinburgh.

Following the devastation of their loss, Ian and Lynne McNicoll set up

The Andrew Cyclist Charitable Trust to campaign for improvements to safety for all road users.

Friday 11th May 2012 Edinburgh Venue: Polwarth Parish Church, 36-38 Polwarth Terrace, EH11 1LU Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £12 (£8 Concession) Phone 0131 2281155 http://www.facebook.com/events/395726470452660

HEISENBERG ENSEMBLE

Saturday 28th April 2012 St Andrews Venue: Younger Hall, St Andrews Time: 7.30pm For further information visit http://www.heisenbergensemble.co.uk

RECORDING ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC COMPOSITIONS FOR FLUTE

Friday 4th May 2012 South Eastern Regional College, Bangor Details: Workshop and recording of electro-acoustic compositions using flute

SICILY MASTERCLASSES & CONCERTS

Friday 13th ~ Sunday 15th April 2012 Sicily Details tbc

HALLEIN FESTIVAL, AUSTRIA

Thursday 29th March ~ Sunday 1st April 2012 Hallein Details tbc

KIRKMAHOE CONCERT SERIES

Sunday 25th March 2012 Kirkmahoe Concerts Venue: Barony Church, Dalswinton Time: 2.30pm Tickets: £8 For further information visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kirkmahoe-Concerts/140910459339947 or phone 01387 740045

SARAJEVO WINTER FESTIVAL

Sunday 4th ~ Wednesday 7th March 2012 Sarajevo Concert: Tuesday 6th March Time: tbc Tickets: tbc For further information visit http://sarajevskazima.ba

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, DUNDEE

Saturday 3rd March 2012 Dundee Concert: Saturday 3rd March Time: 1pm Tickets: tbc

MOVING ON MUSIC TOUR

Sunday 5th February 2012 Downpatrick Venue: Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick Time: 3pm Tickets: £10/£8 (Conc.) For further information visitwww.downartscentre.com/bookings or phone 02844 610747

Friday 3rd February 2012 Lisburn Venue: Island Arts Centre, Lisburn Time: 8pm Tickets: £11.50/£9.50 (Conc.) For further information visitwww.islandartscentre.com/bookings or phone 02892 509254

Thursday 2nd February 2012 Ballymoney Venue: Town Hall, Ballymoney Time: 8pm Tickets: £9/£7 (Conc.) For further information phone 02827 660230

Wednesday 1st February 2012 Bangor Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bangor Time: 8pm Tickets: £11/£9 (Conc.) For further information visitwww.northdown.gov.uk/bookings or phone 02891 271200

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2011 CONCERTS

Monday 12th December 2011 St Brides, Fleet Street Venue: St Brides Avenue, London EC4Y 8AU Time: 6.30pm The Agnew McAllister Duo perform for the Communications Industry Christmas Service: http://www.stbrides.com/services

Wednesday 7th December 2011 Glasgow Cathedral Venue: Cathedral Square, Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0QZ Time: 7pm Tickets: £8 Glasgow Flute Ensemble performs as part of the Meningitis Trust Christmas Concert: http://www.meningitis-trust.org/fundraising/events/christmas-concerts/

Friday 2nd December 2011 Dundee University Chaplaincy Venue: Dundee University, Perth Road, Dundee, Angus DD1 4HN Time: 1.20pm Tickets: free For further information visithttp://www.dundee.ac.uk/music

Friday 25th November 2011 Dolgellau Music Club, Wales Venue: Coleg Meirion-Dwfor, Ffordd Ty’n y Coed, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 2SW Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £7.50/£6 For further information and tickets visit phone 01341 422827 Thursday 24th November 2011 Ruthin Music Club, Wales Venue: tbc Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £8 For further information phone 01824 707761 4-6th November 2011 RSAMD, Glasgow Venue: RSAMD 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB Time: tbc Tickets: tbc Further information: Aisling and Matthew perform as part of the Big Guitar Weekend Sunday 23rd October 2011 Siamsa Tire, County Kerry Venue: Siamsa Tire, National Folk Theatre, Town Park, Tralee Time: 8pm Tickets: EUR 16/13 For further information and tickets visit Siamsa Tire or phone 066 712 3055 Thursday 20th October 2011 Strule Arts Centre, Omagh Venue: Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh BT78 1BL Tickets: £12 For further information and tickets phone 028 82247831 16th – 18th October 2011 Guitar Gems Festival, Netanya, Israel Concert: 16th October 2011 Time: 8pm Wednesday 21st September 2011 Caird Hall, Dundee Venue: Caird Hall, Crichton St, Dundee, Dundee City DD1 4 Tickets: £4 Concessions FoCHO Members, School groups Time: 7.30pm For further information and tickets phone 01382 434940 or visit the Dundee City Box Office Sunday 4th September 2011 Woodend Barn, Banchory Venue: Woodend Barn, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB31 5QA Tickets: £11, £3 students, under 18 and jobseekers in advance Time: 3pm

amsa Tire or phone 066 712 3055 Thursday 20th October 2011 Strule Arts Centre, Omagh Venue: Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh BT78 1BL Tickets: £12 For further information and tickets phone 028 82247831 16th – 18th October 2011 Guitar Gems Festival, Netanya, Israel Concert: 16th October 2011 Time: 8pm Wednesday 21st September 2011 Caird Hall, Dundee Venue: Caird Hall, Crichton St, Dundee, Dundee City DD1 4 Tickets: £4 Concessions FoCHO Members, School groups Time: 7.30pm For further information and tickets phone 01382 434940 or visit the Dundee City Box Office Sunday 4th September 2011 Woodend Barn, Banchory Venue: Woodend Barn, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB31 5QA Tickets: £11, £3 students, under 18 and jobseekers in advance Time: 3pm For further information and tickets call the Box Office on 01330 825431

Saturday 3rd September 2011 St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee Venue: St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee City DD1 2 Time: 1pm Tickets: £3.50/£2.50 Sunday 21st August 2011 St Mark’s artSpace, Edinburgh Venue: St Mark’s Church, 7 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2DP (0131 228 1155) Time: 5.30pm Tickets: £8/6 Concert details: Aisling collaborates with guitarist/composer Dave Flynn and Irish flautist Eileen Hassett at the Edinburgh fringe. Forfurther information or tickets visit www.edfringe.com or phone +44 (0) 131 226 0000 Monday 22nd August 2011 Acoustic Music Centre @St Brides, Edinburgh Venue: 10 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 2DZ (0131 668 2019) Time: 6pm Tickets: £8/6 Concert details: Aisling collaborates with guitarist/composer Dave Flynn and Irish flautist Eileen Hassett at the Edinburgh fringe. Forfurther information or tickets visit www.edfringe.com or phone +44 (0) 131 226 0000

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