Tradition Now

Tradition Now has developed into a veritable highlight of the trad & folk calendar, celebrating invention and evolution in traditional music, while staying true to its roots.

Tradition Now takes places twice a year in Spring & Autumn. In recent iterations, we have opened up various rooms in the building to allow for multiple, simultaneous performances following a headline performance so that audiences can experience a wide range of music and performers. 

The festival returns this November and sees main stage performances by award-winning singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill on Saturday 16 November making her orchestral debut with the National Symphony Orchestra. She will be performing orchestrations by Terry Edwards, commissioned by NCH. Lisa’s set will include work from her latest lauded album All of This Is Chance and other treasures from her creative arsenal.

On Sunday 17 November acclaimed Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper takes to the main stage for a highly-anticipated performance which will combine field recordings with traditional orchestration and contemporary electronic elements. 

Saturday 16 November will also see performances elsewhere in the NCH from Uilleann piper Leonard Barry with Andy Morrow and Seamie O'Dowd; eclectic duo Nick Hart and Tom Moore who augment viol and tenor viol with an array of drones and basses; and electrofolk artist Frankie Archer known for her innovative blend of manipulated samples, synths, drum tracks plus earthy Northumbrian fiddle. 

Sunday 17 November’s programme also features additional concerts in smaller venues by musical alchemists This is How we Fly (Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Seán Mac Erlaine, Nic Gareiss and Petter Berndalen) a group that fuse traditional Irish music, Swedish folk, jazz, and percussive dance to sublime effect; revered folk/traditional/ambient duo Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly and Swedish-Norwegian trio Ævestaden who blend lyres, fiddle, kantele, vocals, mouth harp, electronics and more to create unique soundscapes. 

Tradition Now is an initiative of the Arts Council and National Concert Hall and is supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media