Belfast TradFest is ‘top of the traditional map’ says Dervish accordionist

Thousands of people are expected in Belfast for a week-long celebration of Irish traditional music that one musician said is becoming “top of the map” for the genre.

Accordionist Shane Mitchell told BBC News NI that Belfast is a “traditional music hotspot” and the festival has “shot up” in recent years.

He plays with Dervish, who will open the festival at the Ulster Hall on Sunday night.

Belfast TradFest, now in its seventh year, is running for a week from Sunday until 3 August.

Festival artistic director Dónal O’Connor said he looked forward to “bringing people from all backgrounds together to celebrate the very best of our cultural traditions”.

Dónal and his team have organised 45 events over the week featuring more than 500 musicians across 33 of Belfast’s venues, pubs and cultural spaces.

“From world-class concerts and intimate sessions to céilís, workshops, talks and family-friendly events, there truly is something for everyone,” he said.

This includes masterclasses in Irish music and dancing, concerts, pub sessions and a highland piping competition.

Passengers getting the train at Grand Central Station or people visiting the Titanic Quarter may even get caught in the middle of a pop-up céilí.

TradFest begins with a free celebration of traditional Irish and Scottish music in the form of an outdoor céilí at the Titanic Slipways between 13:00 and 17:00 BST.

The event hopes to attract more than 10,000 people with face painting, live traditional, piping and ukulele performances and interactive céilí dancing.

The focus then switches to the Ulster Hall at 19:00 for a collaborative concert by seasoned Irish traditional group Dervish, contemporary group NOTIFY and the Irish Concertina Orchestra.

Irish band Dervish has been at the forefront of the traditional music scene since 1989 when four of its founding members met at a pub session in Sligo.

NOTIFY are a six-piece contemporary instrumental ensemble whose new album features 40 musicians under the age of 18 from the Irish Concertina Orchestra .

Dervish co-founder and accordionist Shane Mitchell told BBC News NI he is looking forward to returning to the “Irish traditional hotspot” that is Belfast.

“Belfast is a great city, really fun to visit. It was one of the first places we played at the old Belfast folk festival, 36 years ago,” he said.

Although this is his first TradFest, he said he admired how the festival had “shot up so quickly”.

He said fans attending Sunday’s concert could expect “some vintage Dervish tracks” and a uniquely “Belfast setlist”.

“With a mixture of age groups and generations, it should be a very special event”, he said.

The band are staying in Belfast for the week to help lead the master workshops running during the day at Ulster University Belfast.

“It’s very unusual for us to stay more than one night in any place which gives an indication of how much we respect Belfast TradFest as a festival,” he said.

“If you see us around come up and say hello and if you’re a musician come and have a tune. That’s the spirit of Belfast TradFest…it’s very much the top of the traditional map.”

After years of honing his accordion skills, Shane said he would like to pass on “different bits and pieces” to the younger musicians at TradFest.

“I value the phrasing, styles and ornamentation I picked up from older musicians,” he said.

“That’s what Tradfest is all about. Different generations of musicians from different age groups.”

Shane’s advice for younger musicians at the festival is to “get out and play as many tunes, learn from as many people as you can and enjoy yourselves”.

Maeve O’Donnell has been playing the uilleann pipes for 12 years.

She said Belfast TradFest was “always a highlight of the summer”.

She will be teaching at the workshops, performing at the O’Mealy piping concert on Thursday evening and playing in sessions around Belfast.

“I am especially excited to see Dervish, Moxie, and Kinnaris Quintet to name but a few,” she said.

“I can’t wait to be surrounded by great music, great company, and the unbeatable TradFest atmosphere.”

Sinéad McKenna is teaching fiddle workshops and performing at the Sean Maguire tribute concert.

“I think it’s a fantastic week bringing people internationally to Belfast”, she said.

“I am so happy people are getting to first-hand witness and experience the thriving traditional music scene that we have in Belfast.”