"Each year we like to open the festival with a new combination of musicians that come together especially for the event. Guitarist Conal O Kane and concertina player Brian Donnellan and I have worked together on a few occasions as a trio. I wanted the masters of Tradition audience to have an opportunity to experience this trio. As well as working with Brian in the Common Ground ensemble I also work with the amazing cellist Kate Ellis. Kate and I and have done some shows as a duet. We will be doing some duet performances in the concert as well as playing all together as an ensemble. Sam Amidon the great American folk singer will be doing his own performance the following night but will guest as a singer and instrumentalist during the opening concert. Though many of these musicians know each other, this particular combination has never taken the stage together before." - Martin Hayes
