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Ranóg Townsend
SIAMSA Tíre in Tralee will be one of a network of venues throughout the country to present Lasta: A national arts programme for young people by young people.
Lasta is presented as part of Brightening Air | Coiscéim Coiligh, a nationwide, ten-day season of arts experiences brought to you by the Arts Council from June 11 to June 20.
In a new innovative approach to programming, 21 young curators were engaged by the Nasc venues to programme a festival of work for children and young peopledelivering for the first time, a national arts programme curated entirely by young people.
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Siamsa Tíre is one of eight venues taking part in Lasta and its three young curators are Aisling Clarke, a 22-year-old flute player from Roscommon; Susan Coleman, a 22-year-old traditional singer and concertina player from Donegal; and Ranóg Townsend, a 23-year-old sean nós dancer, teacher, and performer from Lixnaw in North Kerry.
All three are graduates of the BA in Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick and are passionate about traditional Irish culture, music, and arts.
With this in mind, they have curated a programme showcasing how those traditions are being creatively expressed today.
Their highlight event is a concert with Lisa Canny, a harp and banjo player who blends folk and traditional music with pop and hip-hip in a unique style that has resulted in BBC America naming her as one of the ‘top ten Irish acts you don’t want to miss’.
But that’s not all that is happening. Lisa Canny will take to the stage on another night with Bristol-born producer and bass player Dejay Edmund. Together, they are known as MOM + THE REBELS, a musical duo whose fusion sound blends folk and gospel.
Other events include concerts with singer Cathy Jordan and piano accordionist Karen Tweed; a willow lantern making workshop with artist and puppeteer Caoimhe Dunn; music and dance workshops; and a whole lot more.
All events are taking place online and all except two are free to attend. For more information, visit http://www.siamsatire.com
On a national level, the curators have delivered a unique and diverse programme of events to take place within the 10-day festival featuring theatre, dance, visual art, music, film, spoken word along with innovative site specific and multi-disciplinary events.
For more click on https://linktr.ee/lastafestival2021 to find out more about all Lasta events nationally.
