Planxty the legendary folk act comprises the talents of Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Liam O'Flynn and Donal Lunny. With a recent No Disco special on Planxty, a biograhpy on the band presently being worked on by Leagues O'Toole and a live album in the offing, Planxty are back.

If Ralph Stanley represented the gig of the year for 2003, the gig of 2004 has come early with news of ten Planxty concerts in Vicar St in January and Febuary. Two years ago, at an Andy Irvine concert in Whelans, word got around the city that Planxty were going to reform for an impromptu set that night. The venue was jointed and sure enough after a short set from Andy, Donal and Christy joined him on stage for some of the best live music I have ever heard. Liam O'Flynn could not make it that night but now we can see Planxty in all their glory at Vicar St.

Planxty were formed when Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn played on Christy Moore's 1972 album Prosperous. At that time, Christy Moore was a stalwart of English and Irish folk circles but he would give us some of the finest folk vocal performances singing with Planxty. Andy Irvine is one of the great traditional Irish guitarists and arrangers and has a sweet singing voice as well.  His life long interest in Eastern European music was to introduce all kinds of colours and rhythms to traditional music.

Donal Lunny is a stunning multi-instrumentalist, producer and music arranger. Liam O'Flynn is one of the great modern day uileann pipes players. As individuals, Planxty comprises a staggering array of talent but as a group they transcend themselves making exquisite and exhilarating trad music.

Even on their first album, Prosperous we can already hear the eclectic mixture of musical styles and talents that would make up the greatest folk band to ever come out of Ireland. Planxty recorded such classic albums as Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, The Well Below The Valley and Planxty and made standards out of "The Cliffs of Doneen", "The Lakes of Ponchatrain" and"Raggle Taggel Gypsy". You will not regret this rare musical treat should you find yourself at one of these Planxty concerts. Don't miss it.

Time : 9pm
Adm : €42.50

Vicar St
58-59 Thomas St.
Dublin 2
Tel : +353 (0) 1 454 6656 

Vicar Street