Two of the most important names in Irish music, legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn and virtuoso fiddler Nollaig Casey – who between them have played with every major Irish artist of the past 30 years – will be joined for this special project by Máire Ní Chathasaigh, “the doyenne of Irish harpers,” and Britain’s finest flat-picking guitarist, Chris Newman.

The pure joy of their music will pour from the stage of The Capital’s Bendigo Bank Theatre on March 12.

Arty McGlynn is one of the best-known and most influential musicians in Ireland, with a unique understanding of the music he performs. Touring professionally with showbands and rock bands throughout Ireland, the UK and the USA from the age of 15, his playing soon came under the influence of Wes Montgomery and Thelonius Monk. He later revived his interest in Irish traditional music and in 1979 recorded McGlynn’s Fancy, the first recording of the guitar played in an authentic traditional style and a classic of the traditional music world.

He became one of the most sought after musicians in the country, playing and recording with Christy Moore, Paul Brady, John Prine, Tim O’Brien, Jim Rooney, Jerry Douglas, Donal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn, The Chieftains and countless others. 

Maire is Ireland’s most influential harper and as a teenager in County Cork in the early 1970s she invented an entirely new style that quickly became the norm among both her contemporaries and the younger generation of harpers.

Chris has been described as a “dazzling player”.  A prolific composer, arranger and record producer, he has also played with luminaries of many musical worlds over his past 40 years.

Maire’s sister, Nollaig, is one of Ireland’s most eminent musicians with her own unique way of playing traditional Irish music on the fiddle. Her distinctive sound and style has held such appeal for other musicians that there hardly exists a major Irish artist of the past 30 years with whom she has not worked.

With their different backgrounds and instruments, the four Heartstrings inevitably have individual influences, but one thing is consistent across them all – their incredible energy and talent.

Anne Henshall is The Capital’s marketing manager.