Welcome to the official Web site of the most exciting new band to hit the traditional Irish music scene for many years. At First Light comprises the talents of world renowned Uilleann Piper John McSherry and outstanding young fiddle player Dónal O'Connor, creators of Tripswitch, which has been described as 'Acoustic perfection'.
Combined with the sublime talent of Francis McIlduff from the famous McPeake clann, the power, clarity and sheer joy of Alan Burke formerly of the band Afterhours and 'Asturien Traditional Musician of the Year 2006' Rubén Bada and you can see why the band is being portrayed as 'a dream team line up'.

NEWS

** MYSPACE ** - Click here to leave us a message>>

08/02/08 John and Donal have spent a week in Downpatrick recording with the legendary                  American Slide guitarist Bob Brozman. Click here for more>>

28/11/07 BBC2 have posted unreleased clips of the band from the Open House                  Festival 07 here>>

16/10/07 BBC2 will feature AFL on the new music show Blas Ceoil. Recorded live at the                  Open House Festival in Belfast. The show also features Crooked Still, The                  Dhuks , Tim O'Brien, John McCusker and our good friend Arty McGlynn. Tune                  in to BBC2 TV on Monday 22nd October at 10 pm or click here for more>>

21/07/08 We're delighted to announce that we'll be playing the Open House Festival in                  Belfast on the 30th of September sharing the bill with Tim O'Brien, Arty                  McGlynn and John McCusker. We're also playing the Sligo Live festival on                  the 28th October with world music giants- The Buena Vista Social Club - we                  can't wait!!

01/06/07 <<NEW>> Ringtones now available for download to your phone. Click>>

23/04/07 Alan and Donal will be joining Brendan Begley and Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola                  on Pobal's Rodseo for a tour of the North of Ireland in May. Check local press                  for details.

03/03/07 Tripswitch wins an award in Chicago's Irish American                  News. More>>

01/02/07 Tripswitch selected by BBC Radio Ulster as                  Traditional Irish Music Album of the year. Click here for more>>

27/01/07 "they infuse their music with excitement through skillful playing                  rather than breakneck pacing" Tripswitch reviewed in Sing Out Magazine.                  Click Here>>

21/01/07 Sean Maguire's is voted Instrumental Track of the year 2006                  by Liveireland.com."an all-instrumental bit of brilliance" Click here >>

17/01/07"modern and energetic" Tripswitch voted in top 10 Roots Releases of 2006                   by Philidelphia City Paper. Click here for more>>

05/01/07 Tripswitch voted in top 10 Traditional Releases of 2006 by RTE Radio. more>>

10/12/06 We'll be having a christmas gig/party in The Kings Head, Lisburn Road, Belfast                  on Friday December 29th at 8:30pm. Also featured will be the wonderful                  singer/musician/artist Barry Kerr (www.barrykerr.com). Fiddle and flute duet                  Desy adams and Ruadhrai O'Kane, Belfast poet Gearoid MacLochlann and                  many many more....Bring a friend, your instruments and some dancing shoes                  and we'll see you there.

03/12/06 Nollaig Shona agus Bliain Úr faoi shéan . We're taking a break for December                  and January to work on the new album, hopefully the turkey and pudding will                  add some inspiration to the process. We'd like to wish everyone a merry                  Christmas and a happy new year.

01/11/06 At First Light featured on the front cover of Irish Music Magazine-December                  Edition. "Eddie Creaney talks to Belfast-based ensemble, At First Light about                  exciting times and their recipe for success" Click here>>

20/10/06 Donal & John have been commisioned by                  the BBC to compose a new ident for BBC Radio Ulster's Irish Language                  department. The piece will be played as an intro to Blas for the first time on                  Mon October 30th. Click here for a listen>>

17/10/06"God, this is glorious music!". Tripswitch reviewed in Canada's leading folk                  publication - Penguin Eggs. Click here for more>>

16/10/06 Tripswitch is reviewed on Belgian Folk Website folkroddels.be                  Click here>>

15/10/06 Just Confirmed - At First Light will be touring Germany in March. We're                  delighted to announce that we'll be working with Rainer Zellner on the Spring                  Festival Tour 2007 alongside wonderful singer BRÍD NI MHAOILEOIN and                  Donegal group CLANN RANALD. Check the tourdates section for more                  information. Or Click here>>

14/10/06"Tripswitch is an instant contender for Instrumental Album of the                 Year". LiveIreland.com. Click here for more>>

05/09/06"from radically riotous jigs and reels to heartbreaking laments and                 contemplative ballads Tripswitch is so fastidiously executed that it                 will take your breath away." - The Toronto Star. Click here for more>>

01/09/06"An immensely invigorating and intensely sparkling 40 minutes"                  Tripswitch is reviewed on netrhythms.co.uk. Click here for more>>

31/08/06 "At First Light are a seductively-energetic act that can encourage the                  shyest of music fans to take to the dance floor!" We had a storming                  night at Piping Live in Glasgow. Thanks to Findlay McDonald, Leslie Shaw and                  crew for putting together a brilliant festival. Click for review in icScotland>>

11/08/06 Check us out at MySpace.com www.myspace.com/atfirstlightmusic

10/08/06 We we're delighted to discover that we were the first Irish if not                  western European band to play at Zahrada 2006 - one of the premier festivals                  in the Czech Republic - . Thanks to Collette Norwood, The British                  Council and Dusan Sviba. Check out some photos in the Gallery>>

03/08/06 Tripswitch reviewed in Folker.de - Click Here >>

01/08/06 "There's probably not been such an innovative album released on                  the green island since Lunasa's The Merry Sisters of Fate and                  Tripswitch probably shatters more boundaries." Folk Roots reckon                  Tripswitch will be Album of the Year. Click here for more>>

29/07/06 "very thoughtful and deeply satisfying music". Alex Monaghan reviews                  Tripswitch for the Irish Music Magazine. Click here for more>>

12/07/06 Surement l'un des meilleurs Albums de l'anne. Review of Tripswitch in                  'Le Peuple breton' by Phillipe Cousin.

25/06/06 We were shocked and saddened to hear the news that Asturian band Felpeyu                  were involved in a traffic accident early this morning and that Carlos Redondo                  and Igor Medio were killed in this accident. We shared the same stage last                  night in Aviles and our thoughts are with their families and friends in Asturias                  during this difficult time. Go ndeana Dia trocaire orthu.

23/06/06 Dónal and John recently recorded an interview with Brid Maloney for BBC                  Radio Ulster 92-95 FM. Tune in on 4th of July at 7.00 pm or listen again on                  www.bbb.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas

22/06/06 We're delighted to announce that Tina McSherry will be joining us as special                  guest for two dates in The Czech Republic. Click here to see tourdates>>

21/06/06 Tripswitch recieves a 5 star review and is selected by                 the prestigeous World Music Magazine 'Songlines' for their Top of The World                 CD. "if there’s a better Irish album released in 2006 I’ll willingly                 dance naked in Trafalgar Square with a ferret on my head. But only if                 Tripswitch is playing in the background."
                 Click here for more>>

14/06/06 "The musical communication between John McSherry and O'Connor,                   .., borders on clairvoyance." Earl Hitchner reviews Tripswitch for the                  Irish Echo. Click here>>

10/06/06 More dates posted to tourdates section. Click here>>

09/06/06 Listen, and ye will be saved. Tripswitch described as "medicine for the                  soul" by the Irish Music Magazine. Click here>>

08/06/06 "..proof that the pipes and the fiddle are made for each other" Mich                  Nielsen reviews Tripswitch on his website. Click here>>

02/06/06 Have a look at a clip of the boys last year on SRL BBC N.I.'s Irish language                  magazine. Click here>>

29/05/06 Do n-ar chairde le Gaidhlig. Seo sliocht on Scotsman. Click anseo >>

22/05/06 5 Star Review of Tune Up gig in The Scottish Herald."A band                  designed for excitement"
                 Click here for more>>

16/05/06 "Album of the Year contender " Article by Rob Adams in The Scottish                  Herald.
                 Click here for more>>

09/05/06 "Tripswitch succeeds in sounding fresh, exciting and innovative"                  reviewed by Debbie Koritsas in The Living Tradition Magazine.
                 Click here for more >>          

08/05/06 Tripswitch given a 4 star review by Siobhán Long in the Irish Times.                  "Tripswitch is a fire-breathing delight". Click here for more >>

01/05/06 At First Light will be touring Ireland in September and the UK in October. Keep                  your eyes peeled on the Tour Dates section for more info.

21/04/06 Launch of new CD Tripswitch on Vertical records in Ireland. The album is being                  distributed by Gael Linn and is available to buy in all good record stores. We                  particularly reccommend Claddagh Records in Dublin and Custy's in Ennis. Go                  get your hands on a copy and let us know what you think.

 

>>Click here to find out about the New Album "Tripswitch"<<

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