“Irish trad gets a kick up the backside with this dream-team line-up of fiddle, Uilleann pipes and crystal-clear vocals. The Pixies meets Planxty? Now there’s a thought” - The Irish Times Mixing traditional songs with the power and delicacy of duelling pipes, fiddle, whistles, guitar, bouzouki and Bodhrán, At First Light create a sonic landscape that takes the audience on a journey of discovery from the roots to the future of the Irish tradition. The pedigree of each individual musician is outstanding, their experience and sheer mastery of the music evident for all to see, but it is when their considerable talents are combined that you can expect the unexpected. At First Light comprises the talents of world renowned Uilleann Piper John McSherry and outstanding 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 and guests such as Ruben Bada, Michael McCague, Tony Byrne and Ciara McCrickard you can see why the band is being portrayed as 'a dream team line up'. “At First Light are surely one of those special pioneering acts who push the boundaries and redraw the map. And that can’t be a bad thing. For five very experienced and knowledgeable artists at the peak of their creativity, the future looks bright. And given that we are witnessing the birth of something special, something exciting and exceptionally vigorous, we would be wise to take heed.” Irish Music Magazine “The rhythmical power of At First Light would cause the most reluctant of feet to tap.”Scottish Herald “Proof that contemporary traditional music can keep its heart.” Scotland on Sunday
		John Mc Sherry (Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles)
		Dónal O'Connor (Fiddle, Keyboards)
		Francis Mc Ilduff (Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Bodhran)
		Guests
		Michael McCague (Guitar, Bouzouki)
		Rubén Bada (Bouzouki, Guitar & Fiddle)
		Tony Byrne (Guitar)
		Ciara McCrickard (Vocals, fiddle)

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Mc Sherry (Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles)

John Mc Sherry is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of uilleann piping in the world today - "a true master" - Irish Music Magazine. Described as being "at the forefront of modern innovation" - Green Man Review, he has taken piping and whistle playing to new heights with his unique style. John has toured the world as both a solo performer and a member of several outstanding bands. He is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician of world class renown, recording with everybody from John is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician of world class renown, recording and performing with everybody from Clannad, Sinead O'Connor and Nancy Griffiths, to Shaun Davey, Donal Lunny and The Corrs.

Born in West Belfast and coming from a family steeped in traditional music, John focused his energies on the pipes from an early age. By the time he reached fifteen he had two All Ireland Championship titles under his belt and at the age of eighteen he was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious and much coveted 'Oireachtas' piping competition. Combining with his musical siblings, John formed the exciting and innovative band 'Tamalin', bringing their unique fusion of Irish, Rock, Eastern and Celtic music to enthusiastic audiences around the world. Their bold debut album, 'Rhythm & Rhyme' was released in 1996 to wide critical acclaim including a four-star rating in Q Magazine.

Sometime previous to this (1995), John began collaborating with fiddle player Sean Smyth, flautist Mike McGoldrick and guitarist Steve Cooney, touring extensively throughout Ireland and England. The seeds for 'Lunasa' were being sown. A year or so later, and with a few changes in personnel, 'Lunasa Live' (their dynamic debut album) was released. Described as - "simply stunningly impressive" - Irish Music Magazine, it is now considered to be something of a classic.

As well as being a founding member of Lunasa, John was a lead instrumentalist with Donal Lunnys' now legendary super group 'Coolfin', which included Nollaig Casey and Sharon Shannon. Yet again, John was at the forefront of a band which would re-shape the boundaries of Irish music. The ground breaking album 'Coolfin' was released in 1998 and a heavy touring schedule ensued. The band played host to a wide range of artists, among them Sinead O'Connor, Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill, and Eddie Reader.

2001 saw John team up with life long musical comrade Michael McGoldrick to release 'At First Light', which received the award for 'best traditional album of the year 2001' - Irish American News. It was from the touring of this benchmark album that John's current band 'At First Light' arose.

John's next recording venture came in 2006 with the album 'Tripswitch' a collaboration with Dundalk fiddler Dónal O‟Connor. Described as 'Acoustic perfection' - Debbie Koritsas - Living Tradition, the album received outstanding reviews worldwide and yet again placed John right at the forefront of Irish music.

'Soma' is the new outstanding Solo album from John and is available now from John's website! www.johnmcsherry.com

Dónal O'Connor (Fiddle, Keyboards)

Son of the celebrated fiddler Gerry O‟Connor (Skylark, Kinvara) and renowned singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin (Lá Lugh), Dónal O‟Connor has inherited a great musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle playing. Highly regarded as a fiddle player, he was asked, at the tender age of twenty one, to take part in the prestigious „Music Network Tour of Ireland‟ alongside Scottish Guitarist Tony McManus, Fermanagh purveyor of song Gabriel McArdle and Belfast Piper John McSherry (At First Light, Lúnasa, Coolfin, Tamalin).

Dónal's playing was described recently by the press as “immaculate” “electrifying” and “…borne out of naked talent and consummate professionalism…” The Irish Times “exquisite” - The Scotsman. He has toured Europe and the USA extensively from a young age as both a lead and backing instrumentalist with a number of bands including Lá Lugh.
Currently living in Belfast, Dónal is part of an extremely vibrant music scene and is regarded as “One of the outstanding players of his generation” J.B. Vallely. Recent collaborations have included tours with Lúnasa, Guidewires, Buille, Cathal McConnell , T.V. performances with the legendary Sligo Flute player Séamus Tansey and recording work with Brian Kennedy and Máire Brennan of Clannad. Despite a hectic schedule of gigs, Dónal found time to produce Gerry O‟Connor‟s long awaited solo album Journeyman which was released in the Autumn of 2004 to great critical acclaim.

Dónal has also presented a number of music programmes on BBC Radio Ulster and was the presenter of BBC Northern Irelands excellent 10 part music series 'An Stuif Ceart' - described as a rare musical treat, the series incorporated an eclectic mix of talent with such luminaries as John Prine and Henry McCullough alongside the cream of Irish talent. More recently Donal recorded 'Tripswitch' with John McSherry. Described as 'Acoustic Perfection' by Living Tradition and 'Medicine for the soul' by The Irish Music Magazine, Folk Roots said '"There's probably not been such an innovative album released on the green island since Lúnasa's The Merry Sisters of Fate and Tripswitch probably shatters more boundaries."

Currently a member of the much acclaimed 'At First Light', Donal is working on a collaboration with John McSherry and the Legendry American slide guitarist Bob Brozman which is due for release in the Autumn of 2010.

Having set up his own studio recently, he is much in demand as an engineer/producer and has recently recorded John McSherry's release 'Soma'.

“.........O‟Connor‟s bowing is beautifully economical, a pleasure to watch as well as to listen to,” - Journal of Music in Ireland

Francis McIlduff (Bodhrán, Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles)

Born into the legendary McPeake family in Belfast, Francis McIlduff was introduced to the sights and sounds of traditional music at a very early age, and whilst widely recognised today as one of the finest pipers in the Ireland, it was on the bodhran that he made his debut performance at the age of 12. Influenced in style particularly by Christy Moore, his bodhran playing was soon to take a back seat to the Uilleann pipes more synonymous with the family name. Along with the pipes, the seemingly obligatory outstanding low whistle playing soon went hand in hand at performances the length and breadth of the country. Since debuting with the family band, ' Clann McPeake' at a very tender age, Francis has gone on to perform with some of the foremost traditional and contemporary artistes in music today, including the seminal Irish folk rock outfit 'Alias Ron Kavana', 'Sin E', 'Afterhours' featuring singer Alan Burke, and Hungarian based traditional outfit 'Fianne'. He is also in great demand as a session musician across Europe... An excellent piper, great low whistle player and nifty bodhran player to boot!

Tony Byrne (Guitar)

Tony Byrne is a guitarist from Dublin. Tony has been playing traditional music since the age of 16. Having toured and recorded with some of the most well respected names in Irish music, Tony is in great demand both in the studio and at live performances throughout Europe and the USA. Currently playing with Julie Fowlis, Dave Munnelly band, Leonard Barry & Michelle O'Brien Tony also lectures on the

Michael McCague (Guitar & Bouzouki)

Michael McCague from Scotstown in Monaghan, has been an accompanist since the age of 16 on bouzouki and later on guitar, having played traditional fiddle from the age of 6 to 17. His main influences in terms of accompanists include Alec Finn, Brian McGrath, Arty McGlynn, John Blake and Sean McElwain. He has been living and playing in Galway since 2001 and has been very involved in the session circuit with musicians such as Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh, Ronan Flaherty, Conor Mc Cague, Brian Mc Grath and many more. He has played in concert with the highly renowned fiddle player Frankie Gavin. In 2005 he featured prominently on bouzouki in two of the more successful youth CD’s of the year, namely the duet album of Ronan O Flaherty and Edel Fox (TG4 young musician of the year) and the debut solo flute album of Dave Sheridan, “Sheridans Guesthouse”. Also on this album were Seamie O Dowd and fiddle hero Brian Rooney. Other well known musicians he regularly performs with are Oliver Loughlin and Damian O Brien(The Factory Turn), John Wynne and John Mc Evoy In June 2006 he joined up with John Carty’s traditional group “At the Racket” filling the shoes of previous guitarists, Garry O Briain and Arty Mc Glynn. The band is currently in the process of recording their 3rd album. His main musical interests are in the early recordings of irish fiddle music such as James “lad” O’ Beirne, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, Michael Coleman and later recordings of those such as Paddy Cronin, Bobby Casey and Tommy Potts and so on. Other than Irish music, Michael has a diverse taste in other forms of music such as gypsy jazz (Django Reindhart, Stephane Grapelli, Bireli Lagrene etc), big band music, acoustic blues, country railroad blues (woody guthrie, Chad Dughi) classic rock n' roll and Bluegrass music

Ciara McCrickard (Vocals & fiddle)

Ciara mcCrickard is a fabulous young singer and fiddle player from Castlewellan Co. Down. She is a member of the group Neadar and has appeared on BBC's Blas Ceoil series. Highly regarded as a fine fiddler it is her beautifully textured and crystalline voice that is garnering most praise from listeners and critics alike.

Rubén Bada (Bouzouki, Guitar & Fiddle)

Rubén Bada was born in Avilés, in the northern coast of Asturies, and raised in the Cape Peñes area, where the Asturian language and culture are still healthy and alive.
Ruben got his hands on his first guitar at the age of 14 having experimented with many instruments from the age of eight including the Trombone!. After listening to some Bothy Band and Llan de Cubel tapes, he realized that the traditional music he had listened to since child (in Asturies there is a piper everywhere...) could be taken further and that strings (guitar and bouzouki) could be a key ingredient. After a couple of years learning Asturian tunes and discovering Irish music, he got his first bouzouki, a Greek one borrowed from a friend and it was at this time that he began to learn the fiddle.
Rubén started his recording career in 1998 with the band Xéliba with whom he recorded two albums. Soon after he became a highly demanded studio musician and producer, working as a band member or in the studio with Asturian acts such as Anabel Santiago, Mari luz Cristobal, N'arba, Corquieu, Tejedor, Dixebra, Llacín Pipe Band, Ú?, Toli Morilla...touring all over Europe.
In 2000 Rubén won the Asturian Traditional Music Contest on fiddle.
In 2004 Rubén moved to Belfast, and soon he became part of the local music scene.
Currently, Rubén is playing with the band DRD, and in February 2006, was awarded "Best Instrumentalist" in the Asturian Music Awards.