27th to 31st July 2023
This years programme of events takes place over 5 days at an exciting
range of venues in Clare and Dublin.
Save the Dates! Tickets on sale June 20th
Get match fit for the Big Bang with our series of Drum and Dance Workshops in Clare and Dublin over June and July.
Dublin
Drumming Workshops
Drumming workshops with Brian Fleming / Nicolas Severin for 5 weeks.
10am
June 24th
July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
Richmond Barracks
These workshops are free, but you must register to book a place.
Dublin
African Dancing
With Godfred Asare (African Dance Centre) and Catherine Young Dance for 5 weeks.
11am
June 24th
July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
Richmond Barracks
These workshops are free, but you must register to book a place.
County Clare
West African Drumming in West Clare
Get started in West African Drumming in 3 workshops. The first two workshops will introduce the basic techniques and a traditional rhythm on djembes and dunduns with Brian Fleming. The third is a masterclass with Monette and Nasira Marino Keita!
_
14 years since the historic visit to the Big Bang (in the National Concert Hall) by the late great Guinean percussion icon, Mamady Keita, two extraordinary drummers, his then wife Monette and his daughter, Nasira, make a return visit to continue his teaching, with a stop off in Co Clare. This is a unique opportunity to learn West African percussion from two of the best.
7pm – 8.15pm
July 6th, 13th, 27th
The Barn, Miltown Malbay, Clare
Price – 45 euro (3 workshops)
Five days of events – 27th to 31st July
July 2023
27 July · Clare
Monette & Nazira Marino Keita with Guests
TBA
Monette Marino Keita is a world percussionist. She spent the majority of the last 20 years studying under Master Drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea.
9pm
Thurs 27th July
Kennys, Lahinch, Co.Clare
28 july · Dublin
Debodjoti Sanyal & Friends
A night of classical Indian and fusion percussion with the maestro from Kolkata and a selection of his musical collaborators. from Kolkata, India, ‘Debu’ is a world class exponent of the Indian tabla. His training began at age four with his father, and continued with luminaries of the tradition, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Pandit Shankar Ghosh. Regularly visiting Ireland over the past decade his teaching and performances have had a profound effect on the playing appreciation of Indian classical music in Ireland.
An evening of Indian percussion.
7pm
Fri 28th July
Gandharva Loka, Dublin
29 July · Dublin
Drumming Workshop with Monette Marino Keita & Nasira Marino Keita
An evening of Indian percussion.
10am
Sat 29th July
Richmond Barracks
29 July · Dublin
African Dance Workshop with Godfred Asara & Catherine Young
An evening of Indian percussion.
11am
Sat 29th July
Richmond Barracks
29 July · Dublin
presented by Big Bang Festival of Rhythm in association with the NCH
Johnny Wadham
"So Many Drummers, So Little Time"
Remembering John Wadham 20 year anniversary concert in honour of the late great John Wadham, featuring the Jam Doherty trio, with Conor Heffernan and special guests.(USA).
At a jazz gig in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1952, a 16 year-old boy sat in behind the drum kit, as a guest and within 16 bars changed the face of percussion in Ireland forever. For over forty years, John Wadham played in every Irish jazz group of distinction, and was constantly in demand as a session musician.
_Collaborators included Brian Dunning, Rock Fox, Dave Fleming, Jim Doherty, Peter O Brien, Noel Kelehan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael and Richie Buckley, Mike Neilsen, Honor Hefernan, Spike Robinson, Barney Kessel, Zoot Soma and Georgie Fame, to name but a few.
_George Hodnett described Wadham’s playing as having ‘the precision of a chronometer and the vitality of a saturation bombing. Johnny was also a broadcaster on RTE with an unparalleled collection of jazz on vinyl.
_Arguably, John’s greatest legacy, however, was his teaching. Over a period of decades, he taught hundreds of aspiring drummers from his home in Dalkey to the extent that by the 1980s and 90s it was difficult to point to a successful drummer in Dublin who hadn’t been taught by John or by someone who had. He taught every genre of kit drumming and his former students can be seen behind kits, congas, timbales and bodhrans with everyone from jazz bands to U2, Kíla and the Chieftains.
_20 years on from his untimely passing, this is a small musical tribute to ‘The Wad’ from those who were lucky enough to know him.
At a jazz gig in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1952, a 16 year-old boy sat in behind the drum kit, as a guest and within 16 bars changed the face of percussion in Ireland forever. For over forty years, John Wadham played in every Irish jazz group of distinction, and was constantly in demand as a session musician.
_Collaborators included Brian Dunning, Rock Fox, Dave Fleming, Jim Doherty, Peter O Brien, Noel Kelehan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael and Richie Buckley, Mike Neilsen, Honor Hefernan, Spike Robinson, Barney Kessel, Zoot Soma and Georgie Fame, to name but a few.
_George Hodnett described Wadham’s playing as having ‘the precision of a chronometer and the vitality of a saturation bombing. Johnny was also a broadcaster on RTE with an unparalleled collection of jazz on vinyl.
_Arguably, John’s greatest legacy, however, was his teaching. Over a period of decades, he taught hundreds of aspiring drummers from his home in Dalkey to the extent that by the 1980s and 90s it was difficult to point to a successful drummer in Dublin who hadn’t been taught by John or by someone who had. He taught every genre of kit drumming and his former students can be seen behind kits, congas, timbales and bodhrans with everyone from jazz bands to U2, Kíla and the Chieftains.
_20 years on from his untimely passing, this is a small musical tribute to ‘The Wad’ from those who were lucky enough to know him.
_An evening of Indian percussion.
7.30pm
Sat 29th July
The Studio, National Concert Hall
30 July · Dublin
Introduction to West African Percussion
With Monette Marino Keita & Nasira Marino Keita
Introduction to West African Percussion on djembe and dunduns, with Monette Marino Keita and Nasira Marino Keita.
14 years since the historic visit to the NCH and Big Bang by the late great Guinean percussion icon, Mamady Keita, two extraordinary drummers, his then wife Monette and his daughter, Nasira, make a return visit to continue his teaching. This is a unique opportunity to learn West African percussion from two of the best.
Participants are invited to bring your own drum. A limited number of drums can be supplied.
Tickets €10
Students / Unwaged / Spectator €8
Capacity 20 borrowing drums plus additional 20 with own drums, plus 20 spectators
An evening of Indian percussion.
11.30am – 12.15am
Sun 30th July
Studio, National Concert Hall
30 July · Dublin
Indian rhythms applied to other percussion
facilitated by Debodjoti Sanyal & Sadanand Magee
At a jazz gig in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1952, a 16 year-old boy sat in behind the drum kit, as a guest and within 16 bars changed the face of percussion in Ireland forever. For over forty years, John Wadham played in every Irish jazz group of distinction, and was constantly in demand as a session musician.
_Collaborators included Brian Dunning, Rock Fox, Dave Fleming, Jim Doherty, Peter O Brien, Noel Kelehan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael and Richie Buckley, Mike Neilsen, Honor Hefernan, Spike Robinson, Barney Kessel, Zoot Soma and Georgie Fame, to name but a few.
_George Hodnett described Wadham’s playing as having ‘the precision of a chronometer and the vitality of a saturation bombing. Johnny was also a broadcaster on RTE with an unparalleled collection of jazz on vinyl.
_Arguably, John’s greatest legacy, however, was his teaching. Over a period of decades, he taught hundreds of aspiring drummers from his home in Dalkey to the extent that by the 1980s and 90s it was difficult to point to a successful drummer in Dublin who hadn’t been taught by John or by someone who had. He taught every genre of kit drumming and his former students can be seen behind kits, congas, timbales and bodhrans with everyone from jazz bands to U2, Kíla and the Chieftains.
_20 years on from his untimely passing, this is a small musical tribute to ‘The Wad’ from those who were lucky enough to know him.
Debodjoti Sanyal, from Kolkata, India is a world class exponent of the Indian tabla. His training began at age four with his father, and continued with luminaries of the tradition, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Pandit Shankar Ghosh. Regularly visiting Ireland over the past decade his teaching and performances have had a profound effect on the playing appreciation of Indian classical music in Ireland.
Sadanand Magee has been studying Indian classical music for over 20 years and is the Director of the Gandharva Loka world music store, clelbrating its 10 years in Dublin, He plays Indian Tabla, Drumkit, Handpan, Bodhran, Harmonium, Djembe, Cajon, Kanjiri, Udu, Jews harp, Flutes, whistles and Ukulele.
An evening of Indian percussion.
12.30am – 2.00pm
Sun 30th July
National Concert Hall
30 July · Dublin
Intermediate to Advanced
Intermediate and And Advanced West African Drumming
With Monette Marino Keita & Nasira Marino Keita
14 years since the historic visit to the NCH and Big Bang by the late great Guinean percussion icon, Mamady Keita, two extraordinary drummers, his then wife Monette and his daughter, Nasira, make a return vist to continue his teaching.
An evening of Indian percussion.
An evening of Indian percussion.
2.30pm – 4.00pm
Sun 30th July
National Concert Hall
30 July · Dublin
Antichie, Slí and Chroi and the Folas
With special guests, Monette Marino Keita & Nasira Marino Keita
Introducing The Folas Ireland’s first all female West African Percussion ensemble, taking to the stage alongside two of Irelands leading West African music ensembles and the great Monette and Nasira Marino Keita from California. 14 years since the historic visit to the Big Bang (in the National Concert Hall) by the late great Guinean percussion icon, Mamady Keita, two extraordinary drummers, his then wife Monette and his daughter, Nasira, make a return visit. This promises to be a festival highlight and one of the big West African drum and dance jams of 2023!
An evening of Indian percussion.
8pm
Sun 30th July
The Cobblestone, Smithfield
31 July · Dublin
Bodhran Workshop
With Brian Fleming
This workshop is to be confirmed.
An evening of Indian percussion.
6.30pm
Mon 31st July
Gandharva Loka, 62 sth Gt George Street, Dublin
AFRICAN
DANCE
CENTRE
