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SpudShow 97

Artist 1 - Niamh Parsons

Track - Boys of Barr na Sraide

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Buy her music

Gigs

12/02/2006 08:00 PM\xa0 -\xa0\xa0Wexford\xa0 -The Pipe and Voice weekend

01/26/2007 08:00 PM\xa0 -\xa0 Paris\xa0, Ile-de-France\xa0 -Set Dancing weekend

Bio

Niamh Parsons has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music. Her voice has drawn comparisons to such venerated singers as Dolores Keane, June Tabor and Sandy Denny. The great Scottish balladeer Archie Fisher said of Niamh, "a songstress like her comes along once or twice in a generation."
It has been said that Niamh Parsons may not be the most famous Irish Balladeer, but many feel she's the best. Described in the Boston Herald as both emotionally haunting and tonally as clear as crystal, Niamh's albums have been 'must-have' collector's items for any lover of songs and singing. Niamh has recorded six studio albums and one live album to date. For the last 7 years, Niamh has been playing in a duet with Ennis-based Graham Dunne\u2014there is a spiritual bond between Niamh and Graham when they perform, which draws out the essence of the songs.

Growing up in Dublin, Niamh's music loving parents brought herself and her sister to the local folk club in The Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny, where the young girls were exposed to songs and singing from the likes of The Johnstons, Emmet Spiceland, Sweeney's Men, Dolly McMahon, Danny Doyle and many of the other musicians and singers that were playing in Folk clubs at that time. "My father was a great singer, and on long journeys the family used to sing in the car\u2014I don't remember a time in my life when I was not singing\u2014I love songs."

Niamh developed this love into a penchant for collecting songs. She is always on the lookout for songs that speak to her\u2014listening to new albums, scouring the Traditional Music Archives in Dublin, sharing notes with a network of friends and other singers. Once she discovers a song she likes, Niamh views herself as the vehicle for the music. "For me the song is more important than listening to my voice," she says. "I consider myself more a songstress than a singer\u2014a carrier of tradition."

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Artist 2 - The Blue Girl (Ingrid Godwin)

Track - Then I see you

MySpace

spudshow@gmail.com

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