Kevin Crawford and Cillian
Vallely with Paul Meehan

Two of the most well-known musicians on the Irish music circuit, flute player Kevin Crawford and uilleann piper Cillian Vallely have recently released their exciting new album, On Common Ground. A couple of years of researching tunes in between a heavy schedule of band commitments has directly led to this recording from Lúnasa’s powerhouse melody makers. Accompanying them tonight on guitar is fellow Lúnasa band member Paul Meehan. ‘Tasty tunes and terrific playing make On Common Ground one of the recording triumphs of this year. It is a pinnacle performance from two uncommonly gifted Irish traditional musicians.’ (Earle Hitchner, The Wall Street Journal and Irish Echo, NY.)

Kevin Crawford

Born in Birmingham, England, Kevin Crawford’s early life was one long journey into Irish music and to county Clare, where he eventually moved while in his twenties. He was a member of Clare-based band Moving Cloud and also recorded with Grianán, Raise The Rafters, Joe Derrane and Sean Tyrrell. Kevin now tours the world with Lúnasa - with six ground-breaking albums to their credit. A virtuoso flute player, Kevin has recorded two solo albums – ‘D’ Flute Album and the more recent In Good Company

Cillian Vallely

Cillian Vallely learned the whistle and pipes from his parents Brian and Eithne at the Armagh Pipers Club, a group that for over three decades has fostered the revival of traditional music in the north of Ireland. He joined Lúnasa in 1999, with whom he has recorded five albums and played at many major festivals including Womad, Edmonton Folk Festival and The Hollywood Bowl. He has also performed and toured with ‘Riverdance’, Tim O Brien’s ‘The Crossing’, New York-based ‘Whirligig’ and the ‘Celtic Jazz Collective’. www.myspace.com/crawfordvallelymusic

Paul Meehan

Born in Manchester, Paul moved to Armagh at the age of eleven. Along with concertina maestro Niall Vallely, he’s a member of the band Buílle who released their self-titled album in 2005. Paul recorded three albums with Cork-based group ‘North Cregg’ and was a founding member of the group ‘Na Dorsa’ who released the much acclaimed The wild music of the Gaels. He features on two albums by singer Karan Casey – Distant Shore and Chasing the Sun.

www.lúnasa.ie