Dervish- One Of Ireland's Premier Traditional Music Groups

From the worlds biggest festival Rock in Rio to the small village festival in the west of Ireland, for the past twenty one years the Irish traditional music band Dervish have appeared on stages throughout the world, leaving audiences spellbound and filled with excitement resulting in the Irish band being one of the most sought after Irish acts internationally.

Sligo, with its mountains, glens and wind swept Atlantic shore, has long been the source of inspiration for Irish artistry, from the visionary works of the renowned poet W.B Yeats to the revered music of Michael Coleman.

The source remains and the tradition continues, this year marking the 21st anniversary of Dervish coming together.

Beginning as a group of musicians playing the local tunes of Sligo in local bars, over the last twenty one years Dervish have broadened their musical vision and with it their devoted audience, which is now worldwide.

Dervish, whose members include Cathy Jordan, Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Brian Mc Donagh and Michael Holmes, have performed throughout every corner of the globe, playing for heads of state and for an audience of 240,000 in Rio de Janeiro.

They have shared the stage with James Brown, The Buena Vista Social Club, Oasis, Sting, REM and Beck and have chronicled their musical journey in 10 classic CDs and two DVDs.

Year after year; their CDs have topped Folk, World and Roots Music charts in Ireland establishing them as one of the all-time great traditional Irish bands.

Readers of top music magazines have awarded Dervish Best Overall Irish roots act on several occasions in their 21 years and, in what is perhaps their proudest moment, Sligo City Council bestowed on them the Freedom of the city of Sligo for their contribution to region's vibrant artistic culture.

Onstage, a Dervish performance ranges from powerful and energetic dance tunes to sublime interpretations of Irish songs and airs with vocals, fiddle, flute, accordion, bodhrán, mandolin and bouzouki.

Interwoven with Cathy Jordan's beguiling voice and engaging stage presence, an evening with Dervish is filled with enough warmth; conviviality and inspiration fill a lifelong memory.

The band's 21st Anniversary Show features a wide range of legendary guests including the original Celtic woman Moya Brennan from Clannad, Planxty star, Andy Irvine, Dublin's Damian Dempsey, Triona Ni Domhnaill and Kevin Burke from the Bothy Band, and today's finest: Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill, Mike Mc Goldrick to name just a few, and has sold out large arenas internationally this year including Celtic Connections in Glasgow, The Shrewsbury Festival Dome and more recently Ireland's National Concert Hall in Dublin.

For twenty one years now there has been no better way to get a taste of the traditions and the magic of County Sligo and Ireland's rich musical tradition than through the music of Dervish.

For more information on the group, visit their website at www.dervish.ie