Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival

Donna Harkin and Friends

Donna Harkin – Button Accordion

Donna Harkin is a button accordion player of acclaim from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

Recognised as an accomplished musician of her genre, she has played with many of the greats from within the tradition and has recorded for a number of artistes as well as having performed for both television and radio.  

Coming from a modern concept of delivery and technique infused with traditional character and charm, her solo playing is driven, passionate and full of fun, melodic flourishes intertwined with a punchy rhythmic dynamism, crystal clear triplets and an extensive, up-tempo repertoire. Uniquely, she has an intuitive touch that is most readily apparent in her rendition of slow airs, bringing a gentle, plaintive and sensitive beauty rarely found in the delivery of such pieces on this notoriously breathy and punctuated instrument.

Donna has been playing on the national and international circuits for 22 years and among her many trips she has been to Europe a number of times, most recently as a coordinator and teacher at the George Caruthers music school in Elmstein Germany. She has toured in Romania, Germany, Spain and Africa.

A musician, teacher and composer of traditional Irish music, one of her latest compositions ‘With Friends in Mind’ (a piece written for a traditional ensemble) was performed at a composers concert in the Great Hall in Magee University Derry in December 2009 and she studied in New Brunswick, Canada in the spring of 2011 to further her composition studies as part of the final year of her music degree, and she graduated in June 2011 with an honours degree.

Donna released her debut CD in the autumn of 2010 – ‘Tell it Like it is’ – an honest and worthy collection of musical favourites drawn from her years of performance and it includes a number of her own compositions as well as familiar stalwarts from the rich Irish tradition.

Fiona Heywood - Singer

Fiona Heywood was born and raised in Ayrshire, in South West Scotland.  Her parents were heavily involved in the traditional music scene in the area, and she grew up surrounded by many great musicians and singers.

Her mother, Heather Heywood, is regarded as one of the foremost traditional singers in Scotland, a real tradition bearer, and has recorded and toured extensively.  Her father, Pete, is the editor of The Living Tradition, a specialist traditional and folk music magazine with a worldwide readership.

With such a pedigree, it is no wonder that Fiona developed a love for traditional and contemporary song, and this is evident in her handling of material passed down through her mother, as well as songs she has collected from other sources. 

Fiona delivers a unique combination of youthfulness and ancient authenticity in her performances, a testimony to her deep immersion in the tradition from an early age – an old wisdom in a young vocalist.

Singing a mixture of Scottish, Irish and English songs, she effectively conveys the emotions and stories within them. Fiona has a voice of pure silk, gentle and clear, caressing top notes with an elegant hue and giving an embodiment to her material that engages the emotions and the senses.

Jim Byrne - Guitar

Jim Byrne hails from Belfast, and from an early age has honed his skills as an innovative and intuitive guitar player.

He has been an integral part of the thriving Belfast session scene, and toured extensively as the singer and guitar player with the Belfast based band, Craobh Rua, one of the most in-demand Irish groups in folk circles in Europe and America.

Currently living in Donegal, Jim is very much in demand as an accompanist throughout the county and further afield.  His vivacious and rhythmic guitar style provides a colourful and stoic backbone that allows melody players to move around, and he has the ability to transform the sound completely whilst remaining subtle and complimentary.

Jim is also an accomplished melody player and delivers rapturous renditions of traditional material reminiscent of the great harpists of ancient times, delivered with a delicacy and poignancy that is rare in modern guitarists.

He accompanies songs with an insightful and sensitive touch, being aware of exactly what each song needs and how best to enhance it.  Jim is also a fine singer, and has a wealth of songs, mostly from the Irish tradition.

Donna, Fiona and Jim have been performing together on a regular basis over the past 4 years and together they are a dynamic and spirited ensemble.

Donna Harkin and Friends is Playing at the Following Concerts

 

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