Oriel fiddle master, Gerry O’Connor, and Breton guitar vituoso, Gilles le Bigot, will finally undertake a series of Covid-delayed concerts which will include the recording of a new live album (originally scheduled for April 2020). The album, to be titled Live in Oriel, will be a follow-uo to the duo’s 2006 album, In Concert, recorded in Douarnanez in Brittany. It has been the subject of a Kickstarter fundraising campaign.
From Ravensdale near Dundalk, Gerry O’Connor was a founder member of the acclaimed Irish bands Skylark and Lá Lugh and now plays with the North American-Irish band, The Irish Rovers. His long-time musical colleague and friend, Gilles le Bigot is a highly respected guitarist and composer from Douarnanez in Brittany, well known as co-founder of top Breton groups, Skolvan and Barzaz. The duo have played together professionally since the early 1990s as part of Lá Lugh, recording three albums together and also collaborating on the 2012 album, Oirialla, with Nuala Kennedy and Martin Quinn.
Since 2000, they have played as a duo, touring throughout Europe, Australia and USA – releasing their live album, In Concert, in 2006 to critical acclaim. The duo have continued to add to their concert repertoire and, following repeated requests, have finally decided to record once again.
Tour Dates
Saturday, March 26: CCE Culturlann, Monkstown, Co. Dublin: Concert
Tuesday, March 29: Mary Immaculate College, Limerick: Concert
Saturday April 2: Armagh Pipers Club 39-41 Scotch St, Armagh City: Masterclasses and Concert
Thursday April 7: The Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen, County Monaghan: Concert and Live Recording, as part of Féile Patrick Byrne. in Carrickmacros