Irish singer and violist Lisa Hannigan’s frequent collaborations with countryman Damien Rice take a backseat on her current U.S. tour, which stops at The 930 Listening Room (930 Mary St., 635-7053) on Thursday, March 12. Hannigan was on her way to Chicago when we bugged her.
“It’s been a gentle learning curve,” she says. “Initially, stepping out was a bit nerve-wracking, but we’ve done a lot of rehearsals.”
Hannigan, whose album Sea Sew is out now on ATO Records, is part of a renaissance: Breakthrough acts from the Isle like Rice, Oscar winners The Swell Season and Snow Patrol have jumped to the world stage. “The culture is very receptive to artists,” she says. “There’s always shows going on, and it’s not just traditional music.”
Visit myspace.com/lisahannigan for more. The Low Anthem opens.
Recitations
The 14th annual Macauley Chamber Music Competition and Winners Recital happens at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 8, with the recital at 6:30 p.m., in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall at the University of Louisville School of Music. The recital is free and open to the public. Musicians will compete for prizes of either cash or future performances.
Good kind of Hurt
The School of Music won a grant from the Marilyn Horne Foundation, which sponsors concerts and artist residencies for young singers throughout the country.
The second artist-in-residence in the four-year program is baritone Weston Hurt, who’s performed at Carnegie Hall and with operas in New York City, Atlanta, Arizona and Michigan.
This month, Hurt and pianist Miah Im are holding recitals at Oldham County, Youth Performing Arts and Eastern high schools, and perform for the West Louisville Performing Arts Academy. Hurt gives a free concert at 8 p.m. Monday, March 9, at Comstock.
Music Cast
Nick Hamstra, aka Hambone, joins us to talk about the release of his new album, music video and website March 14 at Flame Run Gallery. Listen now at our music blog, Bluegrass Catastrophe, bluecat.leoweekly.com.
This article appears in March 3, 2009.