2023 AND THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS FIFTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY !
After a year of changes and renewals in 2022, the Festival’s teams, both permanent and voluntary, have been working enthusiastically on a new edition to welcome artists and festivalgoers for ten days and ten nights in the heart of Lorient, the Interceltic world capital !
Interceltism is the meeting, exchanging, and sharing between Celtic countries, men and women, young and old, of values that are of great importance today. Interceltism is the communion between our Celtic cultures, both traditional and contemporary. Interceltism is conviviality and celebration with lively music, collective dances, generous cuisine, musical languages, sports, and the traditions and customs that bring us together...
2023 sees the emergence of new venues like Le Kleub, as well as new artistic, traditional, and contemporary proposals for all generations. 2023 also boasts the usual major LIF events, essential landmarks for festivalgoers. 2023 sees the celebration of various anniversaries: one hundred years for Gwenn-ha-Du, and eighty years of Sonerion...
Finally, 2023 is the year where we honour our Irish cousins! Ireland ... a feast for the eyes and the ears. Vibrant green landscapes, the strains of the violin, ancient tunes… Music is everywhere; it permeates everyday life. We tap our feet, we clap our hands, we wear it in our soul…
Long live this formidable Festival! Long live the Celtic nations! Long live Ireland ! Long live Interceltism !
Jean-Philippe Mauras, Artistic Director
Ireland : Guest of Honour !
This unspoilt, vibrant island is renowned for its legends and the warmth of its inhabitants. It is easily accessible by ferry or plane from France. Discover the island of Ireland on the occasion of the 2023 Lorient Interceltic Festival. Fall in love with its great national parks, coastal landscapes, stunning castles and gardens, millenial sites … without forgetting its lively cities (Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Cork, and many others), full of cultural treasures and never far from nature.
Immerse yourself in the heart of Celtic and Gaelic culture, soak up the inimitable atmosphere of Irish pubs, vibrate to the unique sound of traditional music, and experience firsthand the legendary “Irish craic” : the renowned friendliness and exceptional Irish sense of hospitality and fun !
On the island of Ireland, traditional music is a festival of sounds and stories that never stops, ensuring a warm musical atmosphere in every pub and on the corner of every cobbled street. Music is a language in Ireland. It is the memory of epic myths; it recounts the way in which the Irish have immortalized and shared life, love, and death. It gives hope and warmth, and is an eternal source of pride and passion. So get ready to stomp your feet, raise your knees, and clap your hands on the table. Feel free to get up and dance to the Irish Rover or Rare Old Mountain Dew, or shed a tear at Raglan Road or Mo Ghile Mear.
CLANNAD
Clannad was formed in 1970 by siblings Moya, Ciarán, and Pól Brennan and their uncles Pádraig and Noel Duggan (sadly deceased in 2016 and October 2022), then joined by Enya Brennan. Fusing elements of traditional Irish music and more contemporary folk, new age, and rock, they have created a beautifully unique celestial sound that combines haunting melodies and compelling vocals. The French public can enjoy a memorable performance by the multi-award-winning band at this year’s LIF, and their final concert in France as part of a farewell tour.
ALTAN AND THE BRETON NATIONAL ORCHESTRA: « The Imagination of Ireland »
Founded in the late 1980s in the wake of The Clancy Brothers, The Chieftains, and The Dubliners, this flagship quartet has released ten albums and toured the world. Altan weaves a repertoire of lively ballads, jigs, and reels, inherited from Donegal, an unspoilt county located in the northwest of Ireland, and from the north of the country, home to most of the band members. This remarkable concert, in collaboration with the Breton National Orchestra, invites audiences to immerse themselves in the Irish imagination, under the auspices of conductor Grant Llewellyn and the beautiful voice of Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh who sings in English and Gaelic, a language that preserves the treasures of traditional musical heritage.
THE KILKENNYS
Drawing inspiration from Irish folk and ballads, The Kilkennys are today known for their dynamic arrangements, high-energy concerts, and the special bond they have forged with loyal audiences around the world. Following in the footsteps of The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers, the quartet continues to win over fans in Europe and the United States. The Kilkennys have been performing for over ten years all around the world. On stage, they alternate between personal compositions and classics of traditional Irish music : a veritable treat !
THE FRIEL SISTERS
Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel come from Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. They play and sing tunes and songs from their own family repertoire. With two albums and hundreds of concerts all over the world, they have played alongside music greats, such as Altan, The Chieftains, Solas, Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, etc… and have won prestigious awards over the years. On stage, The Friel Sisters are accompanied by Marty Barry on guitar and vocals, and Cathal Ó Curráin on bouzouki.
FRANKIE GAVIN & CATHERINE MCHUGH
The undisputed master of the Irish fiddle Frankie Gavin has recently played and recorded with the Roaring 20s Irish Orchestra as well as the Philharmonique de Monte Carlo in Monaco. He is currently working on an exciting new project Frank Gavin & De Dannan. His latest album Port Eireann has been created in collaboration with one of Ireland’s greatest pianists: Catherine McHugh.
USHER'S ISLAND Usher’s Island is a collective of five of the biggest and best names of Irish traditional music : Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny (both founders of Planxty), Paddy Glackin (The Bothy Band), Mike McGoldrick (Lúnasa and Capercaillie), and John Doyle (Solas). Whether solo or with their respective groups, these legendary figures of the Irish music scene continue to regale international audiences.
TÉADA
Téada, auténtica agrupación en torno a la música tradicional irlandesa, recorre el planeta de festival en festival (Estados Unidos, Canadá, Méjico, Europa, África, Rusia, Australia…). Téada está entre los principales grupos de estos últimos años. DANÚ (10.30PM – 11.50PM) From the historic county of Waterford, today, Danú is one of Ireland’s largest trad groups. Every one of their concerts is an event, a glorious and energetic blend of old Irish music and a more contemporary repertoire !
CÚIG
From the north of Ireland, this group of five musicians is breaking ground with their audacious approach to the native musical tradition. Since the release of their awardwinning and critically acclaimed debut album, Cúig has taken both sides of the Atlantic by storm with major tours in Ireland, Europe, and the United States. Their ascent looks set to continue with The Theory of Chaos, their highly anticipated second album, which combines unusual arrangements and original compositions. The album showcases the individual talent of each musician while forming a united whole, with a progressive, exhilarating, and refined offering, at the forefront of contemporary Irish music.
AND MUCH MORE! IRISH BANDS AND ARTISTS TO BE DISCOVERED DAILY : Gluais, Pure Blarney, John McSherry, New Ross & District Pipe Band, Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band, Planxty O'Rourke, Rinceoirí Cois Laoi …
Photo Credits:
(1) Lorient Interceltic Festival,
(2) Clannad,
(3) Altan,
(4) John McSherry,
(5) Frankie Gavin,
(6) Usher's Island,
(7) The Kilkennys,
(8) Cúig,
(9) The Friel Sisters,
(10) Téada
(unknown/website).
