Guitarist turns back to tradition

Arty McGlynn will showcase his hybrid mix of musical styles at the Ennis Trad Festival, says Gerry Quinn.

FEW in the Irish music scene can match guitarist Arty McGlynn for adaptability and genre-crossover. Born into a musical household in Omagh, Co Tyrone in the 1940s, McGlynn was a pioneer of the showband era. He was one of the first musicians to adapt Irish traditional tunes for the guitar. He was pivotal in big rock productions by Van Morrison and Paul Brady and was a much-sought session musician and studio producer in a myriad of musical styles and fashions. McGlynn is one of the headline acts at this weekend’s Ennis Trad Festival.

Now in its 18th year, this winter gathering of musicians and enthusiasts in the Co Clare town is a feast of all that’s good in trad, hosting concerts, CD launches, a ceili band competition, master classes and 100 informal sessions, and a staple of the festival, the trad-disco. Distinctiveness and diversity are the keys to Ennis’ success. So McGlynn slots right in.