looking forward to an old-timey session at The Crane with the wonderful Ben Keogh (vocals, guitar, five-string banjo), Lena Ullman (vocals, five-string banjo) and myself. This Friday, 9.30pm.

A sunny day here in Galway. Beautiful. The first one since a very rained out Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. I was most grateful for the music and great company throughout the day. A long but rewarding day. Five gigs ahead between this Friday and this Sunday…all around Galway. News of a gig confirmed during The Traidphicnic in Spiddal, July 2nd, on the main stage. It’s great to see the trees turning green again!

Wishing you all a very Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! It will be a music marathon for me, and I am looking forward…In Spiddal on the Stage 11.30-12.30 with Johnny Og Connolly agus chairde. Session in Droighneann Donn in Spiddal 1.30pm till 3.30pm with Steve Sweeney and Ged Foley. Over to Connemara Coast Hotel for 4pm where Eoghan Burke aka Fia Rua and myself are playing tunes and songs, traditional and otherwise. Over to Padraicin’s in Furbo for 6.15pm … Steve and Ged and myself will be on early evening & night time double shift. I am sure we’ll re-visit quite a few tunes that may have not been played for a while :- All welcome, and all day time events are certainly in a  kids friendly setting!

Looking forward to a show at NUI Galway as part of the Múscailt Arts Festival 2017. Bríd Ni Mhaoileoin will be interviewing an artist whom I have long admired, Little John Nee www.littlejohnnee.com Bríd and myself will perform a set and also join Little John Nee. Very excited! Also Session at Padraicin’s in Furbo this Friday with Ged Foley and Steve Sweeney. Always a great night’s music. Release for the Anna & Lena album will be taking place in September. Plenty to do till then :-

Hope you all had a good start to the new year. Murray & Falkenau had lovely lovely gigs in Northern Germany before Xmas. Then it was off to family time and winter hols. A bout of flu put a delay on the final touches on the CD project with Lena Ullman…back on track now! Very exciting. TUNES this Friday in Padraigin’s with Ged Foley and Steve Sweeney. In Taaffe’s on Saturday night with Jimmy Dillon and Regis.

A busy weekend ahead before the Murray & Falkenau Germany Tour next week. Tonight, Lackagh National School, Scoil Bhríde, (where I teach fiddle classes) is launching a CD by the students of the school; the launch is taking place in the Turloughmore Community Center, starting at 7pm. Music will feature present and past students, teachers and tutors and special guests. Off to Padraigin’s after that for our lovely weekly session in the front bar (with Johnny Connolly and Steve Sweeney). Tomorrow, my private students will perform their Christmas Concert, Upstairs in The Crane, starting at 2pm. Admission is free and all are welcome. After that Steve Sweeney, Ged Foley and myself will be in Campbell’s Tavern in Cloughanover (private event). Murray & Falkenau will start their gigs on Thursday in Kiel. Please check calendar for more info. Looking out on Galway Bay, spectacular sky!

Playing this Friday with Johnny Moynihan and Lena Ullman at The Crane in Galway. 9.30 start. Looking forward!

Since moving to Galway in 2005, I have been collaborating with five-string banjo virtuoso Lena Ullman, mostly in a live performance capacity. Our long musical companionship is vital due to us meeting and resonating in our approach to the two musical styles so dear to our hearts (Irish traditional and American old-time). Some high-lights of the many concerts and sessions Lena and myself have played over the years are: The Westport Bluegrass Festival 2015 (https://youtu.be/e8exM2a-riA),   The Galway International Arts Festival 2012 (https://youtu.be/llwIv4gdgdI), The Temple Bar Tradfest 2010 (https://youtu.be/MErRbUXW-KA),Féile Chois Cuain, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo 2013, The Stirling Music Festival, Scotland 2012, The Galway Sessions Festival and The Galway Americana Festival. We both have seperately released critically acclaimed solo albums and are now looking to bring to fruition a decade of playing together in form of a common recording project. Please read more about my CD Feileacán na Saoirse  here.  Lena Ullman’s CD Skating across the Baltic received a five-star review in the English Folk Roots Magazine and Martin Hayes esteems it “a real gem.”

Please bear with me to set up pre-order forms, but please do send me an email expressing your interest: annafalkenau@gmail.com

We’ll be playing in Padraigin’s Pub in Furbo Friday night, 25th November starting 9.30pm and at The Droighnean Donn in Spiddal 5.30 start.

Somehow the website was down for a couple of days. Apologies. I presume it is because of WordPress updating their database. Please be patient while I have to look into updating and fixing some details due to this. Meanwhile, if you would like to contact me regarding Skype Fiddle Lessons or for more info regarding the album with Lena Ullman please email me annafalkenau (at) gmail.com. Thanks for your understanding.
Playing some lovely Sessions in and around Galway this weekend. Starting of this Friday with a tune in Padraigin’s with Ged Foley and Steve Sweeney. Always a treat. Then Taaffe’s Saturday night; it’s a busy busy night with plenty of merriment and all the favourite ballads. Sunday for an early evening tune in An Droighnean Donn in Spiddal joining Steve Sweeney, Gerry D’Arcy and friends. It’s bound to be quite the session with the Spiddal Gathering taking place this weekend. Off to Germany on December 13th for some nice House Concerts with Murray & Falkenau in Northern Germany.