Supported by an Arts Council Deis award, and programmed by Buille brothers, Niall and Caoimhín Vallely, the Junctions series, at the Pavilion in Cork, is only in its first year and yet it feels like it has been part of the music scene for much longer.

With an explicit intention to focus on ‘the broad theme of innovation in traditional music’, the series has, for example, featured saxophonist Kenneth Edge (who has collaborated with artists such as Bill Whelan, Mícheál Ó Súilleabhain and Máirtín O’Connor), DJ Dolphin Boy (thanks to his remixes of Alyth McCormack, Róisín Elsafty, and others, but whose new set was based on old RTÉ archival material), and dancer Nic Gareiss.

The fourth installment of the series is coming up on 20 October. Important friend to the series, Dónal Lunny is supporting Mairtín O’Connor. Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson is performing with her husband and fellow band member, Donald Shaw. Hosts, Karan Casey and Buille will also be playing.

Speaking to The Journal of Music, Caoimhín Vallely explained that they are trying to provide a platform for ‘people who have been pushing the boat out a bit’ but who don’t always get a chance to display that innovation or perform new material at mainstream festivals where the programming has to play safe.

Vallely says the series has been attracting good-sized and diverse audiences, and getting very positive reactions, and that it is hoped that with further funding the series will not only continue but might even tour to other locations.

In the meantime, the final installment of 2011 will be in November, and will include John-Michel Veillon (flute), Tyler Duncan (pipes/flute), Neil Yates (trumpet, see below) and Dónal O’Connor (fiddle).

www.junctionscork.com

Pictured: Karen Matheson.