Sharon Shannon Big Band

TOWN HALL GIGS

MUSIC: IRELAND

“Her instrumental technique is remarkable, yet looks effortless; and her smile could light up a small fishing village by itself.’’ The Guardian (UK)

Sharon Shannon has performed with everyone from Bono to Nigel Kennedy; now she’s bringing her extraordinary accordion to the Town Hall Gigs.

From County Clare, Sharon grew up in a musical family and began playing the accordion at 11. Her skill and ingenuity were quickly recognised; she went on to record and tour with a long list of international stars, including Sinead O’Connor, Jackson Browne and Mark Knopfler. Sharon has also performed for former US President Bill Clinton and President Obama. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement at the Irish Meteor Awards in 2009.

She brings her Big Band to Wellington: a seven-piece powerhouse whose style defies easy definition; with rock, funk, cajun, blues and world music in the mix, topped up with jazz. The Big Band features some of the greats of rock and jazz, including the renowned Richie Buckley on saxophone. The Band is led, as always, by Sharon’s infectious enthusiasm and high-energy accordion.

Sharon has had multi-platinum album sales and several number one albums, singles and DVDs in her home country. She records and produces her albums at her own studio, ‘Poets Corner’, near Galway.

The 2012 Town Hall Gigs include music from Tinariwen (Mali), Barefoot Divas (New Zealand, Australia and international) with Walk A Mile In My Shoes, Bon Iver (USA), Sharon Shannon Big Band (Ireland) and Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band (USA) with Cubano Be! Cubano Bop!

Sharon Shannon Big Band is at the Wellington Town Hall on 14 March for the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival, Wellington, 24 February – 18 March. Tickets $38 – $68 available from Ticketek.

ENDS

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