Biography
Atlantic Arc is a collaborative ensemble of renowned traditional musicians and singers from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, under the musical direction of Dónal Lunny, one of Ireland's most accomplished performers, composers and producers.
Having formed in 2016 for a series of one-off shows, including Cork Folk Festival and Celtic Connections, the members discovered a shared interest in further exploring and cultivating contemporary expressions of traditional music. This connection set Atlantic Arc on a course of openness and curiosity which over the past 5 years has led to a powerful live repertoire of original, traditional, re-arranged and shared material, drawn from their Irish and Scottish musical ancestry.
“A musically charged experience that redefines brilliance.”
— TJ Peterson
ATLANTIC ARC MEMBERS:
Dónal Lunny bouzouki & musical director
Pauline Scanlon vocals
Pádraig Rynne concertina
Jarlath Henderson uilleann pipes, whistles, guitar, vocals
Aidan O'Rourke fiddle
Graham Henderson keyboards
Ewen Vernal bass
Davie Ryan drums
Sharon Howley cello
QUOTES
"Lunny gathers some of the finest musicians in Ireland and Scotland to create a fresh new sound - yet again - while keeping the continuum of the tradition so crucial to his own musical journey". Brian O'Donovan, WGBH Boston
"Our Song of the Day is My Son David, the sublime new single from Dónal Lunny’s Atlantic Arc featuring the man himself and Pauline Scanlon, Jarlath Henderson, Aidan O’Rourke, Sharon Howley, Davie Ryan, Ewen Vernal, Graham Henderson and Pádraig Rynne. Outstanding" Folk Radio UK
"Dónal Lunny’s musical curiosity is indefatigable. He’s the ultimate collaborator: always exploring new territories, and well-worn paths too, where he inevitably unearths sparkling new possibilities in old sounds". The Irish Times
"effortlessly straddled the ancient and contemporary. From an enormous respect for traditional music, he has always mined its depths to reveal fresh perspectives, so that it sounds utterly in step with the times, always at the cutting edge". The Irish Times