The Arts Council have announced a series of live-streamed concerts over the weekend of June 19 and 20 as part of their annual Tradition Now series.

Featuring the likes of Steve Cooney, and headlined by John Spillane on June 19 at 8pm, it will have evening and family-focused afternoon shows streamed from the National Concert Hall.

Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly, explained that "Tradition Now is a celebration of the rich diversity within our traditional music and explores where our music has come from and the direction it has chosen to take."

"The Arts Council is delighted to be celebrating the seventh edition of Tradition Now and values this important partnership with the National Concert Hall."

John Spillane, who recently spoke to Hot Press' Will Russell about his love of Irish trad, will play music from his recent top 10 album, 100 Snow White horses.

Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall, remarked that "now more than ever we are assured of the transformative power of music and the arts to speak to the times we live in, to offer solace and inspiration for today and the future."   

This year the event will also feature four shows for families in the early afternoon, 'Wunderground'. These shows aimed at those aged 3+ will attempt to give young audiences a "meaningful experience of the traditional arts".

Full Schedule of Tradition Now 2021:

Saturday, June 19

11 am   Wunderground - A family concert by Ceol Connected
1 pm    Wunderground - A family concert by Ceol Connected
2 pm   Michelle & Louise Mulcahy 
3.30 pm  Nell Ní Chróinín, Maria Ryan, Kate Ellis, Cormac McCarthy
5 pm   Mick O’Brien, Emer Mayock, Aoife Ní Bhríain
8 pm   John Spillane

Sunday, June 20

11 am  Wunderground - A family concert by Ceol Connected
1p m   Wunderground - A family concert by Ceol Connected
2 pm   Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ultan O’Brien
3.30 pm    Steve Cooney: Ceol Ársa Cláirsí: Tunes of the Irish Harpers for Solo Guitar
5 pm    Daoirí Farrell
8 pm    Varo with special guests John Francis Flynn, Alannah Thornburgh, Niamh Bury, Anna Mieke, Branwen and Slow Moving Clouds

Tickets are available at nch.ie.