This year's National Concert Hall Summer Series will include performances from Interference featuring Glen Hansard, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mariza through June and July.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo kick off the series with a performance on Saturday, June 2020. For sixty years the legendary a cappella male choir have invoked the soul of South Africa with their intricate rhythms and harmonies and powerful, uplifting songs. Nelson Mandela even called Ladysmith “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors”. Throughout their long career, they have won five Grammy Awards (after 17 nominations) and collaborated with Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton and many more. This performance will celebrate the life and music of Joseph Shabalala, the founder of the group who passed away in February.

On July 17, Interference are joined by Glen Hansard for a special night of music celebrating frontman Fergus O'Farrell, who sadly passed away in 2016. The performance also celebrates the release of Breaking Out, an award-winning documentary that tells the story of O'Farrell's exceptional life.  Although they rarely play as Interference, when they do it is a magical force of nature. The remarkable event will include performances from Maurice Seezer, Paul Tiernan, Camilla Griehsel, plus founding members James O’Leary, Cal McCarthy and Maurice Culligan and long-time collaborators John Fitzgerald, Anthony Noonan, Bertrand Galen with former member Colm McCaughey.

Grammy-nominated Portuguese singer Mariza finishes the series with a performance on Thursday, July 23. Born in Mozambique to a Portuguese father and Mozambican mother, she was brought up in Mouraria, one of the traditional fado neighbourhoods of Lisbon. While loving the pure tradition, Mariza has commissioned new fados and expanded the form in her collaborations with Spanish and Brazilian musicians. Since the release of her acclaimed debut album Fado em Mim in 2001 she has garnered huge international acclaim, receiving BBC Radio 3’s award for Best European Artist in World Music, duetting at the 2004 Olympic Games with Sting and performing as part of the opening act of the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. In May she releases a new album honouring Amália Rodrigues, whose footsteps she followed in as fado queen following her death on 1999.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10am.