Heartstring Quartet to Perform at Arts Centre Melbourne, 5/31

Two of the most important names in Irish music, legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn (Van Morrison band) and virtuoso fiddler Nollaig Casey (who has recorded with Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart and Enya) join forces with Máire Ní Chathasaigh, "the doyenne of Irish harpers" (Scotland on Sunday), and Britain's finest flatpicking guitarist Chris Newman in The Heartstring Quartet presented by Arts Centre Melbourne on May 31 8pm, 2014 at Arts Centre Melbourne's Fairfax Studio.

The Irish Times called the foursome's award-winning recordings the Heartstring Sessions "traditional music at its very best". Guitarists Arty McGlynn and Chris Newman perform with sisters, Nollaig Casey on fiddle and Maìire Niì Chathasaigh on harp to put their touch on contemporary and traditional folk music, ranging from the toe-tapping Merle Travis' Saturday Night Shuffle to the traditional A Mhaire Bhan Og. Putting a contemporary twist on traditional Irish music and showcasing their fine musicianship with new compositions, the foursome play a range of genres from bluegrass to ragtime rockabilly.

As some of Ireland and Great Britain's most esteemed musicians, their individual achievements display true virtuosity. Known as one of Ireland's best musicians, guitarist Arty McGlynn has been touring since the age of fifteen and for years was the lead guitarist in the Van Morrison band and a member of groups including Planxty, Patrick Street and De Danann. He is also a chart-topping record producer in his own right. Ní Chathasaigh's sister, Nollaig Casey, known for her virtuosic violin and fiddle skills, has toured with Riverdance, featured in more than 20 feature films as a soloist and recorded with artists including Enya, Sinead O'Connor, Rod Stewart and Elvis Costello. The Irish Times declared McGlynn and Casey "at the cutting edge of the modern Irish Music scene for the last 30 years".

In his 40-year career guitarist Chris Newman has spent his career arranging, composing and recording with jazz and folk luminaries including Diz Disley and Boys of the Laugh, with BBC radio 2 calling him "one of our greatest musicians". Máire Ní Chathasaigh is known as Ireland's most influential harpist, inventing an entirely new style which became the norm amongst her contemporaries and new generations of harpists. The Guardian has said the partnership between Ní Chathasaigh and Newman is "in a class of their own".