The six Cassidy brothers will perform on Bratislava's Main Square June 24.photo: Courtesy The Cassidys
As part of their ongoing tour in Austria, Irish folk group The Cassidys will return to Bratislava for the fourth time to give a free concert on the Old Town's Main Square, Sunday, June 24.
"We have decided to come back to Bratislava because we love it here and because the people who come to our concert are so friendly and appreciative," explained Ciaran Cassidy, group manager and member. "We normally tour Austria, Italy, Germany and Switzerland in June, but we like to include Bratislava in our itinerary [because here] we get a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction."
The Cassidys, or Na Casaidigh as they are known in Ireland, is a group of six brothers who grew up influenced by Gaelic culture in Gaoth Dobhair on the rugged Atlantic coastline of Donegal County. The brothers all sing, and play different instruments, including the traditional Irish Uileann bagpipes, bouzouki, bodhran, as well as mandolin, guitar, whistles and fiddles.
The six brothers have performed together since childhood. "We can be much more critical of each other without causing a rift within the band, while other groups have to be more diplomatic in their relationships. Apart from that, our voices have a similar quality, which makes our harmony singing a tighter blend than would be the case with six strangers."
The band recently issued their new CD Singing from Memory, which won a platinum CD in Ireland. The album, they say, is an experiment of crossing traditional Irish folk with rock. "This is not typical of our music," Cirian explained. "It was an experiment to shock people when they heard folk in a rock style. But we're not a rock band - we leave rock to U2."
While The Cassidys perform its repertoire of old Irish songs, the Bratislava dance group Petronela will dance along to the music. Irish group Gin D'Arasso will open the show at 19:00, on June 24 on Hlavné námestie (Main Square) in the Bratislava Old Town.
By Zuzana Habšudová
