David Murphy & The Ether Ensemble
Schedule
Fri, 21 Nov, 2025 at 08:00 pm
UTC+00:00Location
Church Of St Brendan The Navigator, Bantry | Bantry, CK
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West Cork Music's Concert Series continues into November with David Murphy and The Ether Ensemble.
David Murphy takes the pedal steel guitar outside the confines of its traditional roots with frequent ventures into a range of genres, spanning Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks and is best known for his work with artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek, Ordnance Survey, Arborist, The Delines, Willy Vlautin, M.Ward and Jolie Holland amongst others.
His debut album ‘Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar’ (Rollercoaster Records) takes it from the well-worn roads of the dusty American south to a new place in contemporary Irish music.
His all-instrumental debut recasts ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs into the 21st century with the swelling, expressive and mournful sounds of the pedal steel guitar. This continues Murphy’s quest to expand the vocabulary of the instrument, taking it deeper into a world much closer to home and, for the very first time, present it in a modern Irish framework.
Murphy’s live show presents these ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al in the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious and emotive sound of the pedal steel guitar and accompanied with his band Ether Ensemble: all-star musicians from across contemporary, modern classical and traditional/folk worlds.
Recent appearances include Kilkenny Arts Festival, Electric Picnic, Another Love Story, Cork Opera House, Galway and Doolin Folk Festivals, Celtic Connections (Glasgow), Quiet Lights Festival and national television appearances at TG4’s Fleadh Cheoil and RTE’s Other Voices.
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Where is it happening?
Church Of St Brendan The Navigator, Bantry, IrelandEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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