Martin Hayes & The Common Ground Ensemble Announce UK & Ireland Tour

Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble have officially announced their upcoming tour across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The tour coincides with the release of their highly acclaimed album titled “Peggy’s Dream.” The highlight of the tour will be a captivating performance by the full ensemble at the EartH Theatre in London on the 13th of October.

The formation of The Common Ground Ensemble, Hayes’ latest artistic venture, has been a gradual process that took shape over the past few years. During this time, Hayes has curated and produced concerts for various festivals, often fostering new collaborations and assembling special ensembles for these events.

Reflecting on his work with The Common Ground Ensemble, Hayes elaborates, stating, “The journey never reaches a conclusion. Every new project is the result of possibilities and ideas that begin to appear in the course of developing previous projects.” This statement underscores Hayes’ dedication to constant exploration and artistic growth.

Hayes’ vision for The Common Ground Ensemble was to bring together musicians from diverse backgrounds who share a connection to Irish music, symbolized by the ensemble’s name. The final lineup includes accomplished musicians such as Cormac McCarthy on piano, known for his work with ‘Cottage Evolution’; Kate Ellis on cello, the Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble; Kyle Sanna on guitar, recognized for collaborations with Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile; and Brian Donnellan on bouzouki, harmonium, and concertina, who, like Hayes, is a former member of The Tulla Céilí Band.

Collectively, these musicians possess an extensive range of talents that span traditional Irish music, contemporary classical, jazz improvisation, and experimental genres. Within The Common Ground Ensemble, these genres seamlessly intertwine with the core elements of Irish musical tradition, providing each musician with the space to showcase their remarkable abilities.

Hayes’ contributions to the music industry have garnered widespread recognition. He has been honored as Musician of the Year (Gradam Ceoil) by TG4 and as Person of the Year by the American Irish Historical Society in New York City. In addition, he is the recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Ireland award from the Irish Arts Center NY. Hayes has received numerous accolades, including being named Musician of the Year at the inaugural BBC Folk Awards and Instrumentalist of the Year at the inaugural RTE Folk Awards. His talents have taken him to notable stages, such as performing for President Obama and dignitaries at the White House and the US Capitol Building in March 2011. Furthermore, he has been granted an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the National University of Ireland Galway.

The Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble tour will encompass various cities in the UK and Ireland. The schedule includes performances at prominent venues such as Band on the Wall in Manchester, Earth Theatre in London, University Concert Hall in Limerick, and Vicar Street in Dublin. The tour will conclude with a show at St Luke’s in Cork. Additionally, Hayes will have solo shows at Wyham Brewery in Newcastle, Redgrave Theatre in Bristol, and Howard Assembly Room in Leeds.

Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble Tour Dates

Wed 11 October – Band on the Wall, Manchester
Fri 13 October – Earth Theatre, London
Sat 14 October – University Concert Hall, Limerick
***Sun 15 October – Wyham Brewery, Newcastle
***Tue 17 October – Redgrave Theatre, Bristol
***Wed 18 October – Howard Assembly Room. Leeds
Thu 19 October – Vicar Street, Dublin
Fri 20 October – Vicar Street, Dublin
Sat 21 October – Royal Theatre, Castlebar
Sun 22 October – St. Luke’s, Cork

(*** indicates solo shows)

Tickets for the tour will go on sale on Friday, the 2nd of June, and can be purchased through serious.org.uk/martinhayes. This promises to be an unforgettable musical experience, showcasing the unparalleled talent of Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble as they captivate audiences across the UK and Ireland.