The British Council is delighted to be bringing Michael McGoldrick to the UAE on the occasion of the UAE National Day. This is the first of an interesting and exciting programme of activities linking the UK and the Arabic music scenes in collaboration and performance across the Middle East region.

"The Guardian" Best of all, Michael McGoldrick’s twelve strong line-up were as thrilling as a full tilt U2.’

Regarded as one of the greatest flute players of all time, Michael has collaborated with the likes of Jim Kerr, Youssou N’Dour and John Cale as well as founding Toss the Feathers and Flook.

In 1998 Mike was invited to join Scottish folk-legends Capercaillie (described by Mojo Magazine as a ‘folk marriage made in heaven’) and in the same year joined the Afro-Celt Soundsystem,  still finding time to help launch yet another band; Lunasa

His solo projects have gained him worldwide acclaim, allowing him the freedom to explore a sound and direction that is both inspiring and truly unique.

In 1996 he released his debut solo album ‘Morning Rory’ (a parody of Oasis’s Morning Glory), it received widespread rave reviews and remained at no 1 for 5 weeks in the Irish Folk and Roots charts. In 2000 his album Fused was described as one of the most ground breaking albums of all time, redirecting the future of traditional music. Mixing traditional music with trance, it is aptly named and is a fusion of jungle and hip hop beats woven together with jazz, Asian and Celtic music.

Wired followed in 2005, a natural successor to Fused, it consolidated his reputation for creating innovative music, bringing his bold interpretation of instrumentation and sheer skill on the flute to the forefront of the public eye. Michael was awarded Musician of the year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk awards in 2006.

His band’s live performances have been truly special, allowing audiences to enjoy the sheer energy as well as subtlety of his music.

Master of flutes, whistles and Uillean pipes, Michael McGoldrick will produce his first studio album since the release of Wired (‘some of the most exciting, inventive and sophisticated music you’ll find anywhere- The Sunday Herald) in February 2009.

For his two performances in the UAE, Michael will appear with his friends, Donald Shaw (Capercaillie) on Keyboards, Charlie McKerron (Capercaillie) on fiddle and Manus Lunny (Capercaillie) on bazouki.

More live reviews

The Independent – ‘traditional melodies, contemporary dance floor rhythms and jazz/funk workouts: one of the most adventurous yet intelligently configured sounds currently to be heard in any genre’

Irish Music – ‘At a time when a young generation is casting around to find it’s own musical voice, this may well be the route finder’

The Herald – ‘World music meets jazz and retains and Irish accent? You bet…the whole thing oozed class and excitement’

Ouest – (France) ‘...this fusion is unique and a brilliant combination. McGoldrick is a rare pearl.  He can pull off the impossible’

The Irish Voice (New York) – ‘Most attempts at a fusion of traditional and contemporary music simply don’t work, but Michael McGoldrick is the exception that proves the rule.’