NAVIGATOR Artist in Residence Éamonn Cagney announced for Riverbank Arts Centre this August & September, 2024
Improvised Music Company (IMC) and Riverbank Arts Centre (Kildare) are delighted to announce percussionist and composer Éamonn Cagney as their fourth musician in residence for the 2024 NAVIGATOR residency programme.
IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then 18 musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge, Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre Thurles, An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny, and Courthouse Arts Tinahely and Garter Lane, Waterford.
NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.
Éamonn Cagney is Ireland’s foremost hand-drum percussionist. His masterful percussion-playing and original compositions are displayed on his solo albums Convergence and Enchantment, his longstanding duo with Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, and his numerous collaborations, masterclasses and recordings. He is considered one of the best drumming teachers in Ireland, particularly in primary schools, where he has over 20 years of experience. One of Ireland’s most cherished musicians, Cagney has regularly worked with diverse musicians and organisations, including Liam Ó Maonlaí, Roger Doyle, the Abbey Theatre, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Denise Chaila, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Lisa O’Neill, John Spillane, Martin Tourish (Altan), Julie Feeney, Mel Mercier, Music Generation, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Míchéal Ó Súilleabháin and Louis César Ewande.
Ahead of his Navigator residency, Eamonn said:
“Solo work is the heart of any creative artist’s practice. It flows out from this seed experience into all of our collaborations and creative relationships, into the music and the multiplicity of other disciplines that we love to work in. And of course it flows into our daily life interactions, transforming our reality into something new and momentous. To have the opportunity to deepen this at Riverbank through the IMC navigator residency is a very special opportunity for me. I’m very grateful and really looking forward to spending time in this beautiful part of Ireland.“
Caroline Williams, Riverbank’s director said:
“We are delighted to welcome Eamonn Cagney to Riverbank Arts Centre as part of a Navigator Residency in autumn. This is our second time to collaborate with IMC on their innovative artist support programme, which offers an opportunity to jazz and improvising music artists to develop their practice in a new location. Eamonn has made a site visit to us in Newbridge already, tested the acoustic on our stage, and outlined his exciting plans for the residency ahead. We look forward to hosting Eamonn in August and September, encouraging collaborations with excellent local musicians and introducing our audiences to this uniquely talented percussionist.”
The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC’s commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.
The 2024 Navigator jazz residency programme has been expanded to 7 partners across the island of Ireland, with Garter Lane, Waterford, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge and Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast joining the initial 4 other partners.
Further NAVIGATOR artist residencies for 2024 will be announced in due course.
IMC: improvisedmusic.ie
Eamonn Cagney: eamonncagney.com