A new duo project from accordionist David Munnelly and fiddler Danny Diamond.

Danny Diamond is a fiddle player based in Dublin, Ireland. In his music Danny explores a unique sound-world, rooted in the rich heritage of Irish traditional music, but incorporating wider influences from Nordic and American folk to baroque music to experimental pop. Danny plays with the contemporary Nordic/Irish band Slow Moving Clouds, with the Irish traditional band Mórga, and his 2014 debut solo album, Fiddle Music, was widely acclaimed as one of the top Irish traditional releases of the year.

David Munnelly is an accordion player from Belmullet, Co. Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland. His singular musical voice is built on deep foundations, beginning with family influences, in particular his grandmother's melodeon playing; then adding wild virtuoso flourishes, echoing the swing-flavoured Irish-American music of the 1920s and 1930s. These roots in the Irish tradition are set against sophisticated and contemporary multi-layered bass and chordal accompaniment, creating a unique, rich and unforgettable sound.

David is widely regarded as one of the most influential Irish accordion players of his generation: he has played with legendary Irish bands De Dannan and The Chieftains, and for 15 years fronted The David Munnelly Band. In recent years his skills as a composer and arranger have come to the fore and David now works on a wide variety of music projects, ranging from the multi-award winning pan-Eurpoean accordion five-piece Samurai, through his experimental solo compositions, to the high-energy traditional Irish band Mórga.

Established in 1992, the Ward Irish Music Archives houses the largest public collection of Irish music in America. It is named after John J. Ward Jr., father of Irish Fest founder Ed Ward. The archive currently consists of more than 40,000 Irish music recordings and pieces of memorabilia ranging from rare 78 rpm's, LP's and sheet music to song books, instruments, and concert memorabilia. Many of the archives items are extremely difficult to find today, and our diverse collections focus on subjects such as Irish traditional music, Irish folk songs, Scottish music, and Irish contributions to American popular music.

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The second you hear the ebb and flow of the music that emanates from David Munnelly’s accordion, you will be instantly convinced that this man was born with a button box in his hands. Hailing from Belmullet, a small town by the sea in Co. Mayo, Ireland, David has carried the strong musical tradition from his home and family across the world.

David is known for his colourful style which inhales bold bass fingerings, complex arrangements and modern compositions; and exhales hints of the Roaring 20′s and the energy of a box of dynamite coupled with a masterful knack for letting a tune take its own time for a completely unmistakeable and brilliant sound.

This unique style led David into the world of professional musicianship where early in his career he became a full-time member of Niamh Parsons’ band the Loose Connections. As his reputation grew in Irish trad circles, David quickly found himself recording and touring with some of the greatest Irish bands and musicians of the last century including The Chieftains, De Danann, Gerry O Connor, Arty McGlynn and Sharon Shannon.

After gaining ample experience and knowledge from his exceptional peers, David formed the David Munnelly Band in1999 and began a thirteen year journey with his own band touring Europe, America and Japan and recording four critically acclaimed CD’s.

Recently David has expanded his repertoire to mainland Europe where he is currently working on several new projects. Along with the most respected accordion players in Europe, David currently performs with the Accordion Samurai, who’s debut CD has won numerous high-profile awards. Additionally, David released  " t'is what it is"  a successful duo CD with fiddler Mick Conneely in 2012.

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