In association with Quiet Lights, FUAIM is proud to present this week's concert by Nava, a Dublin-based quartet exploring the musical cultures of Ireland and Persia. The group is comprised of banjoist Paddy Kiernan, guitarist/bassist Niall Hughes, and Iranian-born brothers Shahab and Shayan Coohe, on santoor, and tombak/tar/clarinet respectively.

After a 2018 which featured performances at Celtic Connections, The Masters of Tradition Festival, Doolin Folk Festival and WOMEX Gran Canaria among others, Nava spent early 2019 experimenting, writing and arranging a host of new material, resulting in their eagerly awaited follow up to 2017‘s Tapestry,  entitled Sojourns: Volume 1. Recorded with Adrian Hart (I Draw Slow) and produced by Tony Byrne (Julie Fowlis, Danu) Sojourns: Volume 1 is the first in a two-part release that expands on the sonic territory covered in Tapstrey, charting the continuing development of this unique ensemble. Divided into two long-form pieces, it sees the quartet explore the relationship between lengthier Persian Classical forms and Irish sets of tunes, while incorporating influences from contemporary classical music, Iranian folk music, and condensing this into a host of new compositions.

Described by Martin Hayes of The Gloaming as “...a delicate and beautiful integration of tones and textures...bring[ing] their Persian-influenced Irish music to the next level...”, Sojourns: Volume 1 reinforces Nava’s position as one of the most forward-thinking groups in contemporary folk music today.

"Listening to the cross-cultural blend of Nava, one would think the two musical cultures of Persia and Ireland had been historically connected. They haven’t...until now. A pioneering musical collaboration." - Carl Corcoran, presenter of ‘The Blue of the Night’, RTE Lyric FM

Watch online at www.youtube.com/musicatucc

http://www.navatheband.com/