Tickets $30 advance, $35 door

From the Great Wall of China to packed auditoriums in the Holy Land and more recently being the first Irish band to perform at the greatest music festival in the world, “Rock in Rio,” in front of an estimated audience of 240,000 people, Dervish have come a long way since they formed in 1989. A group of five musicians–Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Martin Mc Ginley, Brian Mc Donagh and Michael Holmes–came together to record an album of local music which was released as “The Boys of Sligo.” Inspired by the project, they decided to develop this informal gathering (which gathered weekly to play sessions in local pubs) into a working band under the name Dervish, which was chosen as it related to any group of spiritual people who become enraptured by music.

Over the following two years, Dervish honed their craft as a formative band. In 1991, Roscommon-born singer Cathy Jordan and all-Ireland champion fiddle player Shane Mc Aleer joined the band, giving them the right balance to produce the first Dervish album, “Harmony Hill,” which was released in 1992. It wasn’t long before the impact of that album became apparent, winning widespread critical acclaim; and the album was described by many as “a landmark Irish traditional album.” The impact of the recording was immediate. Its artistry, musicianship and maturity won outstanding praise from the media, placing Dervish to the forefront of the bands working on traditional Irish music.

Dervish soon became one of the most sought-after acts on the live music circuit worldwide and have continued to remain so over the years.