Earagail Arts Festival & Jodhpur RIFF musical collaboration returns as a highlight at two festivals in January 2024!
Citadels of the Sun – the Irish and Indian group formed at EAF 2019 – returns in 2024 for performances at Celtic Connections in City Halls, Glasgow on Sunday 28th January and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin for IMBOLC International Music Festival in Derry on Monday 29th January.
Citadels of the Sun, which has been listed as one of the highlights of the 2024 Celtic Connections festival, is a two-part creative collaboration emerging from the many folk and historical connections between India and Ireland, from the origins of the Irish and Indian fiddle to their shared colonial past.
Sharing common themes and stories that connect the cultures of the two regions, ‘Citadels of the Sun’ refers to a recurring edifice in both cultures: Mehrangarh fort (fort of the sun) in Rajasthan, and Grianán of Aileach, Donegal’s own fort of the sun.
Bridging these two iconic locations a world apart, Citadels of the Sun is a coming together of diverse but connected voices, the result of which is a sound that transcends and braves new territories in music.
The initial collaboration in 2019 was commissioned by Earagail Arts Festival and culminated at the world famous festival, Jodhpur RIFF, that year.
In July 2020, as part of its online festival, Sruthráin, Earagail Arts premiered a mini documentary on the Irish and Indian performances of this ever-evolving international music project.
The artists continued their engagement after sharing and developing music online throughout the lockdown returning to Jodhpur RIFF Main Stage in 2022. For all the latest documentary coverage of the journey and more insight into the project, click here.
Now, this collaboration of warm, yet exquisite music feels complete and features some of the best musicians from Donegal and Rajasthan: Martin Coyle (bouzouki), Paul Cutliffe (uilleann pipes, whistles), Sarah E Cullen (Donegal fiddle, vocals), Asin Khan Langa (Sindhi sarangi and vocals), Sawai Khan Manganiyar (dholak, morchang, bhapang, khartal and vocals).
Photo Credit: John Soffe Photography
