Unchained Melodies presents Donal McConnon at the Freedom Café tomorrow, Thursday 31 January, at 6pm.

Donal is known for his guitar and harmonica playing, as well as his quirky self-penned songs. He is influenced by singers and songwriters such as Loudon Wainwright III, Devendra Banhart, Nina Simone and Paul Simon. All of his self-penned songs contain elements of blues, jazz and folk. In 2006, he recorded a full-length eponymous album in order to raise money so that he could volunteer in Africa. He spent one year teaching in a local primary school near Blantyre in southern Malawi.

While travelling in Zimbabwe, Donal saw the world-renowned Zimbabwean singer Chiwoniso Maraire perform, singing and playing the mbira (a traditional Shona instrument). Donal immediately went and bought an mbira for himself and has been experimenting with this strange thing ever since. Admission is free.

If you are interested in playing or require details, contact Anna Sorensdotter, Amnesty International on 091-533637 or check out www.amnesty.ie.

Comments (1) »

Mbira.
written by Shona, November 20, 2008

The mbira is about as strange as any musical instrument. Have respect for other people's cultures. "strange thing" really?

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