The Gloaming

The Gloaming

The Gloaming is a contemporary Irish and American folk group formed in 2011 and based in County Westmeath and Dublin. The group brings together five musicians: fiddle player Martin Hayes, guitarist Dennis Cahill, vocalist Iarla Ó Lionáird, fiddle player Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and pianist and producer Thomas Bartlett, who also works under the name Doveman.

Formation and members

The five musicians come together in 2011 to explore new music at Grouse Lodge Studios in Westmeath. Their line-up combines players with different backgrounds and roles: Bartlett is a New York pianist, Ó Lionáird is a sean-nós singer, Cahill is a Chicago guitarist, Ó Raghallaigh is a fiddler and hardanger innovator, and Hayes is described as a fiddle master.

Style

The Gloaming plays folk and Irish folk music, with a focus on instrumental performance and vocal tradition. Their music is described as drawing on old forms while sounding new, combining elements that feel both ancient and contemporary.