Donegal folk legends Altan will be taking care of the music on this Friday’s Late Late Show.
Ahead of tour dates around Ireland, Altan will perform a set of reels tonight to get viewers hands clicking and toes tapping.
Formed in County Donegal in 1987 by lead vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her late husband Frankie Kennedy, the group’s music is influenced by traditional Irish language songs and tunes from Donegal. Over the course of their career, Altan has sold over a million records.
The band’s newest member is Clare Friel, who shares vocal duties with Ní Mhaonaigh. On the latest tour is Martin Tourish on accordion, Dáithí Sproule and Mark Kelly on guitars, Ciarán Curran on bouzouki and mandolin, with additional musicians Jim Higgins on percussion, Steve Cooney on bass, and Graham Henderson on keyboards.
The Late Late line-up also includes award winning actor Paul Mescal who will chat about his giant blockbuster Gladiator II, U2 bassist and global rock superstar Adam Clayton, comedy host Graham Norton, and Glamour magazine’s first Global Editorial Director Samantha Barry
Brendan O’Carroll is home from Florida and will be chatting to Patrick about his hit series, Mrs. Brown’s Boy’s. He’ll also chat about his live show, The Musical for Moore Street, which tours Ireland in the coming weeks.