The highlights of the week in Trad

Moxie – Rags Upon the Poddle with Pádraig O’Nualláin – Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne and Trevor Hutchinson

Moxie play The Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo. Photograph: Colin Gillen
Moxie play The Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo. Photograph: Colin Gillen

Sunday 26

Moxie
The Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo 8pm €15 hawkswell.com
This, the final night of their short Irish tour, sees this self-styled "neo Irish" ensemble bring their high octane music towards home. Rooted in traditional music, but with progressive, world and jazz influences, Moxie are hell-bent on tearing up the rule book in their quest for a sound that's all their own.

Wednesday 29

Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne and Trevor Hutchinson top the bill at St John’s Theatre in Tralee
Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne and Trevor Hutchinson top the bill at St John’s Theatre in Tralee

Rags Upon The Poddle
Central Library, Ilac Centre 1pm Adm Free  Booking required. 01-8734333 (Ext 5)
Songs of Jonathan Swift's Dublin: A talk and performance by Pádraig O'Nualláin about life in 18th-century Dublin, along with some songs from the period. Yet another great instalment from Dublin Music Library services: tapping into our cultural heritage from a refreshingly new angle, and reaching audiences who might relish a song with their lunchtime sandwich.

Thursday 30

Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne and Trevor Hutchinson
St John's Theatre, Listowel 8pm €15 stjohnstheatrelistowel.com
This sometime trio is a force to be reckoned with: Cooney's Australian roots colour his freewheeling guitar accompaniment with a certain delirious wildness of heart while Altan's original accordionist, Dermot Byrne, has a remarkably pliant and agile way with his rich selection of tunes. Double bassist Trevor Hutchinson is their ideal counterpoint, anchoring the sound with his inimitable gravitas, both musical and personal.