Mr Dunne`s percussive dancing functions as a fourth musician, his feet doing the work of a drummer as they scuff, patter, chug, poke and swipe at the floor... joins his wildly talented colleagues for about half of the numbers in this show.. is a soulful, integral part of the band." The New York Times

Edges of Light is a new collaboration between Irish dance legend Colin Dunne, fiddler Tola Custy, harpist Maeve Gilchrist, and uilleann piper David Power.
                                                                            
The prodigiously talented dancer Colin Dunne joins forces with Tola Custy, Maeve Gilchrist and David Power. Combining the play of dance with an adventurous musical spirit, the quartet conjure up a beautiful soundscape, weaving simple and complex textures of melody and rhythm inspired by the natural sounds and shimmering patterns of light that announce Ireland’s day. ​
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Their combined talent is an experience not to be missed. Mixing contemporary and traditional music with dance, this theatrical show is an exciting celebration of melody and rhythm.  Commissioned by Music Network

Between (to oversimplify!) the pin-point accuracy of Power’s playing, the liveliness of Gilchrist’s and the immersiveness of Custy’s, the music alone is a pure pleasure. It is given a further lift by the particular interactiveness of this show, the way the musicians respond to one another … as if this tendency in them had been somewhat heightened by how fundamental it is to Dunne’s art." Paul O`Connor

Edges of Light had 3 sell out performances in New York`s Irish Art Center, June 1st, 2nd & 3rd 2017.
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​The show was featured in the New Yorker, Timeout magazine, New York Times and the New York Times listed it as one of the top 10 things to do in NYC. The New York Times also came to the show and published a review. Read it here. ​

A phenomenal harp player who can make her instrument ring with unparalleled purity.” Dirty Linen on Maeve Gilchrist

A languid, loose-limbed creature that creates the finest of shapes around his chosen tunes.” The Irish Times on Tola Custy

a fantastically articulate mover… you can’t take your eyes off him.” The Daily Telegraph on Colin Dunne

The sheer breadth of expression captured by Waterford piper David Power in his latest collection will be enough to stop many listeners in their tracks.” The Irish Times

Programme notes by Ellen Crannitch, Lyric fm

Imagine going to bed on a Saturday night and waking up on a Sunday, a half an hour older than you should be.
Mad , huh? Well, that’s what happened a hundred years ago, in a year already fairly packed with remearkableness.

1916. one of the most significant years in all of Irish history. A year of political turmoil, violent uprising and brutal executors of some of the founding fathers of our state.
And the year Great Britain stole 25 minutes from us and never gave it back.
 
That’s the concept that is inspiring this current collaboration between four highly imaginative and creative musicians, in Edges of Light, a knew commission bringing together four musicians, in whose own work the notion of Time, in its various meanings, is a driving force. 

Though the language and instruments are from long ago, the technology, the ideas, the conversation is totally contemporary. It is this nod to the past, but shout out to the future that is most exciting and most importantly, we can join in. We don`t have to go back to bed to reclaim our lost time, we can own it by allowing Colin, David, Tola and Maeve hypnotise us, following with our eyes and ears, their swinging watch, their swinging rhythms and the Edges of Light become bright shining day. Top of the morning` to ye.

​Ah, Maeve`s riffs. A thing of spellbinding sensuality and depth. She manages to create spaciousness and an intimacy all at the same time, with her delicate and uncluttered chord voicings, and Bill Evans-like openness.` Ellen Cranitch

Colin Dunne is known as a dancer, but it`s probably more accurate to describe him as a musician who plays with his body.` Ellen Cranitch

Link to Irish Times article promoting the Music Network Tour
​click here

Music Network is thrilled to present a new collaboration between the prodigiously talented dancer Colin Dunne, fiddler Tola Custy, harpist Maeve Gilchrist and uilleann piper David Power. Performing ‘Edges of Light’, a new Music Network commission, a sparkling kaleidoscope of melody and rhythm inspired by the natural sounds and shimmering patterns of light that announce Ireland’s day. 

‘Edges of Light’ draws from a unique and little known Irish idiosyncrasy: the rising of the sun at Dunsink Observatory occurs 25 minutes and 21 seconds later than at Greenwich, meaning that 8 pm Dublin Mean Time occurs at 8.25 pm GMT! Step in time anyone? According to Deirdre Moynihan, Programmes Manager at Music Network, “This new work is a complete piece, running for about 75 minutes. Some of the tunes selected are quite old and are woven around new compositions, so it’s a mix of contemporary and traditional music with dance not only as a visual element but part of the sound-scape of the whole piece”.

Best known for his performances and choreography in Riverdance and Dancing on Dangerous Ground, Colin Dunne has toured with The Chieftains and De Dannan and performed at such venues as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. Three award-winning musicians from Ireland and Scotland complete the ensemble: Clare fiddler Tola Custy, one of the founding members of ground-breaking band Guidewires, acclaimed harpist Maeve Gilchrist and uilleann piper David Power, a former member of Liam Clancy’s Fairweather Band and regular collaborator with Martin Hayes’ Masters of Tradition Project.

Music Network’s mission is to make live music available and accessible to as many people as possible .

RTÉ lyric fm took home silver radio award for Edges of Light in the music category. 
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​A meditation on lost time and the creative process, with musicians from the Edges of Light. Presenter: Ellen Cranitch Producer: Eoin Brady

Listen here