Green isles from opposite sides of the world come together as traditional Irish and Māori music meet for the first time. Already the resulting show, called Green Fire Islands, is the talk of the indigenous music world and New Zealand’s art circles.

As it tours New Zealand in March, the show will highlight the collaboration process and the powerful creative energy that expands when the very best of artists join forces. This is a rare opportunity to see two creative island cultures referring to elements of their distinctive sound while working together to forge new frontiers.

From conception to film

The project was conceived by New Zealander Bronwen Christianos and has been musically directed by the legendary Donal Lunny. The collaboration will be captured by cinematographer, Alun Bollinger, who saw the value of the cultural and musical encounter.

"The project grabs me," Bollinger says. "It's an opportunity to bring a varied group of remarkably talented people into the same arena at the same time to explore all sorts of possibilities. A documentary of the events will allow an even wider audience to share the experience. It will provide insight into the two worlds of Celtic and Māori music and give audiences a chance to follow the artists' creative processes."

Kiwis like a good collaboration

It seems New Zealanders like to collaborate, bringing together what might at first seem different and showing the fundamental ways the combination can make both things stronger.

This 'collaborative theme' has been showcased recently in NZ through several partnerships between popular and classical music - such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra & Salmonella Dub tour featuring Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns in January 2008, as well as the recent Shapeshifter and Goldenhorse symphony tours.

Green Fire Islanders

The line-up for Green Fire Islands includes New Zealand’s darling Whirimako Black with her 'voice to die for' performing waiata (Māori song) complemented by Richard Nunns, the most accomplished performer of Taonga Puoro (Māori traditional instruments) alive and recent recipient of the Tui Award. Nunns will play the 'singing treasures' with the younger Horomona Horo while Riki Gooch, former percussionist of Trinity Roots, will drive the beat. Special guest singer/songwriter Hinewehi Mohi will join them on stage for the Auckland show.

Included in a highly charged line-up on the Irish side is fiddler Nollaig Casey and the brilliant Australian-Irish guitarist Steve Cooney. The utterly beautiful style of Gaelic singing ‘Sean-Nos’ will be performed by Iarla O'Lionaird. Graham Henderson is on the keyboards with harpist Laoise Kelly, and Uilleann piper Sean McKeon completes the ensemble. Donal Lunny, referred to by Bono of U2 as 'the sound man' will be playing the bouzouki.

Dancing all the way

Joining the musicians is a small but vital dance group performing both traditional and contemporary style kapa haka. The traditional style will be led by Joe Malcolm, who is a kaumatua (revered elder) of the Te Arawa tribe, while the contemporary style will be led by Jack Gray Junior, founder of the highly acclaimed Atamira Dance Collective. Award-winning NZ poet Glenn Colquhoun, who has produced a new series of work specifically for this project, completes the mix on the NZ side.

Green Fire Islands has been partnered with both the NZ International Arts Festival for the Wellington show on March 11th, and with the WOMAD Festival in Taranaki. Both festivals relished the chance to host the collaboration due to the impressive calibre of the musicians involved and the particular cultural dynamic that the show presents.

The project is recognised by Irish President Mary McAleese as, "…extraordinarily important… Tradition will be captured, renewed and reinvigorated. This project will translate the ancient, honour the well of tradition out of which it comes, and make music that is new and vital."

McAleese adds, "The results promise to be hugely exciting."