Clare fiddle player Ultan O'Brien announces debut album Dancing The Line

Clare-born fiddle player and composer Ultan O’Brien is set to release his debut solo album, Dancing The Line, on March 20, 2025, through Nyahh Records.

Known for his innovative approach to Irish music, O’Brien merges deep-rooted tradition with contemporary experimentation to create a distinctive sound.

The 14-track album delves deep into sound art and experimental music, exploring the connection between language and music through rhythm and tone. It ranges from the nature-inspired 'Iron Mountain Foothills' to the impressionistic 'Macha', the lively 'The Boyne Hunt', and the more expansive sounds of 'Secret House In Fintra Bog' and 'Death Doula Meet'.

Speaking about the project, O’Brien said: "This album is my first solo album of music played on an alternatively-tune alto fiddle.

"I found that the resonance and growl of this lower tuned instrument sat me perfectly into the sound-world I wanted to be in, giving vibrancy to my own compositions and nestling into the traditional music I grew up with."

Dancing the Line will be released on vinyl, CD, and digital platforms. A preview track, 'It Was in the Year Eighteen Hundred and Four', is available now via Nyahh Records.