Dervish land TV deal with American broadcaster PBS

Dervish have landed a TV deal with American broadcaster PBS – with the Irish group's hour-long TV special, The Great Irish Song Book, set to be broadcast in the US on February 27.

The broadcasts will take place over the next two years across different PBS channels, with Dervish set to perform with special guests, such as David Gray, Imelda May, Moya Brennan, Indigo Girls, Kate Rusby, and Brian Kennedy.

The show will feature songs from the band's 2019 album The Great Irish Song Book, as well as new material from their upcoming record The Great Irish Song Book Vol. 2: Poets and Storytellers, including 'Passage West', written by John Spillane and featuring Indigo Girls, who will join them during the performance. The album is due out later this year.

Accompanied by other Irish artists, Imelda May will also present a moving rendition of 'Molly Malone', with David Gray singing 'The West Coast of Clare'.

"When people think of Irish music, especially in a great many countries around the world, they think of Dervish," said show director David Heffernan.

"And, from my own perspective, it's been a great pleasure working with them on the project, and I look forward to completing a documentary on Irish music, and song, which also features the band, and is presently in production,” he added.

Dervish were founded in 1989 in Sligo, with current members including vocalist Cathy Jordan, Shane Mitchell on accordion, flautist Liam Kelly, Tom Morrow on fiddle, Brian McDonagh on mandolin, and guitarist Seán Óg Graham.

With 13 studio albums, the group have brought traditional Irish music to international audiences, selling out venues across the world. In 2004, they were awarded the Freedom of Sligo City and more recently, the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

See the complete list of performances in the programme below:

‘Red Haired Mary’ – Dervish, Written by Sean McCarthy, Arranged by Dervish

‘The West Coast of Clare’ – Dervish with David Gray, Written by Andy Irvine

‘Passage West’ – Dervish with Indigo Girls, Written by John Spillane

‘The Bold Doherty’ – Dervish, Traditional

‘Down the Broom’ / ‘The Gatehouse Maid’ – Dervish and Kevin Burke, Traditional instrumental

‘Molly Malone’ – Dervish and Imelda May, Traditional

‘The Parting Glass’ – Dervish with Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby, Imelda May and Brian Kennedy, Traditional

‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’ – Dervish, Traditional

‘John Blessings’ – Dervish, Traditional instrumental

‘Boots of Spanish Leather’ – Dervish, Written by Bob Dylan

‘Tobar an tSaoil (The Well of the World)’ – Dervish and Moya Brennan, World Premiere Performance, Written By Moya Brennan and Aisling Jarvis

Watch the promotional trailer below: