Conor Mallon Band | Cambridge, IL
“Leading the next generation of Uilleann pipe players”
— Folking.com
🍉 6pm - potluck/social hour
🎤 7pm - show
💵 $20-30 suggested donation
👨👩👧 All ages, family-friendly
Rain location: Bishop Hill Creative Commons
Bring lawn chairs/blankets, BYOB
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Conor Mallon from Keady, Co.Armagh started his musical career with the Armagh Pipers Club where he attended Uilleann Pipe lessons. He has progressed through ranks to become one of the senior teachers at the club before touring in a full-time capacity. Conor has been categorised as the one leading pipers in his generation as described by folking.com, “In the week that we learned of the passing of Liam O’Flynn it was apposite to hear Conor Mallon leading the next generation of Uilleann pipe players.”
Conor was the first recipient of the ACNI/BBC NI Young Traditional Musicians Platform award and subsequently was a guest musician with the Ulster Orchestra and with the award winning Foden’s Brass Band. Conor is a Senior County, Ulster and All-Ireland Champion on Uilleann Pipes in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and has won many other awards including the Uilleann Piping Scholarship by the Na Píobairí Uilleann Dublin in 2008 and was the first recipient of the Mark Donnelly Bursary for Uilleann Piping Award in 2010.
Conor has performed at many festivals in Ireland, Europe and North America including the William Kennedy Piping festival, Piping Live, Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Fringe and the Milwaukee Irish Fest and has toured extensively on his own, with his band Connla, Comhaltas and with the prestigious worldwide show, Irish Celtic. He also plays Uilleann Pipes and Whistles in the Irish trad band Connla who are described by Irish Music Magazine as, "A New Musical Powerhouse is among us. It is from Northern Ireland, and it is Connla. Wow!" He has performed on a number of Radio shows, TV programmes for RTE, TG4 and the BBC individually and with various other groups including main band Connla.
Mallon’s “Hugely Impressive” debut solo album has exploded on the folk/traditional scene. The album having mostly his own compositions and arrangements of some old classics, The Irish Times has praised Mallon’s “High-octane production” debut. The debut solo album released in May 2023 has already received international plaudits as it was nominated for a German Critics Award and the Prestigious NI Music Prize shortly after release, and most recently won ‘Album of the Year’ for the Ireland Tonight Music award in Chicago.
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The potluck is optional, but it is a great chance to connect others in the audience and maybe even share a meal with the artist. It also helps ensure the artist isn't having to have a meal from a gas station. We'll provide the plates, bowls, silverware, napkins, and, if you need it, serving spoons. Feel free to bring anything you'd like--an entrée, appetizer, dessert, or drink to share. Bring something you will enjoy eating, because if you enjoy it, it is likely others will as well.
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This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Humanities, and the Doris and Ken Charitable Trust.
