Des Cafferkey & Philippe Robberecht

August 30, 2019

“BEST OF BOTH WORLDS”

Philippe Robberecht has had an amazing musical career in Belgium, where he played at many festivals and in many theaters. He has written and composed eight albums. His Debut album  entitled “Magie”proved to be a massive hit in Belgium when it was awarded Platinum Gold Status, reaching No. 1 for several weeks.

Many of his songs are still very popular, having stood the test of time and remain as radio-classics.  Apart from his own music, he was always busy with different projects and bands. What he loves most of all is to experiment with songs from other great songwriters like (Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Sting, Clapton, Dylan, Bob Marley, Coldplay, Snowpatrol …) by introducing his own technique and style to interpret their music.

Robberecht also has a wide  repertoire of classic traditional Irish songs and ballads … making his own version with his blue Gretsch guitar with some nice colourful textures and dynamics that sit nicely alongside the traditional tones of Cafferkey’s melodic rifts! For the fun of it, he plays gigs now since he moved to Inishbófin Island, where he set up his own recording studio (www.rcstudio.be).  When he heard Des play on flute and whistles, to name but a few instruments in his repertoire, he knew he would be the perfect match …

Des, a native of Achill Island, Co. Mayo, is widely regarded as one of the
finest exponents of the tin whistle and flute in Ireland as well as an
accomplished player of the Scottish bagpipes. Des has been successful at a
competitive level achieving All Ireland awards for senior tin whistle and
bagpipes.

He has performed with artists as diverse as Matt Molloy and The Chieftans, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, Mundy, Damien Dempsey, Jack L, Pete Williams, Sister Sledge, Paul Brady, Mary Coughlan, Gerry O’ Connor, James Kilbane, Steve Cooney, Lúnasa, Laoise Kelly, Paul McGratten  and the St. Laurence O’ Toole Pipe Band at Carnegie Hall.

As well as being a composer and performer Des is a much sought after
session musician. He has recently recorded and toured with Imelda May.  Des is co-founder, musical director and Pipe Major of “The Clew Bay Pipe Band” (Banna Píob Chuan Modh).

Des has three solo albums to his credit. ‘Achill Head’ – ‘Achill Air’ – ‘Trad with a Twist’.

It’s when Des and Philippe meet … the musical magic happens!!