Seán Mac Erlaine & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
MUSICIAN & COMPOSER
Seán
Mac Erlaine
Music exploring the spaces between contemporary music, improvisation and tradition.
ABOUT SEÁN
Seán Mac Erlaine is a musician, composer and mastering engineer. Recognised as one of Ireland's most forward-thinking creative musicians, he has worked with many leading lights of music today.
Working primarily with woodwind instruments and electronics, his work moves between contemporary music, jazz, folk, improvisation and experimental sound. He has released a series of albums under his own name including a collaboration with Norwegian musicians Jan Bang & Eivand Aarset and most recently with Irish fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. His playing features on countless collaborations including This is How we Fly and Quiet Music Ensemble.
Fascinated by performance, movement and learning, he is a qualified practising teacher of the Alexander Technique working from his Dublin studio and giving masterclasses in Ireland and abroad.
SELECTED RELEASES
Solo
Discography.
PRESS & REVIEWS
“Mac Erlaine is consistently one of the most interesting and adventurous musicians of his generation.”
“A set of lavish tonal pieces, honed to luxuriate in their ensemble sound rather than individual display. Through a hall of mirrors, a search is on for beauty… Music for Empty Ears is a seductive listen, with a distinctive voice all its own.”
“You'll be charmed and even dazzled by this jazz-tinged stylishly modernized quartet of fiddle, clarinet, drums and, best of all, percussive dance.”
“The rich-textured woodwind sound of Irish visionary Seán Mac Erlaine scintillates here, among a Scandanavian-led avant-electronic palette and damn near coins a new musical language.”
“An important voice in Irish music, searching out the hidden paths that connect the island’s native tradition to the European mainland and the contemporary improv scene.”
01 / 05
Live Dates Highlights
2026 performances:
09/11
Imram Festival, Gabriel Rosenstock tribute, Dublin.
29/10
The Juniper Tree, Live Film Score, The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny.
07/08
Michelle O'Rouke, Museum of Literature Ireland.
12/07
This is How we Fly, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise.
11/07
This is How we Fly, Triskel, Cork.
10/07
This is How we Fly, Klangraum Krems Minoritenkirche, Austria
21/06
Ambient Orbit, Lyric FM live broadcast, West Cork.
20/06
The Music of What Happens, Cork Midsummer Festival.
22/05
Kirkos, solo woodwinds and electronics, Dublin.
16/05
Old Segotia - duo with Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Love is a Stranger, Sligo.
18/04
Old Segotia - duo with Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, New Music Dublin, National Concert Hall, Ireland.
14/03
Old Segotia - duo with Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris.
2025 performances:
24/11
Fußball wie noch nie, National Concert Hall, Dublin
20/11
Duo with Tomoko Sauvage, Irish Design Week, RIAM, Dublin
08/11
Old Segotia Album Launch, National Concert Hall, Dublin
01/11
Kwaidan, Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin
09/10
Kwaidan Film Soundtrack, Expo 2025, Osaka, Japan
19/09
Duo with Lisa Dowdall, Culture Night, Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
03/06
Buile Shuibhne, reading with Rody Gorman, Triskel, Cork
06/04
Quiet Music Ensemble, New Music Dublin, National Concert Hall, Ireland
04/04
IMRAM, Belfast
SELECTED PROJECTS
COLLABORATION
Old Segotia
SOLO PRACTICE
Solo Work
ENSEMBLE
This Is How We Fly
THEATRE / PERFORMANCE
Shades Through a Shade
PERFORMANCE / COLLABORATION
Quiet Music Ensemble
COMPOSITION / DANCE
Terra Firmish
RECORDING with Eivind Aarset & Jan Bang
Music for Empty Ears
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Na Féilte Tine
FILM / COMPOSITION
RISING
RADIO / SOUND
Ceol Cuisle / Pulse Music
FILM / COMPOSITION
Boyne Song
FILM / PERFORMANCE