A Musical Christmas Present from Big Mountain Productions

Newry based Big Mountain Productions has announced a major festive line-up with four original programmes set to air across Sky Arts, RTÉ One and TG4 this Christmas.

The festive programming kicks off on Tuesday, 16 December at 9.30 pm with a special edition of Opry le Daniel ar Thuras on TG4. The hugely popular series, now in its fifteenth season, sees Ireland's number one country music artist Daniel O'Donnell hosting the biggest names in country music. The Christmas show features highlights from performances recorded earlier this year before a live audience over three nights in Derry's Millennium Forum. TG4 television's highest rating country music series has welcomed legendary artists including Charley Pride, Crystal Gayle and Rita Coolidge, alongside many of Ireland's home-grown talent.

On Sunday, 21 December at 9.30 pm, TG4 broadcasts Gradam Ceoil TG4 @ Expo 25: Dhá Oileán Cheolmhara, a major Irish-led feature-length documentary that uncovers for the first time the deep cultural relationship between Ireland and Japan through a shared passion for Irish traditional music and arts. The programme showcases the current recipients of the Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards, representing the best of the best of traditional Irish musicians, who travelled to Japan to take part in a major gala concert in a 2,000 seater performance space at the Irish Pavilion at Osaka Expo 25. Musicians and singers, including fiddler Siobhan Peoples, singer Cathy Jordan, group Flook, composer Johnny Óg Connolly, young musician and piper Colm Broderick, lifetime achievement and fiddler Matt Cranitch, and community awardee and broadcaster Áine Hensey, joined pianist Rod McVey, sean-nós dancer Becky Ní Éallaithe, and renowned musical director and composer Neil Martin. They were joined by the best of the best of Japanese folk artists including singer Misako Koja, accompanist Kazuya Sahara, dancer Taka Hayashi, flautist Kozo Toyota, Taiko drummers Hiro & Luke Hayashida, piper Atsushi Yamane, and snare drummer Kyoko Yamane. The programme will also be available on the TG4 Player worldwide and is supported by the Irish Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with the Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

Sky Arts broadcasts Nicola Benedetti & Friends on Monday, 29 December at 7.30 pm, with the concert also streaming on NOW. Grammy Award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti returned to Belfast last week as part of her first solo tour in 10 years, with a special performance at the Ulster Hall that was filmed for broadcast. The 80-minute programme blends virtuosic performance with intimate storytelling, as Nicola presents a carefully curated programme of shorter works ranging from the deeply romantic to the dazzlingly virtuosic, alongside selections inspired by folk traditions. Throughout the show, she shares personal reflections on her musical choices and insights drawn from the past decade of her artistic life. Nicola said: "This tour has been such a musical and personal gift for me. Each city and venue brings its history, significance and uniqueness. However, for various reasons, Belfast has seen the convergence of so many personal and professional paths. It is a great honour to have Sky Arts and Big Mountain Productions bring their expertise to capture this special moment for us, which will go down as a moment to remember."

The festive slate concludes on Tuesday, 30 December at 6.30 pm with Tommy Sands - Clann an Cheoil on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player. From the producers of the award-winning The Bothy Band and Dolores at 70, the documentary takes an in-depth and intimate look at one of Ireland's most successful and influential folk families. From Rostrevor to Carnegie Hall, to East Berlin and far beyond, Tommy and the Sands family became the Voice of the People. Anne, Colum, Ben and Tommy make up the world-renowned Sands family group who, while growing up, were immersed in music and storytelling. Their home outside Mayobridge, was a haven for Catholics and Protestants to come together to share tunes and tales, as music was the one thing that united everyone, no matter their background. Tommy Sands, recognised as the Bard of Peace, is particularly known worldwide for his songwriting and social activism and was a pioneer for promoting peace through his music and songs. His songwriting drew international attention, with the late Father of Folk Pete Seeger and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Seamus Heaney among those who recognised the power of his writing, prompting Sing Out magazine to laud Tommy as "the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world".

Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern, Joint CEOs of Big Mountain Productions, said: "Delivering four major programmes across Sky Arts, RTÉ One and TG4 this Christmas is a real milestone for Big Mountain. It reflects both our ambition, as we continually seek new ways to secure funding, and the trust our broadcaster partners place in us. We're fully committed to making great, distinctive live, and as live content that stands out in a crowded schedule, no matter the season and this year's slate showcases the range and quality we're passionate and excited about bringing to audiences. Each project has its own creative heartbeat, shaped by brilliant talent both in front of and behind the camera. We're incredibly proud of the teams who brought these programmes to life and grateful to Sky Arts, RTÉ and TG4 for their continued collaboration and support."