Traditional musician Luke hits right note on world stage with Rhythm of the Dance

Traditional musician Luke hits right note on world stage with Rhythm of the Dance

29 January 2025

A TRADITIONAL musician from Downpatrick has taken his place on the world stage amongst a wealth of Irish talent.

Luke Savage, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, has joined fellow world class musicians, star vocalists and champion dancers to tour the globe with the highly acclaimed Rhythm of the Dance.

The show has been captivating audiences for 25 years and is currently touring Europe, before it returns to the USA once again in the spring.

As Luke (22), who plays the whistle in the show explains, music and dance are a “universal language” and this allows the show to be enjoyed all around the world. 

Rhythm of the Dance tells the story of Ireland through the ages, bringing fans on an exhilarating journey from the ancient myths and legends, to the modern urban Ireland we see today. 

Luke has recently completed a degree in Music with Ulster University. 

He said embarking on the tour was a little daunting, as it meant leaving behind his family, girlfriend Anna, and the familiarity of the buzzing traditional music scene in Ireland. 

But well versed in making sacrifices for his passion, he couldn’t pass up on the opportunity. 

He said: “One of the most important things you can do as a musician, apart from the endless hours of practice, is to get out there and enjoy meeting other aspiring musicians.”

Luke is accomplished in playing the uilleann bagpipes, the whistle, piano, and his newest venture is the bass guitar. 

He has been completely immersed in traditional Irish music from a young age and in recent years his talents have brought him to the steps of Washington DC’s Capitol building, Italy, and as far away as China, where his orchestra performed live on Chinese television to an audience of 700 million people.

Although Luke follows a few musicians of influence, he said his greatest inspirations are his parents and grandparents.

He said: “Listening to me practising the uilleann bagpipes for a couple of hours a day, without ever complaining, can’t have been easy.

“Not to mention bringing me to so many lessons overs the years. My whole family continue to be a huge support.”

Luke’s mother Claire, who travelled to Blackpool in November to watch the show, said: “The whole performance was so impressive. It was a fantastic evening in a beautiful setting, with exceptionally talented musicians and dancers and the audience was very involved during the high energy tunes and dances.

“Luke hadn’t given us any spoilers about the show. We were so proud of him and there were a few tears of shed throughout. We felt incredibly lucky to watch our son, touring the world doing what he loves best. All his hard work has paid off.”

At 22 years old, this is only the beginning for Luke, whose dedication and talents promise to set him up for a musical career filled with passion and adventure.