Kate Mulcahy, centre, and Lily Bourke, both from Donabate, joined legendary Dubliner John Sheahan in Temple Bar ahead of the 2019 TradFest which starts this Wednesday 23rd and runs until Sunday 27 January. PHOTO: Mark Stedman

It's Tradfest time in Dublin city

Dublin's annual toe-tapping musical extravaganza, Tradfest 2019,  Ireland's largest festival of trad, folk and world music runs from 23rd to 27th January with a wealth of talent to showcase in some of the most iconic and atmospheric buildings in the city. It is this combination of world class artists, music and stunning venues which makes TradFest one of the truly unmissable events on the cultural calendar. 

Enjoy exciting headline concerts, see artists up close and personal in the free Front Row Sessions, celebrate trad with all the family, discover new and emerging talent in the Live at the Hub series and even try your hand at a songwriting workshop.

The headline gigs will include: ANDY IRVINE, BRENDA CASTLES, BRÍD HARPER & ARTY MCGLYNN / SEÁNA DAVEY & STEPHEN DOHERTY, CAOIMHÍN Ó RAGHALLAIGH, CARLOS NÚÑEZ, CATHY DAVEY, DAOIRÍ FARRELL, DAVID KITT AND INNI-K, DORI FREEMAN, ELEANOR MCEVOY plus support ANNA MIEKE, FREDDIE WHITE, JERRY DOUGLAS / TEDDY THOMPSON / LAURA CORTESE & THE DANCE CARDS, JIM PAGE, JOHN SHEAHAN & MICHAEL HOWARD, KATE RUSBY, KATHY MATTEA, LINDISFARNE, LIZ CARROLL & JIMMY KEANE, LOAH / SIVE, MARK REDMOND & PATRICK FITZPATRICK, MARTHA GUINEY & AISLING LYONS, MARTIN HARLEY & STEPHEN JAMES SMITH, RADIE PEAT, RÉ PLUS SUPPORT KERN, RYAN O’SHAUGHNESSY, SIBÉAL NÍ CHASAIDE, STEELEYE SPAN, THE BLACK FEATHERS & THE ONCE, THE ESKIES, THE KANE SISTERS & THE FRIEL SISTERS, THE LOST BROTHERS, TRAD GALA – DANÚ / THE MCGOLDRICK TRIO / THE GREEN FIELDS OF AMERICA, ZOE CONWAY & JOHN MCINTYRE. 

 

The festival will also include an evening in celebration of Ronnie, The Dubs & others - performed in story and song by PHELIM DREW. 

The Front Row Sessions are also back. A unique event featuring some of the very best in trad and folk music, in the intimate setting of the pubs on Temple Bar, this is a chance to see the very best acts up close and personal (Free but advance booking is vital, ticket numbers are limited). Audiences can look forward to STOCKTON’S WING with LES BARKER, PADDY CASEY, STOCKTON’S WING, THE FUREYS, THE HENRY GIRLS, THE KILKENNYS and THE YOUNG FOLK. Early booking is strongly advised.

Families are well catered for too as The Ark & TradFest present the TRADFEST CHILDREN’S HUB featuring gigs, trad sessions and workshops. All these events take place in The Ark, Eustace street on Sat 26 & Sun 27 Jan. Try your hands at the children’s craft club, give Trad a try at a drop-in music session, learn to play a simple rhythm on the bodhrán or play in a real trad session, led by members of Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh, make your own handmade toys or experience some of Ireland’s finest musicians performing especially for young audiences as Pólca 4 (Pádraig Ó Sé, Gary O’Brien, Jeremy Spencer, Robbie Harris) perform the high energy music the West Kerry tradition in a concert big on fun.  

Live At The Hub concerts have over the years become an important part of TradFest, introducing new music to agents and managers, potentially propelling performers to the next level of their career. All acts have a unique sound and talent and are not to be missed when they perform at the TRADHUB at The Old Schoolhouse Crown Alley. 

In the TRADFRINGE, go behind the music. Learn more about your roots in a genealogy workshop, or delve into the origin of Irish surnames, take a songwriting workshop with Eleanor McEvoy, explore the art of Sean-Nos in a workshop with Oonagh McArdle, see the premieres of two new documentaries about Irish musicians - Slan leis an gCeol Farewell to Music which is a lyrical portrait of Tony MacMahon after he is diagnosed with Parkinsons and is losing his ability to play and Starboard Home which is celebrated the bond between Dublin’s port city and river through music, song and spoken word.

Scurlogstown native Martin Harte of The Temple Bar Company, which runs TradFest says: ‘The 2019 lineup is one of our most iconic yet, with a strong international lineup featuring the likes of multi grammy award winner Kathy Mattea, evergreen folk superstars Steeleye Span and Iberian piper Carlos Nunez, whilst celebrating the cream of established Irish talent including Eleanor McEvoy, Andy Irvine, Arty McGlynn, all the while supporting emerging artists through our headline programme and our showcasing events.  As usual the festival strives to ensure that there is a strong female presence across the programme.  We are also delighted to expand and increase the hugely popular front row sessions with more concerts, more days and more fun than ever before’

 

Tickets are now on sale.  For more information or to book tickets see: tradfest.ie 

 

 

Headline concerts day to day details:

 

ANDY IRVINE

Andy Irvine has enjoyed a long and successful career as a traditional Irish musician. He has travelled the world as a solo artist and as a member of legendary Irish groups such as Planxty and Patrick Street and more recently Mozaik. Throughout his extensive career he has maintained and developed the qualities in his music, which endear him to his audience and fellow musicians alike. Early on he travelled through Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia, studying the music traditions and styles of these nations. It was these journeys, which led him to adopt the bouzouki in his performance. His constant touring is testament to the fact that he is still as passionate about his music as when he began. As a musician and a living icon,  Andy Irvine will remain in the Irish music scene for a long time to come. Expect an exciting new fusion of Irish and World Music not to be missed.
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: Rathfarnham Castle
Ticket: €19.99

 

BRENDA CASTLES

Brenda Castles comes from a rich tradition of music in Co. Meath, having learned concertina from Rena Traynor (née Crotty) and concertina maestro, Mícheál Ó’Raghallaigh.  Growing up, there was plenty of music and dancing in the house. Her father Noel plays banjo and her mother Lily has been known to participate in the odd set dance. Younger siblings Emily and Paul play fiddle and uileann  pipes. She has several All Ireland Fleadh titles to her name both in solo and group competitions. Music has brought her around the world to far flung destinations including Hong Kong, Mongolia and Iceland. Brenda is currently based in Dublin city centre, where she regularly performs and teaches music. She released her acclaimed debut solo album, ‘Indeedin You Needn’t Bother’ in December of 2016.  With regard to her upcoming show at TradFest 2019 – you very much should bother!

Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €9.99

BRÍD HARPER & ARTY MCGLYNN / SEÁNA DAVEY & STEPHEN DOHERTY
BRÍD HARPER & ARTY McGLYNN

Bríd is an Irish traditional fiddle player from Castlefinn, Co. Donegal and now living near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Encouraged by her parents she grew up learning and playing Irish traditional music with her sisters in the Finn Valley area. With music on both sides of the family she is carrying on the tradition of fiddle playing. She won numerous under-age All Ireland titles and other prestigious fiddle awards including the Senior All Ireland, Oireachtas na Gaeilge and Fiddler of Dooney. She has been hailed as one of the leading exponents of traditional fiddle playing of our time. Arty McGlynn is an Irish guitarist born in Omagh, County Tyrone. In addition to his solo work, he has collaborated with different notable groups such as Patrick Street, Planxty, Four Men and a Dog, De Dannan and the Van Morrison Band.

SEÁNA DAVEY & STEPHEN DOHERTY
Seána Davey from Meath is the youngest of a family steeped in music and began learning the harp and then piano, continuing her studies through the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is a five-time All Ireland champion on the harp. Their subsequent individual accomplishments are simply too numerous to note but the pair had been fast friends (and collaborators) for many years before deciding to record a duo album of harp and flute music. Recorded with Tony O’ Flaherty at Sonas Studios in Killarney, they produced the (much lauded) Esdee Sessions. It is rare indeed for two master multi-instrumentalists to share a stage and rarer still for both to share such an intimate musical bond. Book right now to avoid disappointment.

Mayo-born Stephen Doherty began learning music at the age of four and through his teenage years began to accumulate numerous all-Ireland medals on whistle, bodhrán, drums and accordion.
 

Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €24.99

CAOIMHÍN Ó RAGHALLAIGH

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh makes music on a 10-string fiddle called the hardanger d’amore, and travels the world as a solo musician, in various duos, and as a member of two bands, The Gloaming and This is How we Fly. He has performed on some of the most beautiful stages in the world, including the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Lincoln Center. He has released sixteen recordings to date, ranging from quite traditional to fairly out there’, and continues to explore that region where traditional music begins to ‘disintegrate’.

Caoimhín is known as a collaborator, having worked with artists such as Laurie Anderson, Amiina and Vincent Moon. He has made music for theatre and film, including music for the Oscar-nominated movie Brooklyn and Volker Schlondorff’s Return to Montauk.
Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 3.30pm / Show 4pm
Venue: Rathfarnham Castle
Ticket: €14.99

CARLOS NÚÑEZ

When the Los Angeles Times suggested that “if it’s possible to become a pop star playing traditional music on bagpipes and recorder, Núñez could be the man,” it may have been an understatement. Few pop stars pack the energy, virtuosity, imagination, daring, and charisma into their concerts and recordings as Galician multi-instrumentalist Carlos Núñez does. He is the world’s most famous player of the gaita, the bagpipes of Galicia, Spain’s northwest, Atlantic Ocean-abutting region rich in vibrant, uniquely expressive Celtic traditional music. Born in 1971 and raised in the Galician port of Vigo, where he initially picked up the gaita at age eight, Carlos both embodies and reflects the irrepressible spirit of his native music. Like the Chieftains, who became Ireland’s foremost ambassadors of Irish traditional music by spreading its appeal internationally, Carlos Núñez has become Galicia’s foremost traditional music ambassador by doing the same.
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: Dublin Castle
Ticket: €34.99

 

CATHY DAVEY

Stripping it right back to the bare bones, Cathy Davey will perform songs from her fifth and latest album Live at Dublin Unitarian Church, which captures the magic of Cathy’s music with  pared-down versions of hit favourites ‘Sing For Your Supper’, ‘Little Red’ and ‘Moving’, with Cathy joined by two of her closest musical allies,Derren Dempsey on guitar and Stephen Kiernan on drums. Never one to rest on her laurels, Cathy has been steadily writing and recording new music ever since being signed to Parlophone back in 1999. ‘Tales of Silversleeve, released in 2007 garnered her a Meteor Music Prize for Best Irish Female while 2010’s ‘The Nameless’ was a number one hit. Fans on the night will also be treated to brand new music,  never heard before live, which makes this TradFest show exclusive and not to be missed!
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Michan's Church
Ticket: €21.99

 

DAOIRÍ FARRELL

Singer and bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell is described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years. Six months after releasing the album ‘True Born Irishman’ Daoirí won two prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017 for Best Newcomer and Best Traditional Track, and performed live at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Since then he has toured the UK, and played at festivals in Australia, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Denmark and more. In February 2018 he toured with the all-star Transatlantic Sessions in major venues across the UK.  Daoirí is currently recording the follow-up to ‘True Born Irishman’, which is being produced by Dónal Lunny. We can’t wait to hear it.

Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 4:30pm / Show 5pm
Venue: City Assembly House
Ticket: €14.99

DAVID KITT AND INNI-K

DAVID KITT

Describing his first solo record for nine years as “the most free I’ve felt making a record since my debut Small Moments”, David Kitt’s sense of freedom is bound up in themes of renewal, movement, and a constant reshaping of his musical preoccupations. The last number of years have seen him touring and recording as a member of Tindersticks, producing other musicians’ work, exploring techno, disco, and house under his New Jackson moniker, remixing everyone from Shit Robot to The XX, and producing intriguing, eclectic DJ sets and radio shows. All of these experiences have been brought to bear on his latest record ‘Yous’, which mingles a sense of freedom, and calm reflection, with an independent impulse. The record was largely done by Kitt at his Dublin home, in a “teeny attic room” although old friend and collaborator, Karl Odlum, pops up, and Margie Lewis’s violin plays a crucial role throughout the record. We can’t wait to hear it on the big stage!

INNI-K

Inni-K has garnered consistent praise for her distinct, fresh style since the release of acclaimed debut album ‘The King has Two Horse’s Ears’ in 2015 and most recently her new single ‘Edges’ released earlier this year. Her folk background is always identifiable but clearly this is an artist not afraid to explore into new musical territories. Inni-K’s mesmerising vocals set offset with tight musicianship and arresting stagecraft create a musical experience, rich with spine-tingling tenderness.The artist’s journey to date has been a wild and enjoyable one; she has featured on Other Voices, and was requested by world renowned Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté to perform with him at Cork Opera House. Clearly, the word is out – this is one to watch!
Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: The Workman’s Club
Ticket: €19.99

DORI FREEMAN

Dori Freeman grew up in Appalachia to a family of bluegrass musicians, raised on a diet of Doc Watson and the Louvin Brothers.  Freeman started writing her own songs taking inspiration from Rufus Wainwright and Dolly Parton after dropping out of Virginia Tech. In 2016 The New York Times named Freeman’s self-titled debut – an achingly beautiful collection of folk and country songs recorded in three days – as one of the best albums of 2016.  A grounded 26 year old, she states her goal as to “try to make good music and hope people listen to it”. Her sophomore effort, ‘Letters Never Read’ is lighter in tone (which she puts down to her marriage to fellow musician Nick Falk), and features guest appearances from the mighty Richard Thompson and Aoife O’Donovan. A beguiling and unique recording artist, Dori will be sure to sell out her debut TradFest performance. You’ve been warned.
Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Michan's Church
Ticket: €15.99

 

ELEANOR MCEVOY PLUS SUPPORT ANNA MIEKE

ELEANOR McEVOY

Eleanor McEvoy came to prominence in 1992 when her song “A Woman’s Heart” was released as the lead single for the anthology album of the same name. That record has since gone on to become the best-selling album in Irish history.  Graduating from Trinity College Dublin School of Music she then spent five years as a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland before embarking on her songwriting career. Her critically acclaimed canon of work now spans fifteen albums and appearances on numerous compilation albums. Her songs have been covered by performers such as Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Eliza Carthy. We are honoured to have her in the line-up for TradFest 2019 where she will play songs inspired by nineteenth century Irish poet Thomas Moore.

ANNA MIEKE

Supporting Eleanor on the night will be Anna Mieke. Anna is a musician, songwriter and composer, hailing from the hills of county Wicklow. She composes and performs on guitar and bouzouki, as well as cello and piano in other projects, often collaborating with Brían Mac Gloinn (of Ye Vagabonds; vocals, multi-instrumentalist) and more recently, percussionist Matthew Jacobson (ReDiviDeR, Clang Sayne). She has spent a lot of her life travelling, from the west of Ireland to Spain to Bangladesh to New Zealand, and draws on these experiences for songwriting inspiration, both in lyrics and melodies. She has also spent time focusing on traditional Irish music such as Sean-nós singing, ï¬ddle and cello. Anna is currently in the process of recording her debut album and will be releasing late 2018!
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €19.99

 

FREDDIE WHITE

Freddie White has been part of the fabric of the live music scene in Ireland since the 1970’s and his albums continue to sell well amongst his loyal and newfound fan base. Born in Cobh, Co. Cork into a musical family, by age 17 he was playing professionally.  At 19, he moved to London, were he busked in subways, and developed his unique voice and guitar style. In 1974, he founded ‘Scullion’, together with Philip King and Sonny Condell. Later he formed ‘The Fake’, regarded as one of the seminal Irish bands of the late ’70’s. He has never ceased recording and performing new material and reinterpreting the songs of others with a magical touch. For TradFest 2019 new songs will feature alongside Freddie’s classics from his 40-year career as a principal in the orchestra of Irish folk and rock music.
Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €19.99

 

FRONT ROW SPECIAL – STOCKTON’S WING WITH LES BARKER

STOCKTON’S WING

Stockton’s Wing began their career in Ennis sometime in 1977, taking their name from the Bruce Springsteen song ‘Backstreets’. The band signed a deal with Tara Records after winning the Trad section of a music contest in Limerick. A group called U2 won the rock section. The band’s first album, produced by PJ Curtis, received rave reviews from national and international press. Many more raves and triumphs would follow.

In the summer of 1988 they shared the stage with Michael Jackson in Cork. The following year they made a guest appearance with Sammy Davis Jnr. in Dublin as part of his world tour with Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. Stockton’s Wing would go on to record twelve albums, each one highlighting the excitement, drive and virtuosity of each individual in the band.

LES BARKER

Les Barker writes strange poems and comes from Manchester, but he’s now Welsh. He was an accountant before he became a professional idiot. He’s written more than 85 books, which sell in large numbers at his gigs because people don’t quite believe what they’ve just heard. His poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: Jason and the Arguments, Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower, Captain Indecisive and Spot of the Antarctic, to name but two!


Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 7.00pm / Show 8pm
Venue: The Workman’s Club

 

JERRY DOUGLAS / TEDDY THOMPSON / LAURA CORTESE & THE DANCE CARDS

JERRY DOUGLAS

Dobro master and 14-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas is to the resonator guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the Stratocaster: elevating, transforming, and reinventing the instrument in countless ways. In addition to being widely recognized as the foremost master of the Dobro, Jerry Douglas is a freewheeling, forward-thinking recording artist whose output incorporates elements of bluegrass, country, rock, jazz, blues and Celtic into his distinctive musical vision. His distinctive sound graces more than 1500 albums, including releases by Garth Brooks, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs, and Ray Charles, among many others. Since 1998, he’s been a key member of “Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas”. As he continues his incalculable influence on Americana, bluegrass and their many related genres, Douglas forges as a true pioneer in American music.

TEDDY THOMPSON

Teddy Thompson is an acclaimed singer-songwriter with a career that has consistently garnered critical praise. NPR proclaims that he’s “the musical equivalent of an arrow to the heart,” while The New York Times calls his work “beautifully finessed.” Teddy released his first, self titled album in 2000. In 2002 he played a key role in drawing his mother out of a 17-year musical retirement to record her landmark disc Fashionably Late, which he played on and co-produced. Thompson also toured as part of Rosanne Cash’s band before signing with Verve. In 2014 Thompson gathered his musical clan to release Family, one of the folk records of the year which garnered a multi page, in depth piece from The New York Times magazine. Teddy’s latest record with US singer Kelly Jones was released to critical acclaim in 2016. We are delighted to host this great talent.

LAURA CORTESE & THE DANCE CARDS

Laura Cortese digs deep and aims high. She grew up in San Francisco and moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music while immersing herself in the city’s vibrant indie music scene. She also enjoyed a busy touring-and-studio-sidekick career which included appearances with Band of Horses at Carnegie Hall and Pete Seeger at Newport Folk Festival. But, it’s been with her band, The Dance Cards that she has made the biggest impact. It’s bold and elegant fare, schooled in the lyrical rituals of folk music and drenched in glorious, sweet vocal harmonies.

Writing in RnR magazine, David Innes awarded them his “Most Memorable Gig of The Year” vote saying they “swung with constraint-free exuberance, tugging at and capturing everyone’s hearts.” Since then, the four-piece has taken both Shetland and Orkney Folk Festivals by storm. Expect a similar reception for Tradfest 2019.
Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 6:30pm / Show 7pm
Venue: Dublin Castle
Ticket: €34.99

 

JIM PAGE

Jim Page was born in California in 1949 and grew up into the 1960’s in the San Francisco Bay Area. The music and artistic experimentation of those days left a lasting impression on him. The politics and social awareness was a part of everything that was going on and it has stayed that way in Jim’s music. In 1975 Jim recorded his first album of original music, a vinyl LP called “A Shot Of The Usual,”released on his own label. Two other albums followed in rapid succession. In 1977 Jim journeyed to the UK and performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival. The response was instant and overwhelming and he has never looked back. Jim continues to write and to perform and to experiment with form and ensemble, and his songs continue to be pertinent and expressive of our times. To quote the late Utah Phillips: “If you’re ever going to get the message, this is the messenger to get it from.”
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Michan's Church
Ticket: €19.99

JOHN SHEAHAN & MICHAEL HOWARD

John Sheahan is one of Ireland’s best known musicians. Born in Dublin in 1939, he was a member of The Dubliners from 1964 to 2012. He has played with musicians the world over and has guested on numerous folk, traditional and rock recordings. His own compositions, among them The Marino Waltz and Autumn in Paris, have become essential elements of the Irish musical repertoire. Michael Howard is a guitarist, composer and songwriter equally at home in musical genres as diverse as classical, traditional, folk and blues. While studying classical guitar in London he met the record producer Tony Visconti who encouraged him to write music for theatre, film and documentary productions. The collaboration with John Sheahan goes back many years and has resulted in the recording of their critically acclaimed album “In Our Own Time”. It really doesn’t get much better than this folks…
Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 1:30pm / Show 2pm
Venue: Richmond Barracks
Ticket: €14.99

 

KATE RUSBY

Of all the stars in Folk Music’s wondrous firmament few shine as brightly as Yorkshire’s Kate Rusby. A career which spans over 25 years in music showcases her as one of the finest interpreters of traditional folk songs and one of our most emotive original songwriters. Forever proud to call herself a folk singer, Kate’s beautiful, expressive vocals never fail to connect the emotional heart of a song to that of her audience. The crossover appeal Kate enjoys is unprecedented for a folk singer and has been achieved without resort to compromise. Audiences are sure to be thoroughly entertained by Kate’s choice of much-loved classics from her back catalogue stretching over her two decades of music making, together with a selection of songs from her latest studio album ‘Life in a Paper Boat’.
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8:30pm
Venue: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Ticket: €34.99

 

KATHY MATTEA

Hailed by The Washington Post as “one of Nashville’s finest song interpreters,” Kathy Mattea has enjoyed the kind of success many artists only dream of: two Grammy wins, four CMA Awards, four number one country singles, and five gold albums (plus a platinum collection of her greatest hits). The dream almost ended, though, when Mattea entered her 50s and began to find her voice changing, a time that she describes as her “dark night of the soul”. Instead, Mattea dug in with a vocal coach, re-committed to her music, and emerged with the most poignant album of her career, ‘Pretty Bird’, produced with her old friend Tim O’Brien. We are honoured to welcome to one of country and Americana music’s most enduring and beloved figures.
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Ticket: €34.99

 

LINDISFARNE

Legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne return to form with a classic six-piece line up of long-time members fronted by original founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home and a reputation for live performance second to none, LINDISFARNE’s power to galvanise festival and concert audiences remains undimmed and is guaranteed to get the crowd on its feet and singing along. This is a group who give their all every time they step on stage.
Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Ticket: €34.99

 

LIZ CARROLL & JIMMY KEANE

Irish accordion virtuoso Jimmy Keane’s accomplishments are boundless. He has achieved astonishing and unprecedented success in competitive playing, having won five consecutive All-Ireland titles on the piano accordion. He has always been an avid collector and arranger of old tunes and is becoming increasingly known for his original compositions. Composer and musician Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin has praised Keane as the “savior of the piano accordion.” Liz Carroll is an Irish fiddler, composer, and recording artist and the first Irish-American musician to be nominated for a Grammy. She has featured on thirteen albums and has appeared on many more, with a new record due for release in Autumn. We look forward to them making beautiful music together.

This concert is in association with Milwaukee Irish Fest.
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €24.99

 

AILBHE REDDY/ LOAH/ SIVE

AILBHE REDDY

Ailbhe has been making huge waves in Ireland after releasing her debut EP ‘Hollowed Out Sea’, which included her break out single ‘Distrust’ that garnered critical acclaim and over 2 million streams on Spotify. She went on to feature on almost every major Irish festival line up in 2016 including Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices.
She released her single ‘Relent’ (2017) to critical acclaim from the likes of Line of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Earmilk and Wonderland Magazine. She also performed a stunning set for Irish TV show Other Voices in Dingle before performing sold out shows in Dublin, London and Toronto. That summer she featured on many of the coveted UK festival line ups, such as  The Great Escape, Glastonbury, Latitude and Cambridge Folk Festival. To start 2018 Reddy released new single ‘Nothing to Doubt’ to excellent reviews and Spotify playlisting.  It was featured on BBC Introducing mixtapes and on Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 show, where he called her a ‘fast-rising Irish artist’.

LOAH

Loah is an artist of Irish and Sierra Leonean descent who grew up between Ireland and West Africa. She’s embarking on an ambitious solo career, combining her unique blend of genre-bending Afro-soul which she calls “ArtSoul”. In what has been a phenomenal first couple of years in action, she has released several stunning singles including “Nothing” from her debut EP and “Take It” with Irish producer Bantum and co-written with Hozier. She’s sold out numerous headline shows in Dublin, appeared at the CCI in Paris and performed with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Glen Hansard in the National Concert Hall, Dublin Castle and Vicar Street. This is a uniquely exciting artist whose career is on a seemingly unstoppable upward trajectory. Look out!

SIVE

Sive is a songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist with a voice that “sweeps along, displaying folk and jazz nuances with the confidence of one who knows”. Her unique sound weaves together her love for songwriting craft with a unique zeal for experimentation and intricate arrangements. She released her first album of original material, We Are Moving, in 2012. In the years that followed she has toured extensively in Ireland, Britain, Europe and New Zealand, sharing stages with the likes of Lisa Hannigan, Kila and John Spillane. Having run a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign, Sive released her second studio album The Roaring Girl to critical acclaim last year. She is currently working on new music in collaboration with Berlin-based label Veta Records. We just love what she does!
Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 7:30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €15.99

 

MARK REDMOND & PATRICK FITZPATRICK

MARK REDMOND

Wexford’s Mark Redmond can boast vast experience as a performer on the uilleann pipes in a traditional context but also in wide range of genres. He has performed as soloist with the RTE Concert Orchestra; RTE National Symphony Orchestra, performed as a soloist on the occasion of the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011. At the Eucharistic Congress in 2012, Mark played solo during the closing ceremony at Croke Park in front of over 80,000 people and to a worldwide live television audience. He also collaborates frequently with Riverdance, Celtic Legends, The Irish Memory Orchestra, The Irish Harp Orchestra, and as part of the Daoirí Farrell trio.  This is truly a performer who can rise to any occasion!

PATRICK FITZPATRICK

Originally from Gorey in Wexford, Pat started playing music when he was aged 7 in the local pipe band.  After a few years of been immersed in the pipe band world he became interested in traditional Irish music. He joined the Army School of Music at the age of 18 and spent 10 years playing solo clarinet in the No 1 Army Band. In 1990 he joined the band of An Garda Siochána where he is still presently employed. Pat loves playing all types of music but traditional Irish music is his true passion. He has featured as a soloist on many high profile concerts and recordings such as Carraig Chuaire, Echoes of Eireann and Going Home by Phil Coulter. He is currently studying a Masters in traditional performance at DIT.
Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €9.99

 

MARTHA GUINEY & AISLING LYONS

Martha Guiney is a flute and whistle player from County Down, in the north of Ireland. Under the direction of Sligo born flute prodigy Seamus Transey, Martha has been immersed in the Irish Traditional Music scene from an early age.  As a soloist, Martha has performed on BBC Radio Ulster’s Folk Club and she is currently completing an M.A. in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick. Aisling Lyons is an 8 times All-Ireland Champion harpist & concertina player from County Clare, Ireland.  Aisling grew up in a musical home and also went on to study music at the Irish World Academy. She is a much sought after teacher in Ireland and abroad. Though her style is deeply rooted in Traditional Irish Music, Aisling’s playing has been influenced by the folk, contemporary & world music sounds of her surroundings in Limerick.

This concert is in association with Milwaukee Irish Fest.
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 12:30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €9.99

 

MARTIN HARLEY & STEPHEN JAMES SMITH

MARTIN HARLEY

Martin Harley is a lavishly talented acoustic roots and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter with a burgeoning global reputation. Live at Southern Ground, his eagerly anticipated new album was recorded in Nashville in collaboration with Daniel Kimbro (Jerry Douglas, Larkin Poe) on upright bass. A mixture of retrospective solo and duo arrangements recorded during an afternoon at the esteemed Southern Ground studio in Nashville, Live at Southern Ground features Martin on Weissenborn… a traditional Hawaiian acoustic guitar played across the lap, resonators and archtops, and of course Daniel Kimbro on upright bass. Renowned for his prowess as a slide guitarist, Martin is almost unique in the UK in playing lap slide. Come along to witness a musician at the very height of his powers.

STEPHEN JAMES SMITH

Stephen James Smith is a Dublin poet and playwright who has been at the centre of the rise of the Irish spoken word scene. His poetry videos have amassed over 1 million views online, most notably ‘My Ireland’, a short poetry film commissioned by The St. Patrick’s Festival. Stephen has performed extensively at top venues and events such as Electric Picnic, Other Voices, the National Concert Hall and the London Palladium. His debut collection, Fear Not, was published by Arlen House in the Spring. He has been conducting poetry workshops in secondary schools around Ireland for a number of years. His poetry is included on the syllabus at Western Connecticut State University and his work has been translated into Irish, Spanish, Slovenian, Polish, Dutch and Italian.
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €12.99

 

PADDY CASEY

Paddy Casey received his first guitar when he was 12 and left home soon after and began busking and gigging He has been to the forefront of the Irish music scene since the. His debut album came out in 1999 Amen (So Be It). Casey returned in 2003 with the multi-platinum album, Living. . It spawned the Irish chart hits Saints and Sinners, The Lucky One, Bend Down Low and Want It Can’t Have It. Living spent the majority of the year in the top ten, climbing to the top of the charts 21 weeks after its initial release. In 2004 he won his first of two consecutive Meteor Irish Music Awards for Best Irish Male.
The Temple Bar 

Thursday Jan 24th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

The Auld Dubliner

Saturday Jan 26th 4pm (Door 3pm)

The Oliver St John Gogarty, Library Bar

Sunday Jan 27th 4pm (Door 3pm)

 

PHELIM DREW – A CELEBRATION OF RONNIE, THE DUBS & OTHERS…

…in Story & Song

As the (very recognisable) son of legendary Dubliner Ronnie Drew, actor and musician Phelim Drew realises that he has some very big shoes to fill. Growing up he says he was in awe of “the electricity generated by a Dubliners show”. Ten years after Ronnie’s passing, Phelim has returned to his musical legacy and the wealth of material has reawakened not only a sense of pride but also a new sense of appreciation. With the upcoming show at St Stephen’s Church (Pepper Canister) Phelim will be singing some of the songs made famous by Ronnie, Luke, Barney, Ciaran and John as well as other personal favourites by other artists including The Pogues and Paul Brady. A man with a big voice and a bigger personality, we are thrilled to have Phelim in the line-up for Tradfest 2019!
Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €15.99

 

RADIE PEAT

Radie Peat is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Dublin whose work centres largely around traditional and folk music from Ireland and the English speaking world. In addition to singing she also plays concertina, harmonium, guitar, and tin whistle, having started playing at the tender age of five. She has come to prominence most recently through her work with traditional folk group Lankum, as well as with the three-piece group Rue whose music focuses more on the American tradition. She is also well regarded as a solo singer in her own right, having been invited in recent years as a guest singer to the Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar and ‘The Night Before Larry Got Stretched’ and Góilín traditional singers circles in Dublin.
Date: Sun 27th January
Time: Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €12.99

 

RÉ PLUS SUPPORT KERN

Liam Ó Maonlaí and his all-star band went on their first national tour in May 2015, performing seventeen consecutive nights in church venues throughout the country. Ré, pronounced ‘ray’ and meaning ‘moon’ or ‘era’ in Irish features some of Ireland’s most innovative and decorated musicians. Maitiú Ó Casaide, a Dublin based piper, received TG4’s Young Musician of the Year Award 2015. Cormac Begley’s concertina playing has been described by The Irish Times as ‘a master class in timeless musicianship’. Eithne Ní Chatháin, a highly celebrated traditional singer and fiddle player from Co. Kildare, is breaking new ground in indie-folk under the alias Inni-K. Founding member of the Hothouse Flowers and revered songwriter and accompanist, Peter O Toole from Dublin adds a depth of musicality and sensitivity to this eclectic group.

KERN

Winners of last year’s TradFest Temple Bar Showcase, Louth contemporary folk favourites Kern are fresh from high-profile appearances at Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann and Fleadh TV and a US trip to play shows at the enormous Milwaukee Irish Fest.  The band’s live set includes tracks from their album, the critically-acclaimed False Deceiver, which was produced by Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, The Waterboys) and has received widespread radio and press. The band comprises champion fiddler Barry Kieran, uilleann-piper Brendan McCreanor and singer/songwriter SJ McArdle, all three men well-known in their respective fields. As a band they have toured very extensively over the past couple of years, honing a thrilling live show which is at once lyrical and visceral.
Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8:30pm
Venue: The Workman’s Club
Ticket: €21.9
9

 

RYAN O’SHAUGHNESSY

Ryan O’Shaughnessy was born in Dublin 1992 into a musical family. When he was eight years old an opportunity arose for Ryan to play the character Mark in RTE’s Fair City, a role in which he claimed for almost a decade. He matured as the younger brother of Damien Halpin and spent his teen years on the Irish screens. By 17 musicality became a priority for the North County Dublin native, and he left the hit tv soap to begin a career in music.

While studying at BIMM dublin as a songwriter in 2012, Ryan penned his first collection of songs. Prior to the release of these songs, Ryan appeared on the finals of both The Voice of Ireland and Britain's Got Talent in the same year. In his opening audition on Britains Got Talent, Ryan performed his self penned song ‘No Name’ which has accumulated over 45 million hits on YouTube. Ryan was signed to Sony RCA in the UK under Colin Barlow, while he was there he worked on his debut EP which reached No.1 in Ireland for two consecutive months, in this time Ryan toured the length and breath of The UK and Ireland.

In July 2013 Ryan took part in the new Irish songwriting competition ‘The Hit’, going up against his former ‘The Voice’ coach Brian Kennedy. O’Shaughnessy chose to release “Who Do You Love?” to enter the chart battle against Kennedy and it entered the charts at No.3 in the Irish Single charts.

Being placed on the global songwriting map at a young age, Ryan has had the pleasure of travelling and writing with some of the worlds greatest, including, Julia Fordham, Joy Williams, Mark Nevin, and Kimmie Rhodes, as well as writing and working for different publishing companies and studios. In the last three years O’Shaughnessy has toured the USA and Canada. IN this time we have seen him releasing music for himself and other artists through his recording label ‘Bayview Records’. His latest album Back to Square one shows a maturity in his songwriting and musical taste.

In May 2018 Ryan performed for Ireland at the Eurovision which took place in Lisbon, Portugal. In making it through the semi-final Ryans track ‘Together’ went from 250/1 to 7/1 in the bookies, making it Ireland’s most successful Eurovision entry in over 6 years.

Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 5pm
Venue: Buskers

 

SIBÉAL NÍ CHASAIDE

Sibéal Ní Chasaide’s voice has been described by critics as ‘the voice that stirred a nation – a young singer who brought the words of Patrick Pearse to life’. Her live performance of ‘Mise Éire’ as part of RTÉ’s ‘1916 Centenary’ concert captured the hearts of audiences in Ireland and throughout the world and has won her critical acclaim from her peers. From a famed a musical family in the Rathcarn Gaeltacht of Co. Meath, she is a member of the next generation of the renowned Ó Casaide family, known as Na Casaidigh. Sibéal’s singing is deeply rooted in the rich tradition of sean-nós as well as other more classical and contemporary influences. She has also performed in London, New York and Toronto. Sibéal has signed an international recording contract with Universal and will release an EP and CD in the near future.
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 12:30pm / Show 1pm
Venue: City Assembly House
Ticket: €12.99

 

STEELEYE SPAN

With their fiftieth anniversary approaching and a work rate to put many younger artists to shame, Steeleye Span (led as ever by the iconic vocals of Maddy Prior and featuring a new seven-piece line up) return to the road for an extensive UK autumn which will culminate in their TradFest show. The performance will also see them perform new tracks alongside the stalwart classics that have made them one of the most successful British Folk Rock bands ever. The fact that their fanbase has remained so devout through the years says everything about this evergreen outfit. Some bands sell-out. Steeleye Span just sell out shows…
Date: Thurs 24th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8:30pm
Venue: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Ticket: €34.99

 

STOCKTON’S WING

Stockton’s Wing began their career in Ennis sometime in 1977, taking their name from the Bruce Springsteen song ‘Backstreets’. The band signed a deal with Tara Records after winning the Trad section of a music contest in Limerick. A group called U2 won the rock section. The band’s first album, produced by PJ Curtis, received rave reviews from national and international press. Many more raves and triumphs would follow.

In the summer of 1988 they shared the stage with Michael Jackson in Cork. The following year they made a guest appearance with Sammy Davis Jnr. in Dublin as part of his world tour with Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. Stockton’s Wing would go on to record twelve albums, each one highlighting the excitement, drive and virtuosity of each individual in the band. They return to TradFest with Mike Hanrahan Tommy Hayes, Steve Cooney, Paul Roche, Tara Breen  and Karl Lynch.

The Porterhouse

Thursday Jan 24th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

The Norseman

Saturday Jan 26th 4pm (Doors 3pm)

The Old Storehouse

Sunday Jan 27th 4pm (Doors 3pm)

 

THE BLACK FEATHERS AND THE ONCE

THE BLACK FEATHERS

The Black Feathers, formed in 2012 and made up of Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler, are a couple who first became aware of the magic between them while collaborating on several musical projects. Their ability to write songs that feel both modern and ancient is a rare thing indeed. Americana, Folk, and Acoustic Indie Rock sensibilities coexist comfortably in their musical world, with Hughes’ guitar work buoying the kind of harmonies often only heard in family bands. It’s been an incredible couple of years for the pair. Their debut album was met with critical acclaim and broke into the Top 10 in the iTunes Country chart and the Official UK Americana Chart. They are currently working on new material. Come and hear the passion, feel the love.

THE ONCE

Newfoundland has a storied history of stunning songwriters, poets and players. Over the course of the last decade The Once have writ and knit themselves into that story. Within the nine songs on their new album Time Enough, The Once offer some of the most vulnerable and honest material of their career. On this, their fourth studio album, the band stays true to the root strength of their harmony driven sound, while extending the borders into fresh yet familiar territory. They craft a sonically understated, but emotionally fulsome sound that accomplishes what they’ve always done so well: stun listeners with what Amelia Curran calls “perfect vocal harmonies, thick enough to stand on.” Those harmonies grab you by the heart, and their music melts what’s left of it. Building on the wave of creative energy that defined their last album, Time Enough is a striking and subtle sea change for the band. Dive in, get lost, click repeat.
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: Pepper Canister Church
Ticket: €15.99

 

THE ESKIES

Hailing from Dublin, The Eskies are known to bring their unique brand of folk noir/gypsy jazz/sea shanty and swaggering stage spectacle to ballrooms and barrooms far and wide. The release of their second album “And Don’t Spare The Horses” on Absolute Record has cemented their position of one of the best-loved emerging artists from Ireland. Last year saw them play over 40 festivals in five countries. They’ve toured Ireland, Britain, The Netherlands and Switzerland as well as being invited to the influential new music festival Eurosonic Festival. Other notable festival performances included Glastonbury Main Stage Avalon, Main Stage Cambridge and Bestival. They have just finished a tour of Australia which took them to Port Fairy Festival who invited them halfway around the planet before they had released a single song!
Date: Fri 25th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: Button Factory
Ticket: €15.99

 

THE FUREYS

Legends of Irish music and song The Fureys, renowned for such hit songs as ‘I Will Love You’, ‘When You Were Sweet 16’, ‘The Green Fields of France’, ‘The Old Man’ and ‘Red Rose Café’ will perform in concert as part of the Front Row Sessions at TradFest January 2018. This storied band have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 39 years, audiences that have included former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Former Irish President Mary McAleese and the late Pope John Paul II. Having formed in 1978. They are responsible for some of the most stirring music ever to capture the public imagination. Their folk based sound has received standing ovations in some of the biggest concert halls of the world and they credit their musical ability to their parents, Ted and Nora, who were well known musicians themselves. They encouraged their sons to play music from a very early age and there was live traditional music in their house almost nightly. Expect things to get emotional!

The Arlington

Thursday Jan 25th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

Oliver St John Gogarty Library Bar

Friday Jan 26th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

 

THE HENRY GIRLS

Donegal sisters , Karen, Lorna and Joleen are collectively known as The Henry Girls. Nurtured musically by their celtic roots, their sound is not bound by them. They have found a way to personalise their music and steeped as they are in tradition they successfully nourish the seeds of old with a bright, refreshing approach. They have a knack for creating authentic original material rich in traditional values. Their tight three part harmonies are matched by soulful musicianship across a range of instruments including harp, fiddle, accordion, ukulele, piano and a few more in-between! This Spring sees them release their 6th album, produced again by Calum Malcolm (Blue Nile, Heidi Talbot) called “Far beyond the stars”.

The Oliver St. John Gogarty, Library Bar

Saturday Jan 26th 4pm (Doors 3pm)

The Oak

Sunday Jan 27th 4pm (Doors 3pm)

 

THE KANE SISTERS & THE FRIEL SISTERS

THE KANE SISTERS

From North Connemara, Liz and Yvonne Kane are deeply respected musicians and educators. Educated in Kylemore Abbey School, they were taught music by their grandfather, local fiddle player, Jimmy Mullen and Mary Finn, a Co.Sligo player of great renown. The sisters first came to prominence when they toured with acclaimed accordion player Sharon Shannon, as members of her band, The Woodchoppers. They toured globally and are featured artists on Sharon’s album ‘The Diamond Mountain Sessions’. Following this period, the girls decided to embark musically on their own, recording their debut entitled ‘The Well Tempered Bow’ and the rest, as they say, is history. Their particular artistry is fine-honed unison fiddling of uncommon beauty and their unique ability has garnered the respect of muscians and audiences alike. It is our pleasure to host them for TradFest 2019.

THE FRIEL SISTERS

The Friel Sisters, Anna, Sheila and Clare are young traditional musicians born and raised in Glasgow with family roots stretching directly to the Donegal Gaeltacht. They play a mixture of music interspersed with songs in English and Irish, many from their family repertoire. As siblings, they achieve an often enchanting blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes. Since the launch of their debut album, they have performed in various prestigious venues and festivals across Europe, In 2016, the girls performed at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and won the prestigious Trophée Loïc Raison. The garlands have not since ceased, with Clare receiving the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoiltóir Óg/Young Musician of the Year in 2018. These superbly talented sisters are most definitely doing it for themselves!
Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm
Venue: City Hall
Ticket: €24.99

THE KILKENNYS

The Kilkennys have been going strong for almost two decades, ‘but don’t tell anyone’ says founding member Davey Cashin. Initially called Uisce Beatha before they decided to change their name in 2008 for something more recognisable and ‘pronounceable’. Drawing influence from the Dubliners, they named themselves for their home county and haven’t looked back since. Although Davey, Robbie and Tommy Mackey remain the founding members, new recruit Mick Martin has been brought in to bring the uileann pipes to the band’s sound. That sound has evolved over the years into a unique high-energy hybrid of folk and trad that always generates a huge amount of audience participation. Their Front Row Session will be sure to generate a lot of interest.

The Auld Dubliner

Thursday Jan 24th 6pm ( Doors 5pm)

The Merchant’s Arch

Friday Jan 25th 6pm ( Doors 5pm)

The Palace

Sunday Jan 27th 4pm ( Doors 3pm) – SOLD OUT

 

THE LOST BROTHERS

For the past decade The Lost Brothers (Oisin Leech from Navan and Mark McCausland from Omagh) have proven themselves to be one of the finest and hardest working bands around. With five highly acclaimed albums under their belt they have worked alongside and been championed by the likes of Richard Hawley, Brendan Benson and Glen Hansard to name but a few. Their most recent album “Halfway Towards A Healing” was released in 2018 and has garnered high praise from the critics and fans alike. The album which was recorded between Sligo and Arizona received 4/5 Stars from MOJO, Q, UNCUT, Record Collector and Hot Press while The Irish Times listed it amongst the “Ten Best Irish Albums Of 2018 So Far.” Over the last few months the Irish duo have been selling out theatres across Ireland, Australia the UK and the US. Since the release of their Portland recorded debut in 2007 they have performed at Glastonbury, on the BBC Electric Proms, at Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble, on RTE’s The Late Late Show and have toured extensively around the world. In their music the influences of songsmiths such as Van Morrison and Fred Neil can be heard. However, it’s from The Lost Brothers’ commitment to writing timeless crafted songs that comes something completely unique with well hewn melodies, compelling lyrics and beautiful harmonies that bring you down unexpected roads. Wherever they go we are happy to follow.

“Courage in the face of emotional collapse…the Lost Brothers’ fifth album excels with heartfelt songs.”

Irish Times- Best Of 2018 So Far

“Simon and Garfunkel reborn in the desert” UNCUT 2018

“The Lost Brothers have found something to truly call their own.” Q Magazine
 

Date: Wed 23rd January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: St. Michan's Church
Ticket: €24.99

 

THE YOUNG FOLK

The Young Folk primarily consists of a creative triangle with Anthony Furey at its apex joined by Paul Butler and Tony McLoughlin as singer/songwriters of exceptional talent in their own right. The trio are joined by Alex Borwick for most of their live shows enabling TYF to fully flex their musical muscle. The Young Folk are signed to UK’s Pixie Pace Records  – an imprint label of the leading world and folk music label, ARC Music – through which they released their debut album worldwide, The Little Battle in 2014 which went straight into No 2 in the Dutch charts and top 10 in Irish charts. Their new single – When Morning came – is scheduled for release in Australia early 2017 and is lifted from their new studio album First Sign of Morning.

Their commitment to writing lyrics relating to real issues concerning family, childhood memories and times of great personal value resonate with audiences immediately. The Young Folk are known for their immaculate harmonies and sing tales of times that impacted on their lives with a commitment that is hard to match and easy to fall in love with.

The Young Folk marry traditional acoustic instrumentation, perfect harmonies and contemporary production techniques resulting in a sound which has seen them compared with Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Crosby Stills & Nash, and are continually winning over new audiences the world over who are blown away by their fresh take on the Folk genre.

The Mint Bar, The Westin Hotel

Thursday Jan 24th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

Fitzsimons

Friday Jan 25th 6pm (Doors 5pm)

 

TRAD GALA – DANÚ / THE MCGOLDRICK TRIO / THE GREEN FIELDS OF AMERICA

DANÚ

Hailing from Counties Waterford, Cork, Dublin and Donegal in Ireland, Danú is one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles performing today. The band formed in 1995 as part of Ireland’s delegation to the annual Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival in Brittany. Their eponymous debut album was released by the band in 1997 to huge critical acclaim and in 1999 Danú signed a multi-album record deal with the US based recording label Shanachie Entertainment. For over 2 decades Danú’s virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals (Irish and English) have delighted audiences worldwide. Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a moving and memorable concert experience.   They welcomed star vocalist Nell Ní Chróinín into the fold in 2016 and remain at the peak of their powers.

THE McGOLDRICK TRIO

Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly & Tony Byrne

Steeped in family and Manchester tradition, Mike McGoldrick and Dezi Donnelly embody what went before them. They have developed and shaped their own attractive, influential style that is popular wherever Irish music is appreciated. They have over the years graced world stages in many different guises and collaborative projects. Their instinctive musicianship surpasses the promise they showed during their teenage years. Those hours spent exploring the music together has like a fine whiskey matured and their duet playing as a consequence is effortless and intuitive. Joining them will be guitarist Tony Byrne from Dublin. Tony has been playing traditional music since the age of 16. Having toured and recorded with some of the most well-respected names in Irish and world music, Tony is in great demand both in the studio and at live performances throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

THE GREEN FIELDS OF AMERICA

The Green Fields of America  is a widely acclaimed touring group, formed in 1978 by musician and folklorist Mick Moloney. Since that time the line-up has changed but the concept has remained constant – to showcase in one major ensemble some of Irish America’s finest musicians and dancers. Since their inception the Green Fields has performed all over the United States. Scores of the finest Irish artists in America have performed with the group and many have gone on the achieve international stardom. They include Seamus Egan, Eileen Ivers, Donny Golden,  Jean Butler and Michael Flatley. An evening with The Green Fields of America is an unforgettable experience as they perform a brilliant repertoire of slow airs, jigs, reels, and hornpipes accompanied by exciting, virtuoso Irish dancing from World Champion step dancers. Prepare to be wowed!
Date: Sat 26th January
Time: Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm
Venue: Dublin Castle
Ticket: €42.99

 

ZOE CONWAY & JOHN MCINTYRE

With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage unique arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new.  The husband and wife folk duo possesses a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and express this material in way which not