THE LINEUP
I’m delighted with the invitation play at The Doolin Folk Festival. I’ve heard great reports from many quarters. Its many years since my first visit and I look forward to returning. Back to Micho’s “Well of Spring Water"
“Vertiginous, violet-they scroll across the sky, words with wings VVV, whether wrens or angels one cannot determine, perhaps an alternate universe fusion of both, up down, high, low-dizzy, still; at peace, at war: redemption dreams arise from the clay: soul's peace, as the bird in the bough its little eye closes slowly: all is chance, they say, indeed-save this, indisputably, O' Neill's Art's gentle triumph.” - Pat McCabe
‘Music tends to reflect the musician playing, and moreover, the composer of the song or music. The more honest the piece, the more powerful the performance. Luka swims naked in the flow of his truthful music. Sin é mo chara Barry duit’ ~ Peadar O’Riada:
Iarla Ó Lionáird has carved a long and unique career in music both internationally and in Ireland. From his iconic early recording of the vision song “Aisling Gheal” as a young boy to his ground breaking recordings with Dublin's Crash Ensemble and New York’s Alarm Will Sound, he has shown a breadth of artistic ambition that sets him apart in the Irish Music fraternity.
Grammy award-winning songwriter and musician Aoife O'Donovan is one of the most sought-after singers and songwriters of her generation. She has released 3 critically-acclaimed solo albums, is co-founder of the bands I’m With Her and Crooked Still, is the featured vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile, and spent a decade contributing to the radio variety shows "Live From Here” and “A Prairie Home Companion”.
“When I Wait For You is so absorbing it could only come from that rare combination of technical brilliance and joy of collaboration that Dirk Powell has in abundance.” —Folk Radio UK "Steve Earle has called fiddler, guitarist, and banjo player Dirk Powell an “artist of unique vision and unbending integrity” while Joan Baez has said he possesses “an overdose of talent.” You may well be offering similar plaudits after listening to this lilting Americana/folk release.” — Americana Highways
Instinctive sibling-like harmonies, captivating lyrics and melodies mark The Whileaways sound, which has been described as “perfected simplicity” and the band as “masters of arrangement and song-writing “(Irish Echo, USA) .
Irish artist Wallis Bird has been enrapturing audiences for over a decade, playing over 800 shows in that time. Wallis has won multiple international awards including two Irish Meteor Awards, and the prestigious German ‘Musikautorenpreis’ - a national award chosen by composers and awarded to their peers. She has also received nominations for the 2019 International Folk Music Award and the Irish Choice Music Prize. Her irrepressible energy on stage is one of her trademarks.
Heralded “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere” by The Washington Post, Celtic Fiddle Festival celebrates the violin in all its globe-trotting variations. Fiddlers Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaître (Brittany, France) and Capercaillie’s own Charlie McKerron (Scotland) showcase a fascinating juxtaposition of international and individual styles.
Slow Moving Clouds brings Finnish musician Aki (Nyckelharpa & Vocals) together with Irish musicians Ultan O’Brien (Fiddle) and Kevin Murphy (Cello & Vocals). The trio create string- and vocal-based music reflecting an organic mix of Irish and Nordic folk traditions. In 2016 Slow Moving Clouds (with band's original fiddle player Danny Diamond) created the score for Teaċ Daṁsa’s Swan Lake / Loch na hEala, a contemporary adaptation of the classical ballet, set in the Irish midlands.
Oceans flow through the center of Cinder Well’s music. Cadence, the new album from Amelia Baker’s experimental folk project, drifts between two far-flung seas: the hazy California coast where she grew up, and the wind-torn swells of Western Ireland that she’s come to love.
Instinctive sibling-like harmonies, captivating lyrics and melodies mark The Whileaways sound, which has been described as “perfected simplicity” and the band as “masters of arrangement and song-writing “(Irish Echo, USA) .
There’s a popular proverb in Mali that says life’s family name is change. It’s a dictum that Vieux Farka Touré has followed throughout his career over a series of adventurous cross- border explorations and collaborations. Yet there’s another more universal adage that says to know where you’re going, you must know where you’ve come from. It’s that essential human need to embrace one’s heritage that lies at the heart of Les Racines.
I Draw Slow has been consistently redefining acoustic roots music for over ten years. Formed in Dublin Ireland, the award winning five piece is led by siblings and songwriters Dave and Louise Holden. They have released four critically acclaimed albums. Their last album, Turn Your Face To The Sun, was released on Compass records in Nashville, one of the leading independent labels in the U.S. and went to number one in the Irish charts.
Máirtín o’ connor’s name has been synonymous with the accordion for decades both as master of the instrument and as a composer/arranger. His skill, dexterity, innovation and versatility and soft-spoken wit have won him acclaim around the world Máirtín will be joined by acclaimed musicians cathal hayden & séamie o’dowd - a welcome return to doolin folk fest!
Sorcha Ní Scolaí is at the vanguard of Ireland’s impressive new generation of traditional music artists. From the age of 12 the Dublin northsider has enthralled audiences with her style of Uilleann Piping and latterly her Sean Nós Singing. Described as a prodigy, Sorcha has featured with critical acclaim on RTÉ, TG4, the National Concert Hall, Electric Picnic and All Together Now and amassed over a million views on social media.
Trevor Sexton and Ger O Donnell, these two vocal powerhouses are one of the most exciting duos to hit the folk scene in Ireland. Their voices, harmonies and their instrumental styles compliment each other beautifully. Their mix of traditional and original material with sprinklings of witty banter is keeping audiences transfixed.
Scoth are musical storytellers, who write intensely personal explorations of love, loss and grief. Their personal mythology provides a leaping point from which they attempt to make sense and meaning of the world - creating some truly universal music in the process. Their unique brand of ethereal folk combines traditional elements with lush production and other-worldy harmonies (akin to Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes)
Méabh ní Bheaglaoich was born into the renowned Begley family of Baile na bPoc. Their influence has unequivocally shaped her energetic instrumental playing, emotive and sensitive singing style and have supported her transition into a passionate composer and songwriter. Méabh has enjoyed a full time career in traditional Irish music since the age of 21 and has performed extensively at home and across the world in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, America, Canada, Russia and throughout Europe.
The band’s harmoniously rich compositions are laden with melodies that bring the listener to a familiar place with a tasteful twist of their own nature. Their acute and lucid sound is a melange of indie with influences from most other genres. A melodic style reminiscent of Arcade Fire, The Strokes & Bombay Bicycle Club.
Having earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest singers and songwriters McCabe has performed extensively with his Folk-Soul group The Niall McCabe Band over the past decade. Born on Clare Island, Co.Mayo, McCabe grew up in the family run pub awash with strong musical influences from traditional Irish and folk to rock and soul. It is here that Niall discovered his musical appetite and developed a style and voice that are unquestionably his own.
The Remedy Club, an Americana/Roots duo based in Wexford, Ireland comprising KJ and Aileen Mythen have been described as ‘Ireland’s best kept musical secret’ by HOTPRESS journalist Jackie Hayden who also described their music as “a marriage of folk and country with a hint of the blues with delicious harmonies and nimble guitar playing’’. Their critically acclaimed album True Hand True Heart has been gaining them a lot of new fans around the globe.
His strange stories unfold with reckless abandon upon a distinctive guitar and foot tambourine accompaniment, influenced as much by the avant-garde as music from the Middle Ages and his home place in rural Ireland.
With a truly memorable and unique collection of songs, Elena Skye and Boo Reiners and their Demolition String Band have built their reputation slow and steady, mile upon mile. They love nothing more than thrilling a sweaty dance floor while spanking an old Telecaster over the knees of a greasy rhythm section, or pickin’ and singin’ old-school around a single microphone.
'Harpanno has always been a passion project for us. It encompasses our love for various art forms such as music, poetry and visual art. Each piece of artwork has been created to visually represent our collective vision for each piece of music. This booklet will guide you through an array of colours, feelings, stories and emotions'.
With a classic sound, a soulful voice, and a strong intuition for a good hook, it's no wonder TOUCAN has been hotly tipped as one of the most exciting up and coming acts in Ireland.
It’s been an eventful few years for the band with the release of their latest album Songs for the Walking Wounded in 2016 and a European tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 2nd album Grand Parade in 2017.
Norma's sound is intense, melodic and timeless evoking jazz singers of old infused with blues and soul while constantly attempting to add innovative artistic flourishes that set it apart melding teh past, the now and looking to the future.
Exploring the musical connections between the West of Ireland and Coastal Spain, The Latchikos have a sound that truly celebrates the Wildness of the Wild Atlantic Way. Fusing a heady mix of traditional Irish fiddle tunes with Gypsy flamenco guitar. wildly enthralling storytelling and raw banging Latino beats, The Latchikos never fail to bring the audience to a hooley on the high seas.
Freeman's Country Carvery serves up a finger lickin' feast of classic country tunes and songs from honky tonk heroes of the 1960's and 70's. Twanging Fender Telecasters and tasty vocal harmonies with a side-serving of cosmic pedal steel goodness will feed your insatiable appetite for Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, The Flying Burrito Brothers and more! Featuring Patrick Freeman, Alan Comerford, Kevin O'Shea, Declan O'Shea, Brendan Fennessy and David Murphy
Galway singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and spellbinding vocalist, Tracy Bruen, blends and bends folk, prog and pop with classical and theatrical influences to create epic compositions of power and vulnerability which lie between the folk stylings of Joni Mitchell and art pop of Kate Bush.
Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets make music for twenty-somethings living in a country that completely ignores them. The Indie up-and-comers have gained over 500,000 streams on Spotify, secured support slots with NewDad and Milk, and played sold out shows around Ireland.
Bone Machine are a band of internationally renowned touring and recording musicians that perform a rebrand, melancholic, and punk jazz set of Tom Waits songs. With Jack Healy - Vocals, Shane Fitzsimons - Bass, Dario Rodhigero - Keys, Conor Brady - Guitars, Des Harrington - Drums, these guys have recorded and performed all over the planet with bands like Damien Rice, The Waterboys, RiverDance, Herbie Hancock, The Coors, Mick Fleetwood, Toots and the Maytals, etc, etc.
Hannah White's extensive and evocative songbook is making her one of the most talked- about artists on the roots music scene. The singer-songwriter from south London began 2023 by winning UK Song of the Year at the UK Americana Awards with the deeply moving 'Car Crash' which typifies the searingly honest and autobiographical narrative style that White has made her own on a series of releases over recent years.
Padraig Jack (O Flaithearta) was born into a musical family from the Aran islands. His dad is the songwriter Barry Ronan and he is the nephew of the Irish poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley. A native of Aran which has produced writers Liam O Flaithearta, Máirtín Ó Direáin and Breandán Ó hEithir, Padraig is proudly bilingual both as a conversationalist and a songwriter.
A beguiling vocalist with a storytelling approach to songwriting Sarah captured an immediate audience with the release of her debut single ‘You’ve Got Me’ with a national TV performance, international airplay (1.3 million radio impressions), festival appearances and growing industry interest.
High Fade are Scotland’s freshest offering in the new era of Funk and Disco , quickly rising to forefront of the UK & Scottish Funk scene after reaching more than 10 million views on their unstoppable track “Sharpen Up”
Best known for their award-winning progressive string band Front Country, Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman have been honing their own blend of Bluegrass and Americana for over a decade. Starting out in California and Virginia, respectively, Walker and Groopman have taken their talents to their new home of Nashville, TN where they have found fertile creative ground.