6pm // DeBarra’s Folk Club // September 16 (Free but ticketed)
Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine and Kyle Macaulay are two exceptional young traditional musicians bringing an excitement and vibrancy to the scene today.
Their music, while firmly rooted in the traditional idiom is uniquely interpreted by the duo on guitar, flute, concertina and whistle.
They released their much anticipated debut album “Barra Taoide” in Autumn 2019.
5pm // Spiller’s Lane // September 17 (Free, Outdoor show)
A Singer-Songwriter, Fiona Kennedy is an IRMA Award nominee and one of Ireland’s top vocalists. Winner of the Network Cork Creative Professional Award 2021. A versatile and creative artist, Fiona performs both solo and with her band. She also has a very successful Wedding Ceremony Music business and won the Weddinsonline Wedding Singer of the Year Award 2021.
Red Sun Alert is an up and coming post-hardcore band from Cork City, Ireland, that brings you a mixture of just about everything you want from modern heavy music. The female-fronted outfit combines harsh vocals with angular guitar riffs and math-rock influences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gpH2SeAcRs
Since forming in late 2017, they have been busy making a name for themselves around the country, playing venues all around their small island and supporting renowned artists such as The Altered Hours, Making Monsters, Cherym and many more.
It’s also worth mentioning their success in the college music scene, where they regularly contribute by organizing various DIY gigs playing alongside other local college bands.
To date they have self-released 2 EPs, ‘’Luna’’ and ‘’Red Sun Alert’’. Just
before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the band embarked on their debut Irish and UK tour in support of their single “I’m Upside Down for That’’.
In the midst of lockdown they released their latest track “Sort It Out”, which they released in November 2020 with a music video to accompany.
The four-piece strives to impress not just with their music, but also with their live shows. They aim to create an all-inclusive environment and promote women and non-binary individuals in heavy music at their concerts. So, do you want to let loose? Go to a Red Sun Alert show.
9pm // Debarra’s Folk Club // September 16 (ALSO LIVE-STREAMED)
Channeling the music of her ancestors through her deep rooted Irish traditional fiddling and bilingual song, Clare Sands is a unique force in Irish music. A sixth generation fearless feisty fiddler, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is breaking the boundaries of Irish Music. She makes pulsating Folk music, infused with a myriad of influences from around the world to create an invigorating new sound, for the young and the old, brave and the bold.
Sands has been wowing audiences around Ireland and further afield with her groundbreaking style, passionate performance, and infinite warrior-like energy. Performing with the likes of Hothouse Flowers, Mick Flannery, Albert Hammond, The Stunning, Susan O’Neill, Jack L, Niamh Regan, Luka Bloom and many more, as well as selling out dates around Ireland as an artist in her own right, this ‘force of natures’ time has come.
Throughout 2021, Clare has been collaborating with some of Ireland’s finest Folk and Traditional musicians to compose four new songs over the four seasons, inspired by the landscapes and soundscapes of the four provinces. These compositions with Steve Cooney & Tommy Sands, Susan O’Neil, Brídín and Liam Ó Maonlaí will feature on Clare’s highly anticipated self-titled debut album of pulsating Folk, due for release in 2022. Described by Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2 as ‘full of life’ they are a glance into the invigorating new Irish sound to come.
‘AN EMPOWERING, EXCEPTIONAL TALENT, CHANNELING THE MUSIC OF HER ANCESTORS TO CREATE THE SOUND OF A NEW IRELAND’ LYNETTE FAYE, BBC RADIO ULSTER
‘CLARE CREATES BRAVE MUSIC THAT TAPS DEEP INTO THE WELL OF WHAT WE ARE ABOUT, OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC, AND BRINGS IT RIGHT TO THE PRESENT DAY. A PHENOMENAL MUSICIAN’ FIACHNA Ó BRAONÁIN, RTÉ RADIO 1
‘AN IMPASSIONED VOICES AND MUSICAL GENIUS ON STAGE. A UNIQUE FORCE IN IRISH MUSIC’ HOTPRESS MAGAZINE
9pm // DeBarra’s Folk Club // September 17
Pretty Happy are an Art-Punk three-piece from Cork. Drawing on a rebellious tradition of Cork Post-Punk, the band has sculpted their own theatre influenced, all-consuming noise rock sound.
Using a combination of spoken word, raw emotion and a demented punk style the band’s latest releases have garnered attention from the likes of KEXP, BBC 6, BBC Introducing, BBC Ulster (Stephen McCauley’s ‘Street Knowledge’), 2FM (Track of the Week), Newstalk as well as The Irish Examiner, The Sunday Business Post, Hot Press Magazine (A+R Department), Nameless Faceless, Nialler9, Golden Plec, The Last Mixed Tape and Entertainment.ie.
The members of Pretty Happy, (Abbey Blake, Arann Blake and Andy Killian), are passionate about their local arts scene. Abbey is founder of Angry Mom Collective, a movement set up to battle the gender divide in Irish arts. All members are also keenly involved in drama and film which bleeds through to their eccentric live performances.
With Abbey’s defined pedal driven guitar sound she was announced as an Earthquaker Devices Artist in 2020.
Pretty Happy kick off their Summer with a set recorded in St. Lukes Church (Live at St Luke’s) as part of Cork’s Midsummer Festival. In a special emerging artist event, Abbey is showcasing her work as a film-maker, activist and musician.
6pm // DeBarra’s Folk Club // September 17 (CULTURE NIGHT PERFORMANCE – Free, ticketed, ALSO LIVE-STREAMED)
Hailing from the Armagh-Monaghan border, Dani Larkin is a singer-songwriter and folk musician who is being heralded as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters.
Dani will perform at the CIGF this year as part of Culture Night on September 17, marking another jewel in Dani’s breakthrough year. In 2021 Dani added to line-ups at Folk Alliance International and The Great Escape. June 2021 saw the release of her eagerly awaited debut album, with Hot Press quoting it as “promising to be one of the most exciting contemporary folk albums this year” and The Last Mixed Tape giving it a whopping 9 out of 10!
She’s been artist-in-residence at Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and has shared stages with the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Lisa O’Neill and Wallis Bird. She recently appeared at Ireland Music Week, Other Voices (Belfast and Ballina), Sound of Belfast and Output. 2020 saw her signing a management contract with Jawdropper Music, a worldwide sync deal with Plutonic Group Syncs, and earlier this year signed with leading booking agent Midnight Mango, as well securing the Irish promoter Singular Artists to work on her upcoming Irish album tour.
A storyteller by nature, her music is inspired by the folktales she was raised with, intertwined with elements of traditional melodies and rhythms from around the world in a timeless tradition.
‘A powerfully arresting sound…‘ Ruth Smith RTÉ Radio One
‘Steadily emerging as a rising star on the Irish contemporary and alt folk scene.’ The Irish Times
‘Wowing audiences with virtuoso guitar playing and highly individualistic self- penned songs’. Songlines Magazine
Windings are a 5-piece rock/alt/pop/indie/folk band from Limerick City, Ireland. Over the past few years, windings have had the pleasure of sharing stages, supporting, and touring with the likes of Daniel Johnston, Smog/Bill Callahan, Bob Mould, Okkervil River, Caribou, Iron And Wine, Villagers, Teenage Fanclub, Kurt Vile, and Modest Mouse, amongst others. They have performed at festivals such as Electric Picnic and Forbidden Fruit (Irl), CMJ (New York), CMW (Toronto).
2012 brought the band to Canada to play at Canadian Music Week, Toronto, for the second year running. After a successful run of shows at the festival, they continued north to Hotel2Tango Studios in Montreal where they recorded side One of their 3rd, and most recent, album, entitled ‘I Am Not the Crow’ with Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Silver Mt Zion). Side Two was completed on their return to Ireland, with the expertise of Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers) at Attica Audio, Donegal.
Released (on Limited Edition Picture Vinyl and Digital Download) in October 2012 on Out On A Limb Records, I Am Not The Crow has been lauded by critics both nationally and internationally as one of the top Irish albums of that year, with its lead single ‘This Is A Conversation’ achieving considerable airplay on it’s release.
However, the most exciting part was yet to come when I Am Not The Crow was nominated for the Choice Music Award, the most prestigious Musical Prize in Ireland.
Jenny McNamara grew up in Clonakilty and now resides in New Orleans where she continues to perform regularly. she is joined by her pal Jon Broniger
Ava is a 16 year old Irish artist making alternative music. Ava will perform with her band for Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. This show is presented in association with Culture Night
“This is a gorgeous album ~ the Sound of a Family immersed in music, tight in harmony, in love with song. Shine on Greenshine.” Christy Moore
“Wow. Stunning song. Beautiful melody and words,” Ron Sexsmith
“One of the most creative things to come out of Ireland for quite a while.” Aonghus McAnally RTE Radio 1
“Absolutely beautiful.” Eleanor Shanley, Singer
“Dandelion Seed instantly grabbed my attention. Very well produced, tight, and the vocals & lyrics are right up front with dashings of sweet instrumentals. Harmonies shine throughout too & reminds me of First Aid Kit. Very nice.” Songwriting Ireland.
“Really great song. Love it.” Charlie McGettigan, Eurovision winner, Songwriter, Broadcaster.
“Wouldn’t that do your heart good,” Brian Lally presenter of Country Time