LATEST NEWS

Paula K O’Brien. 

From Clonakilty in West Cork comes a folk artist, with the maturity to know that there is strength in vulnerability and power in gentleness.

Her debut album, Evangeline, is an alt country folky gem whose songs have, in general, a narrative structure but whose lyrics paint pictures to match any of the great musical storytellers you care to mention. But it’s Paula’s voice that stands out, full of emotion and ready to tell the truth. 

Paula was chosen by IMRO to play at Templebar Tradfest 2017  and was chosen by Luka Bloom to sing backing vocals for his album Frugalisto. She has played support for Hothouse Flowers, Nick Harper, Jack L and Mama Kin. She is involved in the Starling Song Project and has contributed to podcasts on the importance of arts in healthcare.  She is a founding member and bassist of an all girl group called The Kates who play songs written or performed by women, to showcase the female talent who pushed the boundaries of a historically male driven industry. 

Currently, Paula is recording new songs with the well known multi instrumentalist and sound engineer, John Fitzgerald in Lettercollum Recording studio, Timoleague. These songs are due to be released in September and she is privileged to launch her EP “ The River” the weekend of the incredible Clonakilty International Guitar Festival ’19 .”The River” is a collection of songs that hold huge meaning to Paula as they deal with the loss of her Mother and also celebrate the legacy of love she left behind. 

For the launch of her EP, Paula has gathered a group of talented musicians to help her introduce “The River” to the world. Join them and be witness to the birth of something very special indeed. 

Éadaoin brings her band to Guitar town crossing Billie Eilish with Kate Bush!

singer/songwriter/filmmaker

Qadasi & Maqhinga

Hailing from the heart of Zululand in South Africa, Qadasi and Maqhinga are an acoustic duo on a quest to revive the powerful sounds of traditional Maskandi music. Both professional musicians in their own right and sharing the same vision, joining forces has resulted in an international caliber of music which represents the heart and soul of South African roots music.

David Jenkins, also known as Qadasi, is an accomplished Maskandi guitarist, concertina and banjo player who developed a deep passion for Zulu culture and music at a young age.
This interest grew exponentially over the years, and as a result, his love for traditional music was born.

After matriculating in 2010, Qadasi released his first studio album under record label, Sande Entertainment headed by Sibongiseni Shabalala of four-time Grammy Award winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. His second album, released in 2014, has since been nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award) and SATMA (South African Traditional Music Award). Qadasi was also recently honoured to receive a KwaZulu Natal Young Achievers Award for ‘social cohesion through Maskandi.’

Maqhinga Radebe began his career as a Maskandi musician in the mid 90’s and has received numerous awards for his amazing musical skills, which also include SAMA and SATMA Award nominations.

Well travelled, he has performed to audiences in several countries, including Zimbabwe, England and the USA and throughout Southern Africa, sharing stages with top artists such as Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Phuzekhemisi and Soul Brothers, to name a few.
He is presently most well known for his key role as the guitarist in popular Maskandi group, Shabalala Rhythm.

David first met Maqhinga in Durban in early 2010 when enquiring about a concertina tuner. After a ‘jam session’, thus began their story and the two have become firm friends, with Maqhinga taking the role of music director and producer of David’s first solo projects.

The talented musicians later decided to join forces after realizing the musical potential that was possible by combining their artistry.

Over the past several years, the two of them have travelled home and abroad with their eclectic fusion, taking it to audiences in the UK, Europe, Asia, and throughout South Africa, and are thrilled to have released their long awaited collaborative album titled, “Lashis’ Ilanga” – an organic, acoustic fusion of traditional Maskandi and western folk music. This was nominated for a 2017 SAMA Award for Best Traditional Album.

Aside from promoting Zulu culture, traditional music and social cohesion, the duo have also been actively involved in rhino conservation, working alongside the Kingsley Holgate foundation and Project Rhino KZN as rhino ambassadors.

There is much excitement in the promise of what lies ahead for this Maskandi duo which is continuing in the footsteps of this powerful genre’s icons.

ELAINE MALONE 

Elaine Malone is an Irish psychedelic-folk songwriter. Hailing from Limerick, she currently resides in Cork, where she has carved a name for herself as an idiosyncratic songwriter. Known for her haunting voice and poetic lyricism combined with grunge roots and psychedelic leanings. Recently named one of Nialler9’s Top 50 New Irish Artists, her debut single ‘You’ was released in February and received international airplay. Her recent appearances include Electric Picnic, Quiet Lights, Quarter Block Party, It Takes A Village and support slots for O Emperor, David Keenan and Marlene Enright. Her second single ‘No Blood’ released in March was described as “musically recalling some of Tim Buckley’s airy jazz inclinations, and the gently percussive Weltschmerz of Nick Drake, Elaine Malone‘s new single cranks tension between folk music as a vehicle for aural pleasure and folk music as a vessel for crushingly human storytelling.” – The Thin Air.

Her debut EP Land was recorded with fellow artist Sam Clague in a small home studio over the course of a year. Described by Dan Hegarty of 2FM as “Quite something. But what exactly? Striking, stunning and heartfelt are three words that go some way to encapsulating it.“ Also featuring on the EP are the twin ryhthm-section of ‘Talos’, Josh and Sonny Sampson. Sam Clague also features heavily as a multi- instrumentalist. ‘Land’ deals with heartache, apathy, the tragic death of Ann Lovett and the torture of first falling in love.

“A truly engrossing journey of stark dark-folk sounds, washing textures and a central vocal that enraptures the listeners. Elaine Malone’s ‘Vonnegut’ is a must. “ – Stephen White. The Last Mixtape

“Land is an excellently crafted piece of story-telling through music, a story we would rather we never had to hear, but one she should be most proud of telling.” Remy

“Malone’s blunt style of penmanship is among the most unique and characteristic of any lyricist in the country. It’s poetry for sure, just minus all the bullshit that usually comes with it. Perhaps most telling is the wonderful ‘Vonnegut’ a writer with which Malone shares a unique worldview with. The entire EP plays and sounds wonderful from front to back, detailed with a level and care largely unparalleled in Irish folk this year.” Nialler9

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This diverse group of musicians are from the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre, Cork, bringing a unique fusion of sounds and songs from Burundi, The Ukraine, Russia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They perform in a variety of styles including traditional, folk and jazz.  They recently held a successful World Music Day in Cork featuring only asylum seeker as artists.

Dave Lordan is a multi-genre writer, performer, editor, and educator. He has been described as Ireland’s most vital and courageous poet, and a performer of electrifying intensity. Lordan provides a portal to the inspirational power of the spoken and written word, and is currently one of Ireland’s leading educators in creative writing.

Dave returns to this years Festival to live stream events & interviews with festival performers and attendees over the course of the weekend.

Dave’s poem ‘The Lost tribe of the Wicklow mountains’ was covered by Christy Moore on his album Lily

Bandjaxed; One of Clonakilty’s youngest Rock Bands have come through the ranks of Scoil na mBuachailli and step up to the big stage this september to make their debut appearance at The Clonakilty International Guitar Festival!

These four young boys have been gigging in Clonakilty for over a year. They’re certainly worth watching out for! They’ve captivated young and old Rock fans on the streets of Clonakilty at the Street Carnival, Clonakilty Show, and the Old Time Fair to name but a few. They play various different Rock music, anything from Ac Dc to Chuck Berry and even the Beatles! This is their first time writing their own music and so enthusiastically was it received at their school Scoil na mBuachailli, that the boys were encouraged to Launch their own CD. With the help of Mr Barth Harrington  Principal and many people they’ve had it professionally produced by Laurie Hedger and launched it at De Barras in Clonakilty in August. 

Sam Clague is a musician and songwriter from Clonakilty, Cork. He lives and works in Cork City, playing primarily as a jazz guitarist and also his own unique brand of original music. Jazz and folk influences blend together to make a form of kaleidoscopic chamber music, driven by intricate guitar arrangements and accompanied by psychedelic orchestral sounds. His debut EP “Balloons” was released in 2015 at the Clonakillty International Guitar Festival.

“Sam’s writing is unique. He writes from the heart and creates his own world – his own sound world and lyric world. As well as that his musicianship is beyond reproach – capable of capturing many genres with multi instrumental abilities” – Carl Corcoran (former Presenter of The Blue of the Night)

Longtime friends the bones below started work on this new project in 2018 after a number of new songs were written during the previous winter. mixing elements of folk, blues and rock, the bones below are excited to take their music from the rehearsal room to a wider audience.