Paula Bilá, singer-songwriter from Cádiz, arrived in Madrid after five years developing her musical career in Ireland.
There she recorded and edited her first album, “Love and Hate”, where she has worked with Bill Shanley (Ray Davies), guitarist and producer on his first album, and with other musicians such as Liam Bradley (Van Morrison), Binzer Brennan (The Frames) and the Australian guitarist Stephen Housden.
The album, which was warmly received by both the press and the public, led her to tour different festivals in Ireland and Spain, as well as participating in festivals with an international reputation such as the Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Canada, in 2014.
Paula Bila returns now in Madrid to record and produce her second album with the help of great musicians from the international scene and under the direction of producer Manuel Sanz (Cosmosoul). An exciting new project that reflects his influences of folk, blues or black music.
The Acoustic Forum is an eclectic event unlike anything else you’ve ever seen which sees a selection of artists from the festival playing in an intimate and informal concert in the round, with each artist staying onstage for the duration.
Guided by the guest host, each performer gives an insight into their craft and performs a short selection to whet the appetite for the weekend ahead.
It’s off the cuff, it’s friendly and it provides the listener with a varied and spontaneous night that never fails to surprise!
This year’s event will include host George Lowden & guests Pierre Bensusan , SÍOMHA, Aaron O Sullivan & Lau Noah !
PIERRE BENSUSAN (FR)
Winner of the Independent Music Award, in the Live Performance Album category for his latest triple live album “Encore” (2014), “Rose d’Or” of the Montreux Festival for his first album, “Près de Paris” (Switzerland, 1976), “Best World Music Guitar Player ” by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine (USA, 2008), Pierre Bensusan is recognized as one of the premier musicians of our time.
AARON O SULLIVAN (IRL)
At 19, Aaron started studying the BA in Popular Music. . Between various performances & collaborations with local artists, he now plays regularly in Cork City as a session musician. He got a job as a musician out in Disneyland Florida, performed venues all around Europe, supported artists such as James Arthur & Cory Wong & played Electric Picnic in 2018.
SÍOMHA (IRL)
Singer and guitarist SÍOMHA (pronounced Shee-va) dances the line between folk, jazz and neo-soul effortlessly, taking audiences on an unexpected, and unforgettable journey with her soulful melodies. Coming from a family steeped in music, SÍOMHA grew up on a diet of musical greats, with the sounds of jazz, trad, folk and soul creeping in and leaving an indelible mark on her musical tastes and influences. She started playing guitar at age 10, but it was later in her teens while attending high school in the south of France that she first took up jazz guitar
LAU NOAH (ESP)
Lau Noah’s musical tapestry is a conversation between masterful storytelling, intertwined cultures and a limitless sense of imagination that provide the audience with the capacity to time- travel between their child self and the being they will become when the last song of the show comes to an end.
Noah (1994) moved to NY at 19 years old not to pursue a musical career but to pursue the stories that come along with the difficulties and wonders of a life in a big tough city like NY.
But after her unintentional discovery of the Spanish guitar three years ago and her unschooled approach, Noah started writing songs in Catalan, Spanish, Hebrew and English that proved to touch a mostly english speaking audience beyond language barriers.
Noah has recently recorded with acclaimed producer and musician Blake Mills what will be her first documented solo work.
“Lau Noah is enchanting music lovers one song at a time” Billboard Magazine
Hanora George is baited and ready to catch some fish. Having released her debut EP in May 2016, George excited audiences to the point where she has had to undertake a ‘catch and release’ only policy for future expeditions. She is currently putting her heart and sole into her first album which will be released in May 2018.
Glen Hansard brings his pals the World Renowned Footsbarn Travelling Theatre & their Big Top Circus tent on a whirlwind tour of Ireland stopping off in Cavan, Portlaoise, Clonakilty & Dingle!
This wondrous travelling circus arrives in Clonakilty on Monday the 17th of September to join forces with The Clonakilty International Guitar Festival….welcome to GUITARTOWN!
The following shows will take place under the Big Top in The Showgrounds Clonakilty over the course of the festival …..& who knows what else might happen……
Sep 18th Glen Hansard will perform a show with David Keenan opening up and Stephen James Smith in the mix too.. TICKETS HERE!
DOORS 7PM SHOW START 7:30PM
Sep 19th Interference with the addition of Glen taking some vocals are delighted to perform under the canvas for a very special one off show… TICKETS HERE!
DOORS 7PM SHOW START 7:30PM
Sep 20th A special Footsbarn Theatre matinee for local schools (This show is closed to the public)
Sep 21st Footsbarn will perform ‘Mingling with Moliere’ – TICKETS HERE!
DOORS 7PM SHOW START 7:30PM
…..MORE DETAILS SOON…..
JUST TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD CHECK OUT THIS GH SONG FILMED IN THE WONDERFUL FOOTSBARN TENT…
Windings are a 5-piece rock/alt/pop/indie/folk/ (etc…) 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, Caribou, Iron And Wine, Kurt Vile, The Decemberists, Grandaddy and Modest Mouse, amongst others.
Short rewind… 2012 saw the band ship off 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 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, SOAK) 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 Prize.
In 2014, Windings released a split 12” Album with their buddies Land Lovers (Dublin), marking a unique collaboration between two of Ireland’s longest running indie record labels; Out On A Limb Records, and Popical Island. Then in 2016 windings released their eagerly anticipated fourth album ‘Be Honest And Fear Not’, recorded once more with Tommy McLaughlin in Attica Audio. Having released ‘Stray Dogs/Helicopters’ (“just when you thought you knew all the answers, windings change the question. A delight” – Hot Press) as a lead single, the album followed in September of that year. It was critically acclaimed from the outset, and further singles and videos were released (Boring, You’re Dead).
(It was around this time that Windings decided that they needed a short break. Time to replenish, review, refresh, rethink, and fuckin relax!)
However, shortly after making this decision, Windings discovered that they were unaccustomed to short breaks, and not particularly good at them. So now, here in 2018, writing has begun in earnest for the next windings album. Another push forward, another holler into the unknown, another chance for this band to do what they love and hopefully connect with others who might just love it too.
Let’s do this.
What they said about “Be Honest and Fear Not” (2016)
“Vintage, maverick windings, at the peak of their own eccentricity” – Sunday Business Post
“An honest and blithely fearless collection, which is what makes windings a seriously fun and seriously underrated band” – The Ticket (Irish Times)
“Another boundary pushing effort, a really impressive return from one of Ireland’s finest bands” – Hot Press
“Don’t be at all surprised to see this one coming up on the ‘Best Of ‘16’ lists.” – Goldenplec.com
“It all makes for a career record for Windings – one vested in immediacy and relatability, without shirking the weight of the existence and experiences of the trials that brought it about. Superb.”-Headstuff.org
What they said about “I Am Not The Crow” (2012)
“Playing the rough off the smooth is no easy task, but Ryan and his band have forged an impressively sure-footed and enjoyably varied record…windings have become a band to be reckoned with.” The Ticket (Irish Times) – album of the week
“I Am Not The Crow hears them tugging the strings and sticks of rock, pop and folk to create a masterful album of moveable parts… They’ve pulled out all the stops and aimed high. It’s paid off.” harmlessnoise.com
“An impressively artful affair” Hot Press
“Easily one of the best Irish Albums of 2012.” state.ie
Readers’ Poll No 2 Best Irish album of 2012 nialler9.com
Irish Album of the Year wearenoise.com
“I Am Not The Crow flies straight, with near-perfection” Record Collector
Marc returns to CIGF18 for the third time following the release of his blistering L’ ETRE POLITIQUE record – this time round he’s taking care of business the dirty old fashioned way with his Knee knocking three piece…
L’ ETRE POLITIQUE [LP]
LP, meaning “political being” is as it’s title suggests, a political commentary. The album was written over a period of 3 months from Jan to March 2017 and recorded in two weeks in the summer of 2017. It deals with the politics of human interactions, from one on one friendships to more broader global themes of capitalism, war and globalisation. It offers an introspective look on universal issues-political beings, being political and the politics of being.
Marc O’Reilly has released 3 previous albums, ‘My Friend Marx’, ‘Human Herdings’ and ‘Morality Mortality’ and has enjoyed some recent international success with his track ‘Bleed’ streamed almost 2 million times on Spotify and featured on the soundtrack of the movie ‘Whatever Happens’. His track ‘Healer’ was also recently used in the US TV series ‘Salvation’.
Marc is famed for his electrifying live performances and has appeared at many major European Festivals including, Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, The Great Escape, Eurosonic, Reeperbahn etc
6:30pm & 9pm // DeBarras Folk Club // September 14
(9pm show ALSO LIVE-STREAMED)
“Free wheeling, free spirited and powered by an appetite for traditional music’s outer reaches” Séamus Begley & Jim Murray are among the most dynamic duos in Irish Traditional Music.
Jim Murray is one of Ireland’s finest guitarists and his formidable reputation has been established as a player of traditional music – both as a melody player and as an accompanist. Throughout his childhood, Jim who hails from Macroom in West Cork performed with various groups including his father’s celidh band. In his late teens he formed a group with fellow local musicians which quickly lead him to be invited to play professionally with many of Ireland’s renowned artists. Over the last decade, Jim has combined a wide range of music and influences to create a unique and exciting modern sound in guitar accompaniment bringing it to the ‘now’. Jim plays regularly as a member of Sharon Shannon’s band and has also toured and recorded with Altan, Mary Black, Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earle, Donal Lunny and many other musicians.
Accordion player and singer Séamus Begley is one of the most popular Irish traditional musicians, coming as he does from one of the most musically acclaimed Irish families. He is the quintessential Irish musician, an eager storyteller known for his sharp wit and famous for pumping out tune after tune at all night sessions. He plays with an energy that is alarming, bringing a frisky spontaneity to his box-playing, belting out jigs, slides and polkas with rapid sprays of reckless ornamentation before making a sudden key change into a bitter-sweet air, sung or played on the accordion.
His repertoire reflects his own place and his style of playing is much influenced by a now gone generation of accordion and fiddle players who came to céilí in his family home. Seamus’s style is unique and he is considered by many to be one of the finest players of the dance music of West Kerry and is never happier than when people are dancing to his music. Séamus divides his time between his small holding in the West Kerry Gaeltacht and travelling Ireland and the world playing music. He has toured extensively with Jim Murray, Altan, Steve Cooney and Mary Black to name but a few.
In 2001 Séamus and Jim released their first album, the highly acclaimed ‘Ragairne’ which was winner of the 2001 Hot Press Magazine ‘Folk and Trad Album of the Year’ and The Irish Times ‘Traditional album of the Year’. Their highly anticipated second album, Eiri Go La was released in Early 2009 and has received rave reviews to date.
Mama Kin Spender is a lightning bolt moment between two long-time friends, co-writers and mischief-makers: ARIA-nominated Mama Kin and producer Tommy Spender. It’s a stripped back duo of brooding guitars, primal drums and howling harmonies, illuminated by a chorus of singers arranged by Virginia Bott (Brighter Later, First Chorus Band of Singers). Mama Kin Spender’s songs rattle, roll and tremble, from block party to heart rending ballad. With a sound that is as raw as it is joyful, Mama Kin Spender brings the collective, collaborative and chaotic, inviting you to traverse the golden magnetic.
QUOTES
“Incredible songwriters in their own right, seeing them together feels like the sort of perfect collaboration that you wouldn’t expect, but once it’s in place, you wonder why they didn’t do it sooner.” AU review
“Mama Kin Spender produce a set that epitomises what this festival is. Kin drumming upright with a voice that builds and projects, Spender on guitar, a twenty(or so)-piece choir, they breath soul and vitality into the place” Rolling Stone Magazine
Formed by two of Ireland’s most exciting and versatile guitarists, David Keating and Colin McLean, Fandango Duo is an electrifying instrumental guitar duo that weaves together influences from Latin, jazz, classical, and pop music. Drawing inspiration from their travels and concerts across the globe, David and Colin create dynamic soundscapes that tell compelling stories through their music.
With backgrounds as trained classical guitarists, both musicians have developed a unique performance style that is improvisatory and spontaneous, allowing them to connect with audiences in an engaging and memorable way. They have graced the stage at prestigious venues such as the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Cork Opera House, University Limerick Concert Hall, and the Olympia Theatre. They have also performed at celebrated events including the Guitar Festival of Ireland, Wexford Opera Festival, and Clonakilty Guitar Festival, captivating listeners with their passionate and exhilarating performances.
Influenced by the works of Astor Piazzolla, De Falla, York and Luiz Fandango Duo’s repertoire showcases a vibrant blend of genres, inviting listeners on a musical journey filled with rhythm and emotion.
Junior Brother is 24 year-old Co. Kerry, Ireland native Ronan Kealy, who fuses elements of Irish and English folk with a deeply unique and progressive sensibility.
Born outside Killarney, Co. Kerry, Kealy developed a strong love of music from an early age, writing his first song at 9 years old after having taught himself guitar on a banged-up nylon acoustic.
With the crucial addition of foot tambourine to his musical set-up, Kealy in a live setting creates complex fingerstyle picking patterns which blend with unique tambourine rhythms and richly lyrical wordplay, creating with each performance a singular and deeply memorable live experience.