“I am delighted to hear that following my launch, earlier this year of the Bliain na Gaeilge 2013, the local community in “Clon”, in the form of the recently formed “Clonakilty Dia Dhuiters” meet on a regular basis to ensure that the cúpla focail are preserved and indeed I am also aware that there is a strong emphasis on Gaeilge in the community with over 250 children educated daily through Irish in the local Gaelscoil”
Michael D. Higgins, Uachtarán na hÉireann 5ú Bealtaine 2013, Cloch na gCoillte
Come join West Cork river group Clochán Uisce for music by the iver Feagle and experience the collective community connection to the river through our newly launched booklet music and song. This multidisciplinary book details the historical, ecological and cultural significance of the river that runs through our town. Live music by local young musicians. Kindly supported by the Credit Union
Geoff Tate brings his **Back Stage Pass Travel** group to guitartown where he will host an intimate evening of music with a hand picked cast of international musicians.
-Geoff Tate –
Internationally renowned vocalist **Geoff Tate** is recognised as one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in rock music. As the original lead singer and founding member of the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band *Queensrÿche*, Tate helped shape the sound of progressive metal with his signature four-octave range, theatrical stage presence, and visionary approach to songwriting. Albums such as *Operation: Mindcrime* and *Empire* remain genre-defining works, selling over 25 million records worldwide and cementing Tate’s status as a true innovator in modern rock.
In addition to his extraordinary career with *Queensrÿche*, Tate has forged a successful path as a solo artist and collaborator, consistently pushing musical boundaries and engaging audiences across six continents. His work is marked by artistic versatility, from delivering iconic rock anthems to performing symphonic and operatic projects that showcase his unmatched vocal ability.
Expanding his creative endeavors beyond the stage, Tate is also the co-founder of **Back Stage Pass Travel**, a boutique travel company offering fans immersive cultural and musical experiences around the globe. A hallmark of these journeys are the **exclusive jam sessions** hosted by Tate, where he and a rotating cast of international musicians come together with guests for intimate evenings of music. These sessions are dynamic, collaborative events—blending world-class musicianship with spontaneous creativity—making them a highlight of every tour.
From chart-topping records to unforgettable live performances and innovative fan experiences, Geoff Tate continues to inspire audiences worldwide, reaffirming his place as one of rock’s most enduring and influential voices.
Zoé Basha is a musician, composer and carpenter, of French and American origins. Based between Ireland and the traveling life for over a decade, Zoé blends traditional singing with jazz and blues. Her original pieces and traditional songs explore the crossover between the sway of Appalachian mountain songs, the fervour and solemn ornamentation of Irish traditional songs, and the pulse of American ragtime through playful, syncopated guitar and a booming voice reminiscent of some old jazz record you can’t quite put your finger on.
After growing up between the U.S. and France, traveling by thumb, freight trains, and taking the scenic route with rust-bucket vans, she played music in the streets for years to sustain the journey. In a milieu blending feminism, radical politics, queer theory and traditional music, she made her home in Dublin.
In 2023, she was a featured singer at Féile Róise Rua, and a Music Network RESONATE Residency recipient. Following the release of an album with vocal harmony trio Rufous Nightjar in March 2024, Zoé recorded her debut solo album ‘Gamble’ – set for release on April 17th 2025. The album was recorded at Black Mountain Studios in Dundalk, with a band of esteemed musicians adding organ, upright bass, fiddle, dobro and drums, to voice and guitar. It was mixed and mastered by Grammy-award winning engineer Ben Rawlins.
“A deft new voice in folk”— The Guardian (Folk Album of The Month)
“soulfully authentic and fearlessly genre-blending”— Earmilk
“The most striking thing about Zoé Basha’s music might be the way it manipulates its own contradictions: this is both folk music and not folk music, it is jazz but not jazz, but at no point does it feel anything other than itself, gloriously and proudly so” — KLOF
Leevy is a West Cork-based folk punk project fronted by performer and songwriter Amhlaoibh McSweeney. Their live shows are wild, high-energy journeys through Irish punk, folk, and rock – delivering both uproarious choruses and moments of quiet introspection. Influenced by The Pogues, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pixies, Neil Young, and Tom Waits, they’ve carved out a sound that roars with pounding drums, banjos, whistles, and heavy guitars – part dreamscape, part carnivalesque nightmare. The band consists of McSweeney on Vocals and Guitar, Darren Faul on drums, Johno Kool on Lead Guitar, Bobby Wolfe on Banjo and whistles and Diarmuid Wolfe on bass. McSweeney’s lyrics walk a line between the surreal and the deeply personal, weaving strange tales with sharp humour, emotional weight, and a distinctly Irish sense of storytelling.
Peter Miller is an acclaimed Australian finger-style guitarist known for his delicate touch and melodic approach. With a career that has taken him across Ireland, Europe, Vietnam, and Japan, Peter has shared the stage with renowned musicians like John Spillane and Ger Wolfe, captivating audiences with his expressive
performances.
His album Songs Without Words stands as a testament to his artistry, featuring collaborations with celebrated musicians such as flautist Sarah Calderwood and fiddle maestro Steve Wickham of The Waterboys. The album received widespread acclaim, and Peter has gone on to release seven full-length albums and ten singles
Peter’s talent has earned him numerous accolades, including Australian Celtic Artist of the Year and Australian Celtic Instrumental of the Year, along with recognition at the Hawaiian Big Island Music Awards for his contribution to the best compilation album.
His music has found its way to international audiences through film and television, with notable appearances on the cult UK series Skins and the Shania Twain documentary Why Not, produced by the Oprah Winfrey Network. Closer to home in South East Queensland, Peter is a familiar face at local venues and bars, where his performances continue to resonate with audiences.
Blending Celtic and folk influences, Peter Miller’s music is a journey of storytelling without words, a heartfelt expression of his passion and artistry.
“Peter Miller weaves a magic spell, do not listen too closely, cos you might get drawn in, and you might get taken away, and you might forget who you are”– John Spillane
“’Songs Without Words’ is a credible addition to any fingerstyle lover’s music collection” – UK Acoustic
“Aussie Peter Miller is in absolute control of the steel, wood and the vibrations emanating from his guitar”- www.minor7th.com
Dan Mahar is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and guitar instructor living in Sioux Falls, SD. Performing locally, regionally and internationally playing original compositions as well as cover songs.