LATEST NEWS

Ciaran Calnan ….AKA RAWNEY , Formerly of SETMAKER, KARNAGE,THE KLUTZ, SMOG TOWN RATS, ESL TEAM , Clonakilty AFC , Clonakilty Rugby Club, DeBarras ….

many talents come and GROW in clonakilty but Rawney’s voice, guitar playing, drumming and all round musicality make him one of #guitartowns MVPs…….if you haven’t seen him before nows your chance…because you can be damn sure anyone who has is gonna be at this show…youll be greeted with new songs as Rawney goes virtual for guitar town with a new EP due to be released in the not too distant future

David Christy Jones is a 28-year old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in West Cork, Ireland. Born in Wales to a musical family, he found himself surrounded by musicians playing from a young age. At 7 years old he relocated to Clonakilty, Ireland with his family.

On April 17th, 2021 David released his debut album – the nightmarish and one of a kind ‘Welcome To Virology’. Inspired by the blues and folk stars of old; modern contemporary rock and pop; classical music and the avante-garde – he has taken their recipes and added his own distinct flavour. His style is undoubtedly unique and fresh.

Since 2009, David has been an active and respected session drummer, bassist, guitarist, and vocalist and has played with countless acts across all genres. From jazz, blues, and folk to heavy metal, rap, and country. He has performed in many bands over numerous genres and toured in Europe, The UK, and the USA.

What are people saying about Welcome To Virology?

“The debut album by Cork’s David Christy Jones is as colourful and versatile as the new reality we are still trying to cope with. His debut album is a satiric, serious, and nihilist approach on how to survive this madness.”
-Mangorave

“An outstanding mixture of progressive rock, funk, rap and social critique, “Welcome To Virology” is an honest and majestic musical work from Irish eccentric multi-instrumentalist, David Christy Jones. It’s a broad expedition of witty lyrics and unconventional musical composition.” -Lessthan1000followers.com

“This material is an experimental masterpiece by all means.”
-punk-rocker.com”A sound that mixes Funky, Prog Rock and many other musical genres in a unique and original recipe. Lively, innovative songs that manage to keep you on tip of your chair from the first to the last second. A fantastic discovery that I recommend everyone to listen to with an open mind.”
-edgarallenpoets.com

The brilliance of this album is that Jones goes all in. This assuredness and dedication in songwriting is wonderfully refreshing and reaps maximum reward in this instance.
It’s blatantly obvious from this record that we are dealing with an artist who is humming with creative energy and, most importantly, has the conviction to take that creativity to extreme places.
-demarsmagazine.com

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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

https://youtu.be/jhX-qbrNd00

https://youtu.be/KL6raSSblJA

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.