The Acoustic Forum is an eclectic event unlike anything else you’ve ever seen which sees five of our artists play 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.
TRADITIONAL IRISH SESSION Front Bar with the Debarras resident musicians
At the heart of this popular weekly session are a collection of musicians & songsters, whose combined experiences of performing, locally and internationally, along with their diverse musical interests produce a vibrant, but easy going experience of the best in traditional music & ballads.
Featuring:
Dennis Noonan on Bodhrán & bones sings in a uniquely laid back style, drawing material from his native Dublin as well as Ulster & Scotland. The late Frank Harte would have thrilled at his deliveries of some of the more humourous and bawdy ballads.
Tommy Madden can lay claim to a lifetimes experience playing across the USA, England & Scotland and at venues all over Ireland, Playing with many legendary musicians. His bewildering knowledge of balladry draws on a wide range of material from Europe, America & Australia covering military, humourous, industrial, rural, urban and romantic songs.
Jerry Lombard served his time with some of the greatest musicians ever to play in Ireland, England and America. He has a seemingly endless repertoire of tunes and an equally extensive collection of tales and yarns to entertain one and all. Jerry’s lively playing style matches his attitude to life, music and the Craic.
ADT writes stories of the heart wrapped in atmospheric soundscapes, and he describes his debut album ‘volume one’ as ‘a painting of emotional honesty.’
Produced by multi-instrumentalist, Justin Grounds, the album was recorded in a little room overlooking the beautiful town of Clonakilty, West Cork, and will be released at this year’s Clonakilty International Guitar Festival.
Hugely influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the West Cork landscape and his family, ADT admits to a minor obsession with lighthouses. He is also a member of renowned Irish band LOWmountain.
Formed in 2012 and performing sporadically along the Munster coastline Fir Beag are a West Cork collective of musicians that emerge every once in a while from the ocean, salt crusted & sea weed draped. Their sound is musical, evocative and uplifting, combining multiple harmonies, lyrical hooks and flights of instrumental whimsy.
Flirting with elements of folk, trad, raggae, rock and punk their experimental sound is propped up with the use of ambient noises in soulful, catchy, and sometimes raging melodies. Fiddles, drums, guitars and vocals naturally weave together to create a captivating experience.
Featuring: Gav O’Mhordha, Fear Beag, Armoured Bear, Justin Grounds
VIRTUAL PREMIERE – Broadcast as part of GUITARTOWN CINEMA Programme 1
Monsters of Rock are JeffWard, Les Sampson and Jerome Rimson.
Since 1979 Jeff Ward has either played with, recorded or produced: White Lightning, Iron Pig, Mourneblade, Noel Redding, Paul King, Colin Earl (Mungo Jerry), Vijay Jagtap, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), John Coughlan (Status Quo), David Jackson (Van Der Graf Generator), Roy Harper, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Corky Laing (Mountain), Eric Schenkeman (The Spin Doctors).
Ward will be join blues legend Jerome Rimson and powerhouse drummer Les Sampson (Noel Redding Band) to tear up the stage as the Monsters of Rock.
“Jeff Ward is better than good, He’s Tasty!” – Noel Redding (the Jimi Hendrix Experience).
2021 will see the inaugural arrival of Guitartown’s first outdoor cinema, transforming Emmet Square briefly and safely into a theatre of dreams.
On Friday 17th of September in association with Culture night and for three other screenings suitable for all ages on Saturday 18th we will screen performances exclusively filmed for CIGF21 at iconic locations throughout our town as well as performances from Scoil na mBuachailli’s Scoilavision 21, a series of curated performances from Shanley’s famous piano bar and the world premiere of a new concert film recorded in Clonakilty by Ireland’s top music documentarian, Myles O’Reilly.
Through the Guitartown Cinema we hope to in some way re-create the communal benefits that shared musical experiences give us but in a safe and controlled environment.
WELCOME TO MOVIETOWN!
But Before the curtain raises …please remember to follow all current Government Health and Safety Guidelines, which can be found HERE! .
Our lovely stewards will be on hand to offer help and instruction during this event. Also please don’t leave any rubbish behind you and definitely DON’T share your popcorn with strangers. We want to leave our park and our community as healthy as we found it!
And needless to say please do not attend any events if you are displaying any Covid symptoms. A list of covid symptoms can be found here: HERE!
VIRTUAL PREMIERE – Broadcast at GuitarTown Cinema Programme 1 – see timetable for full details
From the US and Ireland, Lonely and The Moose are Liz Clark and Tessa Perry.
Liz Clark, who grew up in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, is known for her charismatic stage presence and poetic rock songs. She has 3 studio albums under her belt and just finished recording a 4th album a collaboration with Tessa Perry. On top of her busy touring schedule throughout the States and Europe, she also has her songs placed on television programs across the US on MTV reality shows and her single
Who’s Your Angel went to the Top 10 music video on MTV’s LOGO channel.
Joining the Liz to promote the new record they just finished recording together is Tessa Perry from West Cork, Ireland. Tessa has been performing for years making a name for herself in England and Ireland and even New York City with her soft and beautiful vocals and honest and heart felt lyrics. She has spent time sharing the stage with Ani Difranco, The Corrs, The Hothouse Flowers, and Damien Rice.
Áine Duffy (born in Bandon, Co. Cork) is an Irish singer, songwriter, guitar player and performer with a well-established reputation as one of Cork’s finest vocalists. She sings in her own very unique style combining guitar riffs and energetic performances on stage and her lyrics have an honest and unique point of view
Don’t divert your eyes, as the Evening Echo reports, this Cork-based song-writer is no stranger to international performances. Taking her Irish beacon around the world, Áine Duffy has played in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and beyond. When she sang in front of the Swiss, they picked their jaws off the floor, handed her two beautiful guitars by Patrick Eggle, then took her to where they were made and asked her to play again. Of course, Áine Duffy being who she is, couldn’t refuse them.
After being invited to record with Roger Greenawalt, the very same who worked with Bruce Springfield and Sophie B Hawkins, Áine Duffy built a large following. This was thanks to the fact she stayed true to her heritage and didn’t change who she was.
Not only this, it’s never been all about her, either. Áine Duffy understands and loves that music culture relies on itself to stay afloat. She’s made a name for herself and has been given a platform, so in her natural way, this is also made to benefit all musicians. An involved part of Airplay as a music advocate, the voice of the under-represented has been heard. Supporting up-and-coming and hard-working musicians in her local area and around the world, plenty of people are in the upper leagues thanks to Áine Duffy.
Known for her homely Irish accent that spans across an impressive range, the voice, talent, and persona of Áine Duffy is in hot demand. With her trusted guitar, festivals such as The Electric Picnic and The Body and Soul Festival have all enjoyed her crowd grabbing appearances. She’s also been on stage at world-class venues such as the Cork Opera House, The Theatre Royal in Waterford, Whelans, Riverbank Arts Theatre, The Middleton Arts Festival, The Irish Animation Awards, and Madam Claude’s Berlin. A true professional with a resume stoked with laurels, the road is long, wide and open for this piece of history in the making.
As well as her prolific home performance diary, she’s performed at BB Kings in LA, The Cat Club, Club Europa New York, and Fat Baby. .
She shared a stage with Kila, Imelda may, the lost brothers, Mick Flannery, Jack Lukeman, Philippe Cohen Solal of Gotan project.
Most recently, Áine Duffy has converted an old donkey box into a camper which doubles up as a stage. This upcycled contraption, known fondly as the Duffbox, will be the source of many impromptu and pre-booked live shows that can literally take place wherever there’s a patch of land.
“The world needs more Áine Duffy”Cormac Ó hEadhra RTE Drivetime
“Áine Duffy is an innovator and horsebox hero.” Todayfm
Bandon-born singer-songwriter Áine Duffy has done it again in her catchy new single ‘Tits Up’ where she shows off her quirky style and belter of a voice. It’s a high-end funk-infused track and features a bouncy beat and repeated lyrics that would have even the most sullen listener nodding along. Hotpress
4pm // Spiller’s Lane // September 17 (Free outdoor show)
The Socially-Distant (but emotionally-close) Orchestrais an interactive walkabout performance piece where the serious-musicians will hand the baton over to anyone who will wave it… for better or for worse!