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 Guitar Festival. He plans to release his follow up E.P. at the festival in september this year.
“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)
“The EP is a gorgeous slice of harmonious pop music that touches on the big themes of getting older, love, home, death and friendship, and played out and ruminated on over a delicately struck acoustic guitar” — The Point of Everything
The Clonakilty Jazz Collective are a mix of young and old jazz heads, along with one or two new guys to jazz. They will be playing songs by the greats, like Miles Davis and Duke Ellington, along with some Bossa nova numbers, and even some funk! It is a full jazz band featuring saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, bass, guitar, and drums. As it is an Open Jazz Session, the stage is free to welcome visiting guests – so expect some great guitarists! Free admission. See you all there!
2015 was an amazing year for Paddy Dennehy & The Red Herring. A personal invitation from Glen Hansard to perform with him in the Everyman Theatre in Cork, two wonderful performances at Electric Picnic and the release of their debut EP “Once Upon A Night” has seen them touted as “ones to watch” for 2016.
Paddy Dennehy & The Red Herring are a group who draw influences from as far back as the early 1900s right up to the present day. You can hear hints of Tom Waits’ theatrical warble; feel the passionate intensity of Louis Armstrong’s delivery; and be stirred by poignancy reminiscent of that of Hozier and Mick Flannery. A variety of influences then; all of of them blended together to form a live performance that is at once unforgettable and utterly unique.
QUOTES:
“I was just f**king knocked out” – Glen Hansard
“Hearing Paddy Dennehy for the first time I was almost knocked out of my boots. A powerhouse voice & classic songwriter in every sense of the word” – Ciaran Lavery
Australia’s finest purveyor of emotional psychedelic dystopian comedy and social satire, Dan Kelly is much-garlanded songwriter whose fourth album ‘Leisure Panic was recently released on ABC records to national acclaim. Expect extravagant melodies and lyrics that mix a Delphic sagacity with the sardonic observations of a globe-trotting dilettante.
When singer songwriter and guitarist Eugene Brosnan moved back to Clonakilty in 2015, after an 18 year absence from the place he had called home in the ‘90s, he contacted bassist Martin Kingston and in their first conversation it was mooted that they might get a band together, mainly, as a vehicle for the songs of the late great American songwriter and composer, WARREN ZEVON, as they both share a love for his music.
They soon assembled a group of musicians, with equal enthusiasm for the INNOCENT BYSTANDER project and in the 18 months so far, they have played a number of full house gigs and a handful of festivals. The band has also extended their set to include some original songs that sit happily and snugly among the Headless Thomson Gunners, identity thieving Gorillas and the colours of Georgia O’ Keeffes……
EUGENE BROSNAN (Guitar & Vocal) has performed over 2500 shows in Ireland, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and the USA. He has released 3 albums, mainly of his own material, to critical acclaim and has appeared as a guest vocalist on various other productions. His guitar style features a number of different tunings and ranges from delicate finger picking techniques, to a full on, funky folk, almost punky, and strum style.
MARTIN KINGSTON (Bass & Vocals) ran the now legendary, Kilty Stone pub and live music venue in Clonakilty’s Pearse Street. In the 90s, it was home to many great music sessions and musicians, which included the proprietor, as bass player for the house band and many of the guest artistes that appeared there during his tenure.
STEPHEN HOUSDEN (Guitar & Vocals) is regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world. Well known as guitarist with Little River Band for more than two decades, he has also played and recorded with such music legends as Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey, Dr. John, Christopher Cross, John Entwistle , P.F Sloan, Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, Noel Redding and many others.
JERRY FEHILY (Drums) came to prominence as the drummer with Hothouse Flowers, touring the world with them and drumming on their Top 10 hits and a No.1 album. Apart from the Flowers, he has also played live or recorded with: Tim Finn, Michelle Shocked, Luka Bloom, Midnight Oil, Ronnie Wood, Joe Elliot, Sinead O’ Connor, Ray Lynam, Interference and Celine Carroll.
22 year old Australian singer/songwriter Tullara Connors has quickly developed a reputation as one of that country’s brightest up and coming performers. Known for her renowned guitar playing ability described as “beautifully complex and intricate while within an instant raw and powerful”, Tullara has an endearing stage presence which has been well received across the land.
Having spent the last 4 years touring Australia and recording as half of the renowned folk/roots duo ‘Siskin River’, Tullara has racked up performances at many of the country’s largest and most well respected music festivals including: Woodford Folk Festival, The National Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Mullumbimby Music Festival and Caloundra Music Festival just to name a few. Tullara has also recently returned fresh from her first solo international tour performing at festivals in Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and Germany.
With her Debut EP release on the horizon, Tullara will be touring nationally with her dynamic new band come July 2016 with the release of her first single “Too Many” and music video.
Lead single, ‘Too Many’, is a bittersweet reflection on the bustle and cynicism of contemporary life, and the damaging paths we follow to try and escape it. A roots song at heart, ‘Too Many’ delivers a catchy pop atmosphere while remaining raw and unapologetic.
Leonard Podolak has been touring full force for the last 17 years mostly with the bands Scruj Mac Duhk, and then the Juno/Grammy Award winning, Duhks.
He is a critically acclaimed 5-String Claw-hammer banjo player, and is known for putting together wonderful combinations of musicians, often creating a full, but new sound in what ever project he touches.
In the last couple years, since The Duhks have spent less time on the road, Leonard has had a great opportunity to expand his musical endeavor. Now he splits his time playing with The Duhks, Dry Bones, with Nathan Rogers, and Jd Edwards, and this duo with his pal Matt Gordon.
Recently Leonard was invited to take part in The Cecil Sharp Project, which was a collaborative project sponsored by the Shrewsbury Folk Festival. That project gained much acclaim in the UK and international folk press, and provided Leonard with a fabulous introduction to the UK folk circuit.
Matt Gordon has been living in the woodwork of the music business. He’s a great Fiddler, Clogger, Hamboner, and Harmonica player. He toured in the 80s and 90s with the Fiddle Puppet Dancers, taking part in the London debut of Riverdance, and participating in festivals around North America and Europe, with that group.
His CD with Leonard Podolak and their pal Bill Shanley called ‘Three Thin Dimes’ is the first full recorded effort on his part, and although he knows many people in the tribe, and has laid a track or two, on other Cds he has not toured much in the last few years, focusing on his career as a woodworker, and cabinet maker.
Together, Matt, and Leonard put on an exciting evening of Old-Time traditional fiddle and Banjo Music. They also clog, and do Hambone.
A very special show for smallies & their parents – NB Children must be supervised at all times-
Clonakilty International Guitar Festival is proud to present a special concert for very young children featuring Fiona Kelleher
Early Bird Music is a project with a passion for music and creativity, founded by Fiona Kelleher, singer, composer and mother of three . Creating music for little ones and nurturing the creative talent in everyone is our mission. We are delighted to give you a glimpse into the world of I am a little Boat . . This is the album with beautifully illustrated songbook, loved and cherished by children and parents everywhere . It features happily in classrooms and Early Years settings worldwide.
Fiona Kelleher is a singer, composer and performer who works on many collaborative projects with other musicians, theatre artists and visual artists. Her album “My Love Lies” has received much critical acclaim internationally. She continues to write and record and collaborate while also working as an early years artist on many projects.
Corty Byron brings the swampy vintage rock n roll Americana to this years event.
Having performed all over the US in pubs (Tellus 360, The Viper Room & House of Blues), Prisons (Lancaster County Prison) & for politicians (Senator Bernie Sanders at Millersville University) he’ll have no problems fitting in at Guitartown……
How do you summarize Corty Byron? …”You can’t fake authenticity.”
Choice Award winning musician Adrian Crowley joins the Vespertine Quintet for a collaborative performance at this years Clonakilty International Guitar Festvival.
Some Blue Morning’ – 4 stars The Irish Times
Aidan Crowley captures life as insightfully as any contemporary Irish songwriter does. The Galway native has steered a trusty course throughout his career, each album a musical progression yet anchored by that commanding, sonorous voice and reflective, evocative lyric-poems that bind love, life and nature together. Strings play a more prominent role than ever before on his seventh album, elevating the opening title track to an uplifting finale, dancing lithely through The Hungry Grass, galloping through The Angel and punctuating the soft waltz of The Stranger. Spoken word track The Wild Boar is a highlight, but the whole record is a blissful, rich, cinematic soundtrack to autumn and winter that is bracing and snug in all the right places.