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.
Original White lightning members Jeff Ward & Noel Gilbert Jones return to West Cork with old pal Steve ‘ Smiley’ Barnard (Joe Strummer/Robbie Williams) on drums to hang another Festival scalp around their battle worn rock n roll necks.
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).
“Jeff Ward is better than good, He’s Tasty!” – Noel Redding (the Jimi Hendrix Experience).
Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. This year, it will take place on Friday 16th September 2016. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.
Culture Night has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with some 350,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the country. The initiative has captured both the public imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations.
Culture Night
-Encourages more people to visit cultural venues and experience culture in their locality
-Reminds us all about the fantastic cultural facilities and resources that we have locally and nationally
-Raises the profile of cultural organisations, activities and facilities
-Encourages people to try new things and to get into the habit of going more often to cultural venues and activities in their locality
-Makes it easier for people to play a role in their local cultural scene
-Helps create a sense of community and belonging
Who makes Culture Night happen?
Culture Night happens because many people share a vision and enthusiasm for enjoying, celebrating and promoting creativity and culture. The following list gives a taste of the wide range of people and institutions that make it happen across Ireland:
the public, artists, performing groups, galleries, museums, sports clubs, libraries, arts centres, craft workers, studios and workshops, theatres, public spaces, broadcasters, schools, community groups, local authorities, Government Departments, state agencies and public bodies, transport companies, universities, shops and many more!
Paula Gómez is a Spanish singing sensation.
From Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain, Paula has in the last few years sang and performed throughout the world as well as juggling work as a presenter for Spanish Television Station ONDA TV Chiclana.
Since moving to Clonakilty, Paula has collaborated with many of Irelands finest musicians.
Always one of the gigs of the festival Paula will perform a special show at this years festival with Steven Housden (the Little River Band) -guitar, Ronan Archibald – bass & Martin Leahy (John Spillane, Christy Moore) -drums
“The heart turning voice of Paula Gomez soars like a young Joan Baez” ( IRISH TIMES, July Kathy Sheridan, Sat 26th July 2014).
” The Scene try to find at-least one “diamond in the rough” at each festival that makes its all worth while. Paula Gomez was artist one, on
day one and was surprisingly that”. ( CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK 2014, Scene magazine Toronto, Darryl Shelley).
KINGS OF KUDOS (AU/IRL/UK) Australian Guitar legend Steve Housden (The Little River Band) fronts this pscyhadelic rock juggernaut with Les Samson (Noel Redding Band) on drums and Mike Geaney (Eric Bell Band) on Bass.
West Cork trio Kings Of Kudos bring a powerful blend of progressive rock, jazz-fusion and psychedelic blues to their own genre-defying sound.
Stephen Housden’s guitar style is an eclectic mix of influences that range from instrumental surf music through to complex Jazz riffs with deep bluesy overtones.
Les Sampson’s powerhouse drumming and Mike Geaney’s solid bass lines provide a driving groove underneath the guitar’s sonic flights of fantasy.
Stephen Housden, guitar, vocals and principal writer, toured the world for many years as a member of Little River Band. He has also has played along side many music greats including; Dr. John, Warren Zevon, John Entwistle (The Who), Glen Frey and Albert Lee.
After moving to West Cork from Australia, Stephen regularly played with with Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) and his band which included Sampson on drums. Les and Stephen played so well together they eventually decided to form a band to play original music. In 2012 with the addition of Geaney on bass the Kings Of Kudos had arrived.
Kings Of Kudos’ new EP, Third Mode From The Sun, (featuring a guest appearance by Margaret Kennedy on flute) will be released and showcased on September 20th. at this year’s Clonakilty International Guitar Festival.
Stephen Housden is regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world. Well known as guitarist with Little River Band for more that two decades, he has also played and recorded with such music legends as Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey (The Eagles), Dr. John, Christopher Cross, John Entwistle (The Who), Renee Geyer, P.F Sloan, Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, The Seekers, Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) and many, many others.
Born in Bedfordshire, U.K, Stephen was inspired to play the guitar by watching singing-cowboys on television as a child. After moving to Australia at the age of eight he quickly discovered Rock’n’roll and fell under the magic of such lead guitarists as Hank B. Marvin (The Shadows) and Chuck Berry.
He formed his first band at High School and played coffee houses, school fetes, and parties, all the time honing his craft. Hendrix and jazz great Wes Montgomery became influences as Stephen worked hard on learning as much technique as he could, while also striving to develop his own distinctive style.
That style brought him to the attention of some of Australia’s most successful recording acts and over the coming years Stephen was highly sought after as a band member and recording session player. Some of the stars Stephen worked with during this time were Marcia Hines, John Farnham, James Reyne, Joe Camilleri, Mark Hunter, The Bushwhackers, Doug Ashdown, Brian Cadd, Mark Williams, Doug Parkinson and Richard Clapton.
Stephen also played on various advertising jingles and film soundtracks including the international blockbuster Crocodile Dundee.
In August 1981 Stephen was asked to join one of the world’s most successful acts, Little River Band, as their lead guitarist. Since then he has toured the world many times with them and co-written many of their songs including their Top 5 hit Love Is A Bridge.
Over the years Stephen has conducted music theory and improvisation seminars for guitarists, and written columns for magazines such as Sonics and Australian Musician. He has also toured schools with his highly successful one-man showThe Evolution of Rock Guitar.
A few years ago he recorded his first solo instrumental album New World Groove. The opening track Celtic Warrior has been featured on the TV series Baywatch.
In 1999 Stephen and his family moved to Cork, Ireland. Long inspired by Irish music, Stephen now enjoys the opportunity to play with some of Ireland’s top musicians including a feature on Paddy Keenan’s Long Grazing Acre CD.