Multi-instrumentalist Rawney (Ciarán Calnan) is an independent artist hailing
from Clonakilty in West Cork. His blend of rock, indie, folk and pop has drawn
comparisons to The Frames, Mic Christopher, Incubus, Foo Fighters and
Stereophonics, among others.
Renowned for his powerful vocals and energetic live performances, he has
honed his craft over the past decade by performing hundreds of gigs in Ireland,
UK, Australia, Canada, USA, Vietnam and Spain.
Music is in the blood. Son of the late Billy, drummer of popular showband The
Calnan Brothers, it’s no surprise that Rawney has continued that legacy.
Having played in various bands from the age of 12, most notably Setmaker, he
has been focusing on solo endeavours of late and his debut EP, Say It Loud, was
released in July ‘22.
The past two years has seen Rawney release his debut EP ‘Say It Loud’ and tour
the country, performing in top venues including DeBarra’s Clonakilty, Little
Whelan’s Dublin, Coughlan’s and Winthrop Avenue in Cork, Connolly’s of Leap,
Levis’ Ballydehob, Monroe’s Galway, Spirit Store Dundalk and The Green Room
in Dingle. There have also been support slots with the likes of Mick Flannery,
Susan O’Neill and Pauline Scanlon amongst others.
His songs have been been played on radio stations nationwide, including 2FM,
Ireland’s Classic Hits, Cork’s RedFM, Cork’s 96 FM, KCLR FM, WLR FM, LCR FM,
along with other local community and online stations.
His debut single Say It Loud won The Cork Playlist Song of the Month for June
‘22.
In February ‘23, as part of Hotpress Irish Music Month, Rawney was announced
as a finalist with Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio in the ‘A New Local Hero’
competition, which gained national coverage.
Rawney is currently in the process of recording, with new releases and gigs
planned for the coming months, including a slot at Clonakilty International
Guitar Festival which runs from 19-23 September.
Check out @rawneymusic on the usual social media platforms to stay up to
date.
Gamelan is the rich and ancient musical traditional of Indonesia using bronze gongs, xylophones, metallophones and other tuned percussion to create a shimmering texture and powerful resonance. It is a mesmerising sonic experience and west Cork is lucky to house the only Irish gamelan outside of a university city. These unique (no two sets are alike) hand-forged instruments are equally impressive visually, as they are intricately carved and brightly coloured. The listener will hear repertoire from the court tradition of the city of Surakarta, central Java, mixed with arrangements of Irish music, and new compositions.
For this concert at CIGF, musical director Kevin McNally will feature on a specially-designed fretless guitar in order to better match the unique tuning of the gamelan
Gamelan Spréacha Geala (Bright Sparks Gamelan) are a non-professional, community music group based in Skibbereen, new members are always welcome. It is part of the Wellbeing Network and supported by Cork ETB, Music Alive, Skibbereen Family Resource Centre and Cork Mental Health Services.
Having spent the last 20 years living and performing in San Francisco and New Orleans, Jenny Mac returned to her native Clonakilty in 2023 and is a prominent part of the local music scene.
An impressive, versatile and extremely talented vocalist, Jenny honed her craft under the watchful eyes of Mossie Shanley, Noel Redding & Carole Appleby performing regularly in Shanleys and De Barras for 15 years before moving stateside. Jenny has guested with artists such as Hot House Flowers, Christy Dignam, Don Baker and Donovan and her repertoire is a nostalgic collection of jazz n’ blues, country rock and 60s and 70s classics.
James Keegan is a singer-songwriter from Cork. Rooted in acoustic pop/folk, James brings a warm, easy listening atmosphere. From gaining praise from Damien Dempsey for his “powerful voice” to being stated by Music Crowns as “a man with a guitar against the world”, the young singer-songwriter plans for a good year ahead.
James has played in venues such as Whelans, Cyprus Avenue and Dolans, along with playing more intimate venues such as Connollys of Leap and Seachurch, recently supported artists such as Mundy and Ryan O Shaughnessy.
James has had two back to back No.1 singles on the iTunes Charts in Ireland with his two songs Take Me Home and Attach Me to the Fire.
Keep an eye on James’ social media for updates and new music!
O Deer is the musical project of Oisín Walsh-Peelo, who is a session musician and has played throughout the USA, Europe, Ireland, and the UK. He has toured worldwide with a wide range of artists and bands including Hudson Taylor, Hozier, Gabrielle Aplin, Hannah-Grace, Villagers, Sun Collective, and I Have a Tribe.
Sligo-born Dublin-based artist Callum Wall kicked off his career in earnest in 2021. His debut EP LIVIN’ IN LIMBO is already a cult classic within the city’s burgeoning indie scene, having amassed over 30,000 streams to date.
Recordings aside, Wall is also known for his exciting live performances. His set sparks influence from bands like the Smiths with fast guitar riffs, bands like Fleetwood Mac for their sweet melodies, and artists like Neil Young and Bob Dylan with emphasis on lyrical storytelling.
Having the guts of 50 gigs under his belt Wall has a passion for live performance.
With appearances at Wildroots Festival, De Barras in Clonakilty, Workmans Club, Grand Social, The Lighthouse, The Cellar, and gigs just about anywhere else in the capital and beyond.
Callum Wall’s short stint in operation has proved to be entirely successful and exciting.
Clonakilty’s local quartet explores the rich landscape of jazz, switching easily between the genres of swing, bepop, latin and gypsy jazz. Guitarists Matt Hart and Dónal O’Sullivan join double bassist George Hart and drummer Brian O’Higgins to create a sound that infuses classic jazz tunes with a unique improvisational style honed over years of performing together.
1, 2, 3, 4! Get ready for Ringo: Music Music, the world’s greatest music-intro-comedy-game-not-quiz. It’s bingo with bands instead of numbers, with incredible clues and sometimes incredulous jokes. Fun for all the family, it’s a hit at festivals, venues, bars and weddings. Ronan gives you the sheet and you tick them off as you go.
What do you call it when you bring a book into the toilet? Lou Reed
When the lead singer of The Police dies will we call him Stung?
What did John Lennon sing when he was very happy with this new haircut? Love Me Do
Named after the flock of pied wagtails that roost in the giant horse chestnut tree in Asna Square in the centre of Clonakilty, The Pied Wagtail Collective are a gathering of musicians, writers, and poets, from a diverse background of musical traditions and cultures.
Having been compared as Sean Nós meets American Prayer, The Pied Wagtail Collective are a spoke-sung blend of dark deeds alchemised in the witching hour before dawn.
The many awards that the collective have amassed individually include the Keats-Shelly Poetry Prize, The Moth International Poetry Prize, an International Songwriting Contest (ISC) Award, and The Listowel Writers’ Week Poetry Collection Prize.