There’s a revolution happening. And it’snot going to be quiet.
Conceived at Clonakilty International Guitar Festival 2018 and birthed just before the biggest annual celebration of women in West Cork, Nollaig na mBan for Ovacare, The Kates took Clonakilty by storm.
Liz Clark (gtr), Eve Clague (elec gtr), Mide Houlihan (drums), Roisin Kilgannon (keys) and Paula K O’Brien (bass) are all musicians/songwriters in their own right but banded together to shine a spotlight on what contributions women make in a male dominated industry.
The Kates only play songs performed or written by women. They celebrate women who have come before them, blazed a trail and rocked the system.
Eoghan O Sullivan returns to his home town to record a live Podcast as part of Clon guitar fest.
The podcast will be in O Donovans hotel (Commercial Room) on Saturday 21st of September.
Doors will open at 1pm and all are welcome – Space is limited so first come first served. Doors will close at 1:30pm when the podcast begins. The podcast will last approx 1hr & 30 mins & with special guests T-P-M – This show is wheelchair accessible.
THE POINT OF EVERYTHING
The Point of Everything is a music and arts podcast hosted by journalist Eoghan O’Sullivan that has been running since July 2015. With more than 130 episodes in the archives, the show sees artists go in-depth on their creative process, the arts community in Ireland, and inspiration. Guests have included Choice Prize winners such as Rusangano Family, Ships, O Emperor and Delorentos, criticially acclaimed acts like Girl Band and Cathy Davey, authors such as Kevin Barry and Emilie Pine, DJs Stevie G and Donal Dineen, and many more.
Eoghan O’Sullivan is a journalist with the Irish Examiner, where he covers music and the arts, and writes a weekly podcast column. He has hosted like recordings of The Point of Everything podcast at festivals including Quarter Block Party, It Takes a Village and Cork Midsummer. He also runs a music website of the same name, The Point Of Everything, is a regular contributor to London radio show The irish Jam and has been on the judging panel for the Choice Prize.
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 2017and 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.
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 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
Dave Lordan is a multi-genre writer, performer, editor, and educator. He has been described as Ireland’s most vital and courageous poet, and a performer of electrifying intensity. Lordan provides a portal to the inspirational power of the spoken and written word, and is currently one of Ireland’s leading educators in creative writing.
Dave returns to this years Festival to live stream events & interviews with festival performers and attendees over the course of the weekend.
Dave’s poem ‘The Lost tribe of the Wicklow mountains’ was covered by Christy Moore on his album Lily
Longtime friends the bones below started work on this new project in 2018 after a number of new songs were written during the previous winter. mixing elements of folk, blues and rock, the bones below are excited to take their music from the rehearsal room to a wider audience.
the first Cult to ever be endorsed by CIGF, you too will fall under the pall of The Big Lovin’ charismatic pop guru & spiritual leader ‘Levi Lovell’
Stare, helpless as his hallowed mountain top pop gospel infects your unworthy ears……….crawling into your brain and down your nervous system – dragging your soul toward the blinding light of holy ecstasy!!!!!!
The Acoustic Forum is an eclectic event unlike anything else you’ve ever seen which sees a selection of artists from the festival playing 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!
This year’s event will include host George Lowden & guests Pierre Bensusan , SÍOMHA, Aaron O Sullivan & Lau Noah !
PIERRE BENSUSAN (FR)
Winner of the Independent Music Award, in the Live Performance Album category for his latest triple live album “Encore” (2014), “Rose d’Or” of the Montreux Festival for his first album, “Près de Paris” (Switzerland, 1976), “Best World Music Guitar Player ” by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine (USA, 2008), Pierre Bensusan is recognized as one of the premier musicians of our time.
AARON O SULLIVAN (IRL)
At 19, Aaron started studying the BA in Popular Music. . Between various performances & collaborations with local artists, he now plays regularly in Cork City as a session musician. He got a job as a musician out in Disneyland Florida, performed venues all around Europe, supported artists such as James Arthur & Cory Wong & played Electric Picnic in 2018.
SÍOMHA (IRL)
Singer and guitarist SÍOMHA (pronounced Shee-va) dances the line between folk, jazz and neo-soul effortlessly, taking audiences on an unexpected, and unforgettable journey with her soulful melodies. Coming from a family steeped in music, SÍOMHA grew up on a diet of musical greats, with the sounds of jazz, trad, folk and soul creeping in and leaving an indelible mark on her musical tastes and influences. She started playing guitar at age 10, but it was later in her teens while attending high school in the south of France that she first took up jazz guitar
LAU NOAH (ESP)
Lau Noah’s musical tapestry is a conversation between masterful storytelling, intertwined cultures and a limitless sense of imagination that provide the audience with the capacity to time- travel between their child self and the being they will become when the last song of the show comes to an end.
Noah (1994) moved to NY at 19 years old not to pursue a musical career but to pursue the stories that come along with the difficulties and wonders of a life in a big tough city like NY.
But after her unintentional discovery of the Spanish guitar three years ago and her unschooled approach, Noah started writing songs in Catalan, Spanish, Hebrew and English that proved to touch a mostly english speaking audience beyond language barriers.
Noah has recently recorded with acclaimed producer and musician Blake Mills what will be her first documented solo work.
“Lau Noah is enchanting music lovers one song at a time” Billboard Magazine