3:30pm // €15 // Clonakilty Community Resource Centre , 21 Western Road, Clonakilty. P85 RW35
Tickets on the door or contact info@clonguitarfest.com to reserve a spot
One of the most accomplished songwriters in the country today, award winning trad/folk poet John Spillane continues to redefine musical boundaries with his own unique style of playing and songwriting which he likes to call ’Sean Nós Blues’.
“At my workshop we write songs. We do not theorise or talk about songwriting but we work, and follow certain steps to make a song. We lock out criticism and negativity and create an atmosphere where people can make something grow.” – John Spillane
‘We want the impact of our festival to continue to reverberate throughout Clonakilty celebrating the diversity that makes this town so vibrant. We ALL are guitar town’
‘Reverb’ incorporates the educational and community outreach programme that runs parallel with the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. It ensures that the effects of the festival are experienced by as diverse a selection of our community as possible. You may not hear Reverb, but you’ll definitely feel its effects! The main festival caters to a general audience and takes place in a range of venues across the town. However, there are members of the community who are unable to access these events, for a variety of reasons. The ‘Reverb’ programme brings artists and facilitators directly in contact with these groups so they don’t have to miss out.
We aim to facilitate meaningful artistic participation for a diverse group of people with the ultimate aim of empowering members of the community who are sometimes marginalised. Each year we team up with the Irish Wheelchair Association, CoAction, Cope Foundation, The Family Resource Centre, the ETB, and many other local groups,
We are kicking things of in 2015 with a performance by Eugene Brosnan & Friends in the The Michael Collins Mural Park
Eoin Stan O’Sullivan has had a colourful life in music. From a youth spent immersed in traditional music to punk rock and from guitars and synths to bass and the fiddle. He’s back at the CIGF bringing new life to the music of his beloved Sliabh Luachra. It’s Dessert Blues meets Mountain Music or a whole new genre that Stan calls “Bog Jazz” 🙂
Clonakilty native, Anthony Noonan has over the years recorded, performed and toured with a variety of artists such as UK folk legend Roy Harper, Bill Shanley, The West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Interference & Glen Hansard and Dog Tail Soup.
A feature of many Cork artists’ rhythm section, Anthony has previously been seen drumming for the likes of Ian Whitty & the Exchange, Fred, Mick Flannery, Lerner, FirBeag & Gavin Moore to name a few.
Releasing a first album of his own music in 2003, the follow-up second album in 2008, ‘Honeycomb Moons’, garnered some favourable national Airplay and attention in the press. TV features on The Last Broadcast with Dave Fanning, and The View with John Kelly, coupled with live appearances at Electric Picnic solidified this album as one of the best in 2008 with it featuring in Paul McLoone’s top 100 releases of the year.
The following period saw Anthony focus more on his drumming career. With appearances on Other Voices, to supporting Glen Hansard in Radio City Music Hall New York as drummer for Irish legends Interference, Anthony left song writing behind, until remerging under the moniker Q.U.I.E.T.
Q.U.I.E.T.’s debut album Somnambulist was released in 2023
There are no words to describe the music that West Cork based band The bones below create. That is unless you usewords like rock, folk, blues, guitars, drums, pianos, vocals….
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.
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
Formed by two of Ireland’s most exciting and versatile guitarists, David Keating and Colin McLean, Fandango Duo is an electrifying instrumental guitar duo that weaves together influences from Latin, jazz, classical, and pop music. Drawing inspiration from their travels and concerts across the globe, David and Colin create dynamic soundscapes that tell compelling stories through their music.
With backgrounds as trained classical guitarists, both musicians have developed a unique performance style that is improvisatory and spontaneous, allowing them to connect with audiences in an engaging and memorable way. They have graced the stage at prestigious venues such as the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Cork Opera House, University Limerick Concert Hall, and the Olympia Theatre. They have also performed at celebrated events including the Guitar Festival of Ireland, Wexford Opera Festival, and Clonakilty Guitar Festival, captivating listeners with their passionate and exhilarating performances.
Influenced by the works of Astor Piazzolla, De Falla, York and Luiz Fandango Duo’s repertoire showcases a vibrant blend of genres, inviting listeners on a musical journey filled with rhythm and emotion.
join The Brothers Clague and some special guests as we celebrate the Family Clague’s contributions to guitartown over the last 21+ years…..
Sam and Les are a father and son guitar duo from Clonakilty. Les, originally from Liverpool, is an accomplished ragtime fingerpicking style guitarist and composer. While crafting this artform gigging and busking in Europe and living in Antwerp, he later moved to Clonakilty to settle down and started to study Flamenco.
When Sam was 11, he started to steal his fathers chops and started shredding his first electric guitar busking on the streets with his Dad in Cork and on family camping trips in France. His Jimmy Page obsession soon turned to Django Reinhardt and thus the Clague Brothers started to craft their own sound.