With only a week to go until this year’s Kilkenny Tradfest, excitement is building in the Marble City for what is set to be the festival’s best line-up yet! Featuring over 90 free gigs on the Bulmers Music Trail, 14 Headline Concerts in the finest venues our city has to offer, and traditional music workshops in the beautiful, medieval Rothe House; there really is something for everyone in this year’s programme.
Chairperson of Kilkenny Vintners, Brendan Treacy, is encouraging everyone to get involved, “We are privileged in Kilkenny to have such a vibrant traditional music scene thanks to our many talented local musicians and our wonderful venues. Tradfest is a time for us all to come together in a celebration of our rich heritage of song and dance, it is not to be missed!”
The festival kicks off on Thursday 14th March with top-class trad and cúpla focail courtesy of Pop-Up Gaeltacht in Bollard’s at 8pm, while The Whiskers of Lichen will rock Ryan’s Bar at 9.
Friday 15th will see the festival hit full swing as Clare Sands and her band take the stage in Cleere’s Theatre at 7pm, before the legendary Hothouse Flowers make their return at The Ormonde Hotel at 9pm, in what is sure to be a high-point in Kilkenny’s musical calendar this year.
All the while, Kilkenny’s pubs will be packed full of the finest traditional music right through the bank holiday weekend, featuring local virtuosos alongside top-class musicians from around the country. The pub session is the beating heart of our festival, and arguably our culture, and the Music Trail makes it easy for everyone to get out and support their local musicians and local venues.
Saturday sees two of the Banner county’s most legendary ensembles getting your toes tapping with one of Ireland’s longest established traditional bands, Shaskeen, playing in Kilkenny for the first time in decades. They feature award-winning singer Katie Theasby in their lineup and will appear in the Pembroke Hotel, while near neighbours the Tulla Ceilí Band will be back in action for a lively céilí and concert in the Rivercourt Hotel. They are the band co-formed by PJ Hayes, whose son Martin has become a huge superstar of traditional and world music. The event is organised in association with Kilkennys local Comhthalas branch Craobh Osraí CCE and promises to be a great night.
Singing the songs we learned at school and many of the wonderful songs he has composed, in what he humorously calls his ‘Hit Factory’, perennial favourite John Spillane brings his uplifting repertoire to Kyteler’s Inn that night, accompanied by his Band of Wrens. John has made many solo appearances in Kilkenny, but a band performance hasn’t been seen for a while.
Sunday sees Lá le Pádraig kick off musically straight after the city’s parade with two superb performers in Inis Mór Aran islander, Pádraig Jack and his band bringing his renowned fusion of his local sean-nós and folk influences with contemporary sounds. His mixture of English and Gaeilge has been widely commended. Seasoned performers Breaking Trad are always guaranteed to rock any stage. Led by box player, Dónal Murphy and his collaborators David Doocey and Mike Galvin, the brilliant tunes of the Sliabh Luachra of the Limerick/Cork/Kerry border area are complemented by the songs they love. They will be followed by one of the new and rising bands of the tradition as Buíoch take the stage in Biddy Early’s Terrace at 5 pm and local legends Reel to Reel at Paris Texas that night, both in free gigs.
Adopted local and West Cork sean-nós singer, Nell NíChróinín joins her wonderful band of Kilkenny-based musicians in the Club House Hotel at 7.00 pm for what will be one of the weekend’s highlights. The other legendary Clare céilí band, the Kilfenora Céilí Band will grace the Watergate Theatre stage at 8 pm.
Monday sees the festival close in style. Former Kilkenny resident and master piper, Leonard Barry brings his trio to Ryan’s Theatre at 3 pm, while Grammy-nominated and multiple award winner Iarla Ó Lionáird returns to the festival with his own trio, with the Ó Casadaigh family group Burnchurch providing support.
For your chance to get involved in the festival, traditional music workshops will be running throughout the weekend in the beautiful, medieval Rothe House. Featuring the finest local and national and musicians including Nell Ní Chróinín (Sean-nós Singing), Tommy Lanigan (Bodhrán – sold out), Mick Foley (Uileann Pipes), Oisín MacCinnéide (Bouzouki) and Michael McCague (Trad Guitar). Tickets are just €10 and available now at kilkennytradfest.com/workshop.
Tickets for our Headline shows are selling fast so get yours now at www.kilkenytradfest.com/tickets agus Bigí Linn!
