The Hothouse Flowers, Duke Special, Damien Dempsey and more acts are bound for Kilkenny over the St. Patrick’s Weekend in March for the fourth annual Kilkenny Tradfest.
The first round of acts announced include Damien Dempsey, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Kila, Hothouse Flowers, Duke Special, The Gloaming’s Iarla O’Lionard & Steve Cooney with more acts and events expecting to be announced next week.
Bulmers return to the festival as title sponsors, also bringing back the music trail that ties in a number of free gigs and events in bars throughout the city.
Who’s Coming To Town?
It all kicks off on St. Patrick’s Day with Kíla who will bring their hip-shaking, smile-making, funky, groovy brand of trad to Kilkenny Tradfest for a free outdoor concert at Kilkenny Castle Park.
Choice Music Prize nominee Colm Mac Con Iomaire who will perform an intimate full band show at St. John’s Priory. Colm book-ended 2015 with a headline show with his eleven-piece band in Vicar Street in December. His new album And Now The Weather has been critically acclaimed.
Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney play Set Theatre on Saturday 19 March. Ó’Lionáird is known for his involvement The Gloaming of late, while he was also spotted in a cameo on cinema screens for Brooklyn last year. He’ll be joined on stage by Australian born guitarist, Steve Cooney who makes a welcome return to Tradfest 2016 having opened for Sharon Shannon at last year’s St Patrick’s Day concert at the Castle Park.
Duke Special plays an intimate show at Cleere’s Theatre on Saturday, 19 March. This will be a magical show exploring forgotten old dusty manuscripts along with songs from his most recent and well-received album, ‘Look out machines!’, not to mention many of the usual live favourites.
Billy Byrnes on John Street hosts a very special show with Hothouse Flowers on Sunday, 20 March with support act to be announced. With a career spanning over 30 years, the group continue to wow crowds at home and abroad with their lively shows.
Dublin’s Damien Dempsey closes the festival on Sunday 20th March with a performance at Set Theatre. For this special performance Damien will draw upon the repertoire that will reflect the occasion the entire country is marking, in tribute to the men and women of the Easter Rising.
For full details, check out kilkennytradfest.com.
