TradFest Temple Bar Program 2020

BOOK

ONLINE

tradfest.ie

PHONE

+353 1 960 2300

IN PERSON

Festival House, 12 Essex St East, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

CONNECT

TRADFEST SOCIAL

During the festival follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds for up-to-date information and news.

Join in!

/TempleBarTradFest @templebartrad @templebartrad

TRADFEST SPOTIFY

Listen to all our 2020 TradFest acts on our specially curated Spotify Playlist: ‘TradFest Temple Bar 2020’

BOX OFFICE

Our box office at Festival House, 12 Essex St. E, is open daily from 12 till 6pm. You can buy tickets, ask our staff for directions and other information.

All details are correct at time of print. TradFest Temple Bar has a no refund or exchange policy on all tickets purchased. Festival organisers reserve the right to make programme changes should circumstances dictate.

OUR VENUES

Our chosen venues are historical landmarks, many dating back 100's of years. They are not all purposebuilt theatres and some sight lines are restricted. We endeavour to do our best to prepare venues to the very highest standards to make your experience an enjoyable one.

Seating is generally unallocated.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

Please contact TradFest Temple Bar if you require special assistance.

Most of our venues are wheelchair accessible but staff need to be notified in advance.

TEAM TRADFEST Meet the team that makes TradFest happen - the hardworking, event planning, venue booking, ideas bouncing, coffee drinking, jig dancing, crisis managing supergroup of seven!

STEPHEN REA PATRON

MARTIN HARTE CEO

NOEL DEMPSEY CHAIRMAN

KIERAN HANRAHAN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

CLAUDINE MURRAY DIRECTOR MARKETING & EVENTS

PODCAST

The essential podcast for music fans.

Presented by radio hosts Kieran Hanrahan and Ruth Smith.

Exclusive live recordings and interviews recorded at TradFest Subscribe to our iTunes Channel or LISTEN NOW AT

ANIA SCHULER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

MILENA MATEJKO OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

tradfest.ie/podcasts

WELCOME TO TRADFEST At Tradfest we live for the live music experience, it’s about feeling the melody and becoming the beat! We believe that all kinds of traditional music are as much about expression as heritage, about a shared articulation of emotion. We’ve been celebrating the broad spectrum of Trad without Frontiers since 2006 to become Ireland’s biggest festival of its kind and so our 15th Birthday programme represents our perfect vision for 2020! We are prouder than ever to feature legends of genres ranging from pure trad to folk and world music, national and international artists and performers.

We continue to celebrate our love of unique and iconic venues with the addition of Lost Lane, Dublin's newest live venue, the high drama of the beloved Olympia Theatre and, for the first time, Kilmainham Gaol,

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part of the very fabric of Irish history.

2020 also brings a debut in the form of The Smithwicks Sessions as well as a jam-packed Fringe programme with something for all ages. For the third year we are partnering with Milwaukee Irish Fest to give one of our Live at the Hub performers the chance to travel to the U.S to play at a festival which attracts over 120,000 visitors annually. Join us for our fifteenth Birthday to feel every note in the embrace of melody and the heartbeat of rhythm…

The TradFest Team

USING THE PROGRAMME Our events are colour-coded so you can easily find what you're looking for:

HEADLINE CONCERTS The cream of Irish & International trad & folk artists in iconic Dublin venues.

Follow us on social media for all the news and live updates during the festival.

SMITHWICKS SESSIONS

Free concerts in intimate settings, up close and personal. Tickets are FREE but ticketed.

/templebartradfest

TRADHUB

Discover up-and-coming acts at our late night club.

TRADFRINGE

There is so much more than just Trad to be had!

Enjoy film-screenings, workshops & more...

@templebartrad

TRADKIDS

Fun for all the family; children’s craft club, family concerts, children’s trad sessions and workshops.

@templebartrad

SÁRÁN MULLIGAN

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS / JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS / SCREAMING ORPHANS

WED 22nd JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm CITY HALL €9.99

WED 22nd JAN Doors 7pm / Show 8pm OLYMPIA THEATRE from €36.99

Sárán Mulligan is a musician and composer from Dundalk, Co. Louth. His playing style is influenced heavily by his Leitrim roots and he likes to explore the harmonic and rhythmic potential of the concertina. Sárán is also a dedicated tutor of the concertina at home and at workshops throughout Ireland and abroad.

Known for their unique brand of rock that’s influenced by soul, gospel and traditional music, Hothouse Flowers call upon their grand repertoire to create a show that is unique to the time and place. No two shows are the same.

Jon Boden is best known as the lead singer and main arranger of the progressive folk juggernaut Bellowhead. In 2009, Jon founded his band The Remnant Kings performing an exciting sound where folk, Bach, pop and jazz all rub shoulders with Jon’s own songs. A musical maverick and a true original.

Screaming Orphans, an all-sister band from Donegal, are known worldwide for their genre breaking, award-winning sound, combining their original pop songs with a unique take on traditional Irish music.

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CATHERINE MCEVOY & FAMILY / PÁDRAIG RYNNE & TARA BREEN WED 22nd JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm CITY HALL €24.99

Catherine McEvoy is one of the most respected musicians of her generation. Originally from Birmingham, her parents hailed from Co. Roscommon, a place well known for flute playing. In 2019 Catherine joined a prestigious list of artists to have been awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the year.

She came to live in Ireland in 1977 and joined the vibrant revival of traditional music happening at that time, becoming a member of the ground breaking all-female group Macalla.

THE TRAD OF NOW

STEPHEN JAMES SMITH, LEMONCELLO & THE SILKEN SAME WED 22nd JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €19.99

Clare natives Pádraig Rynne & Tara Breen have been performing regularly both as a duo and within different line-ups over the past number of years. Both have multiple All-Ireland titles to their names and have toured as members of worldfamous acts such as The Chieftains, Atlantic Arc Orchestra, NOTIFY and Heartbeat of Home.

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Poet and performer Stephen James Smith curates a unique night melding music and poetry for a unique cross-over experience.

Lemoncello are Laura Quirke and Claire Kinsella. They started performing together while studying music and languages in Maynooth University, Ireland. Borrowing from a wide range of influences, traditional and alternative, the duo create an immersive experience through a dynamic expression of lyrical story.

The Silken Same are Galway duo Mossy Nolan and Colm McGowan. The pair draw on influences that are both familiar and exotic to the ear, with a sound firmly rooted between the traditional and the modern. Songs that on the face of it will seem instantly familiar, but that supplant the traditional with fresh melodic and conceptual ideas. Their shows are uniquely intimate and rich experiences.

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AOIFE SCOTT ALBUM LAUNCH

JOHN CRAIGIE & CAT CLYDE

WED 22nd JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm BUTTON FACTORY €19.99

WED 22nd JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm LOST LANE €19.99

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Following her highly celebrated debut album, Carry The Day, which was triumphantly launched at Temple Bar TradFest in 2016 to rapturous acclaim, Aoife Scott returns home to release her much anticipated sophomore album “Homebird”. Produced by 12 time Grammy Award winner, banjo and guitar virtuoso Ron Block, her second album release is much anticipated in the world of folk and roots music. Recorded in Nashville and Dublin, “Homebird” is an impressive collaboration featuring the cream of Irish folk musicians (including the Black Family on Backing Vocals) and award winning bluegrass musicians (Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan & Ron Block). Born into the legendary Black Family, Aoife is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, and has long enjoyed success as an established artist in her own right. Fragile and ethereal one minute and strong and vibrant the next, we are proud to showcase the newest chapter of her meteoric rise.

John Craige is renowned for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows, and off-the-cuff clever observations, John Craigie carries on the legacy of classic singer-songwriters, while blazing a trail of his own. His music speaks loud to both audiences and fellow artists. When Craigie plays, it’s one of those special shows that can make you laugh and cry in the same song.

It’s a musical journey that can’t be denied.

Cat Clyde is a brand-new artist out of Stratford, Ontario. A fresh take on the classic sounds of yesteryear; breathing new life into the velvety vocal, tack-piano, slide-guitar-style that can instantly walk you through the swinging doors of a packed saloon. With influences ranging from Etta James to Janis Joplin to Lead Belly; hers is a mix that goes down smoother than a neat glass of mellow Kentucky bourbon.

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SEAMIE O’DOWD

SÉAMUS BEGLEY & OISÍN MAC DIARMAIDA WITH SAMANTHA HARVEY / BRONA MCVITTIE

THUR 23rd JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm CITY HALL €9.99

THUR 23rd JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm CITY HALL €24.99

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Seamie O’Dowd has been performing, broadcasting and recording for the last four decades. Beginning with a radio appearance at the tender age of ten, he has gone on to travel worldwide playing music as well as recording as a solo performer, group member, session musician and producer. He was nominated for the Best Folk Musician award in 2018 at RTE’s inaugural Irish Folk Awards. He recorded three acclaimed solo albums including his most recent CD “Live At The Hawk’s Well” which was recorded at one of his annual solo concerts in Sligo. Quite simply, this is a hugely impressive musician and singer at the very height of his powers.

West Kerry accordionist and singer Séamus Begley joins forces with Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada and California dancer/ pianist Samantha Harvey. Begley is the quintessential Irish musician, displaying a frisky spontaneity in his accordion-playing.

Fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, founder of noted group Téada, is one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today. Providing masterful accompaniment on piano, Samantha Harvey originally from Ventura, California now living in Sligo, is also an award-winning step dancer.

The critics have been forming an orderly queue to heap praise on Brona McVittie’s shoulders since the release of her debut album 'We Are the Wildlife'. Lauren Laverne named it among her bestof-2018 picks. This show sees her launch brand new single, 'The Green Man', live with Myles Cochran (steel and acoustic guitars) and Anne Garner (flute, harmony vocals).

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SIBÉAL NÍ CHASAIDE AND THE DKIT EMSEMBLE THUR 23rd JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €19.99

Sibéal Ní Chasaide’s unique vocal qualities and singing style command attention wherever she appears. As a young artist she has already a major international recording contract with Universal Records and a debut album launched in August 2019.

Her innate mastery of the sean-nós tradition marks her out as a unique talent, with a remarkable versatility in capturing mood and tonal quality. Her eponymous album, 'Sibéal', features a variety of songs sung both in Irish and English, with lush orchestrations by Irish composer/producer Patrick Cassidy and others bearing the stamp of the American composer/producer Craig Stuart Garfinkle.

EMMA LANGFORD / KATIE THEASBIE / CLARE SANDS / SAOIRSE CASEY THUR 23rd JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm LOST LANE €19.99

Sibéal will be joined on the night by the The DkIT Ensemble who blend traditional, art music and popular styles. The Ensemble will include internationally renowned musicians Odhrán Ó Cassaide, Cormac De Barra, Éamonn De Barra and Claire Fitch.

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Since the release of her first single ‘The Seduction of Eve’ in 2016, Emma Langford has woven herself into the DNA of the Irish music scene. She was shortlisted this year for Germany's Eiserner Eversteiner folk prize. Londoner Katie Theasby comes from a family steeped in trad. A suberbly talented singer, whistle and flute player, her debut album has just been released to critical acclaim. Her tour for the record drew rave reviews. Cork based Clare Sands is a musician, composer, songwriter and music therapist whose star is in the ascendent. Her mastery of her instrument is what happens when you begin at the tender age of four! At only 23 years old, Saoirse Casey is already a seasoned live performer. Her first gig was supporting Declan O’Rourke in the INEC Killarney and since then she has joined Declan on stage at numerous venues including the National Concert Hall and Vicar St. Her songs have the power to both soothe and invigorate.

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DAOIRÍ FARRELL & FRIENDS PRESENT

THE DUBLIN SESSION

SETH LAKEMAN

THUR 23rd JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm DUBLIN CASTLE €36.99

THUR 23rd JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm BUTTON FACTORY €24.99

Supported by

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Daoirí Farrell and friends present The Dublin Session with Sean Keane, Cathy Davey, Caoimhe Hogarty plus Kevin Glackin, Robbie Walsh, Paddy Kiernan, and Sean Potts Daoirí Farrell has been hailed as the foremost voice of Irish folk song for his generation, leading him to tour across the world in recent years, tour with Transatlantic Sessions and play main stages at major festivals including a closing headline slot on Cambridge Folk Festival’s main stage in 2019. Now he leads an all-star line-up of Dublin musicians to perform the songs and tunes of his and their hometown of Dublin, a city which has inspired Irish writers, musicians and artists for hundreds of years.

This show will be an audible postcard from this very special city.

The show will feature an all-star band featuring Kevin Glackin (fiddle), Robbie Walsh (bodhran), Paddy Kiernan (banjo), Sean Potts (uilleann pipes), led by Daoirí Farrell with very special guests Sean Keane, Cathy Davey and Caoimhe Hogarty.

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This abundantly talented artist has performed everywhere from Libya to Texas, as well as featuring on just about every major festival bill across the UK. He has toured extensively around Europe too, where he’s also performed with Tori Amos and Clannad and has toured with other artists including Jools Holland, Runrig and Billy Bragg. This charismatic singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist found time, in between charging around the globe with Robert Plant and his band, to record his new studio album The Well Worn Path. It’s a return to a no-nonsense, organic, classic folk-rock approach with Lakeman’s trademark foot-stomping, fiddle bow-shredding and soaring vocals. Seth Lakeman has relentlessly pushed his musical boundaries and those of folk and roots music. We very much look forward to joining him on his journey for TradFest 2020!

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DOIREANN GLACKIN & SARAH FLYNN

LISA LAMBE

FRI 24th JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm CITY HALL €9.99

FRI 24th JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €21.99

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Doireann Glackin (fiddle) and Sarah Flynn are neighbours hailing from the Northside of Dublin. As a duet they have performed both nationally and internationally. They have recently released their debut album ’The Housekeepers’, a project which explores the music and legacy of female traditional musicians during the 20th century. Their music draws exclusively from this repertoire and their performance is as much rooted in the unique social history surrounding their tunes as it is in the Dublin style of traditional music they play. The album has been met with much critical acclaim since its release in May 2019. We look forward to showcasing these fresh talents at TradFest 2020.

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Lisa Lambe is one of Ireland’s most sought after performers both at home and overseas. Described by the Irish Times as “the finest singer and actor of her generation”. She is returning to TradFest 2020 with new music and new songs from her forthcoming album ‘Juniper’ recorded in the wilds of Donegal and produced by Karl Odlum (The MaryJanes, Mic Christopher, The Frames) and mastered by Greg Calbi, Sterling Sound New York. This concert is a celebration of the new original album written in Roundstone, Galway and Tobar, Co. Offaly and a collaboration of soundscapes and song. Lisa will be joined by very special guests on the night including Karl Oldum, Dave Hingerty, John McLoughlin, Eamonn De Barra, Sean Regan, Anna Houston and Ruth O’Mahony-Brady. Lisa regularly works as a leading performer with RTÉ, TG4 and Ireland’s National Theatre, The Abbey. She creates work regularly at home with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and tours internationally.

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MUIREANN NIC AMHLAOIBH PLUS GERRY O’BEIRNE

BOXING BANJO / CONNLA / RÉALTA

FRI 24th JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm CITY HALL €24.99

FRI 24th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm BUTTON FACTORY €19.99

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Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a multi-award-winning traditional singer and musician from Corca Dhuibhne, West Kerry. She received the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award for Best Traditional Track in 2018. A leading exponent of the sean nós style, her repertoire also includes songs from a wide variety of folk and contemporary sources. Muireann is one of the most distinctive voices out there.

Born in Ennis, County Clare, along Ireland’s music-rich west coast, Gerry O’Beirne is a renowned singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist (6 and 12 string guitar, tiple, ukulele and slide guitar among others). He grew up in Ireland and in Ghana in West Africa, and has since lived in England, California, and Mexico. He lives now near Dingle in Co Kerry. His own compositions blend the passion found in traditional music with the freshness of contemporary song.

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Boxing Banjo is one of the most exciting new acts on the Irish traditional music scene. Together they conjure a unique blend of traditional Irish music and song, old time and bluegrass music. Combining a myriad of instruments including button accordion, banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle, their high-octane performances encapsulate their raw passion for their music.

Connla have been quickly making an impact on the folk/ traditional scene. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes have enabled them to create a unique and immediately recognisable sound.

Réalta is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist group who present an enchanting programme of Irish traditional dance music interspersed with the occasional air and song.

A performance by Réalta is joyous, energetic, foot-stomping, unforgettable and unmissable.

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DAMIEN O’KANE & RON BLOCK

STOCKTON’S WING AMONG FRIENDS

FRI 24th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm LOST LANE €24.99

FRI 24th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm DUBLIN CASTLE €36.99

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What do you get if you cross an American bluegrass banjo and an Irish tenor banjo? In the case of Coleraine’s Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block you get fireworks – and a spectacular debut duo album that confounds expectations. On either side of the Atlantic, O’Kane and Block decided to stop laughing at banjo jokes and concentrate instead on mastering the instrument.

With two bold and acclaimed recent albums to his name, O’Kane thought it was high time to join forces with a musician he had long admired – Alison Krauss & Union Station’s banjo star and multiple award winner Ron Block (14 Grammy’s!) Widely regarded as two of the greatest exponents of the instrument they have collaborated to create what is arguably their own genre -‘Banjophony’. This means melding two different styles showcasing an instrument that proves incredibly versatile in the right hands. Put yourself in these hands, you won’t regret it…

Supported by

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Stockton’s Wing began their musical odyssey in the town of Ennis sometime in 1977, taking their name from the Bruce Springsteen song ‘Backstreets’. The band signed a deal with Tara Records after winning the Trad section of a music contest in Limerick. A young group called U2 won the rock section. The band’s first album, produced by PJ Curtis, received rave reviews from national and international press. Many more raves and triumphs would follow. This is a group of musicians unrivalled in both virtuosity and passion. The music of Stockton’s Wing has evolved into an exciting blend of traditional and contemporary Irish music and song, performed with power and precision by some of the finest players in Ireland. For TradFest 2020 they will be joined by a constellation of talented friends, including original founding member Maurice Lennon, Ralph McTell, The Henry Girls, Leslie Dowdall, Tara Breen, Gavin Glass, Phelim Drew and many, many more. This promises to be a celebration for the ages!

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KEVIN BURKE SAT 25th JAN Doors 11.30am / Show 12pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €14.99

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Fiddle legend Kevin Burke is considered one of Irish music’s luminaries, from his early days with The Bothy Band to his celebrated solo performances. The recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA in the US, and in Ireland the prestigious Gradam Ceoil award, he is acknowledged as a master of the tradition. Although Kevin has spent much of his life playing in a group context, he has never lost his love for solo fiddle music – the “naked fiddle” as he sometimes puts it. A London native, Kevin inherited his love of Irish music from his parents who emigrated from County Sligo. Burke’s music career began in 1974 with a move to Ireland and joining seminal Irish group The Bothy Band. Since then, he has formed the renowned bands Celtic Fiddle Festival, Patrick Street, and Open House, and worked with many great artists including Arlo Guthrie, Kate Bush, Christy Moore. Witness a master at play.

SECRET SONG CIRCLE WITH AOIFE SCOTT

NA SEISIÚN RÚNDA LE AOIFE SCOTT SAT 25th JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm TAILOR'S HALL, BACK LANE, DUBLIN 8 €15.99

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An intimate Song Session presented by folk singer Aoife Scott will invite some of the most notable female artists to perform in The Secret Song Circle. Performed in the round, artists will include Aoife’s musical friends, family and special appearances from some of this year’s TradFest performers.

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SHANE HENNESSY

CUA

SAT 25th JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm RATHFARNHAM CASTLE €14.99

SAT 25th JAN Doors 2.30pm / Show 3pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €14.99

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Virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist and composer Shane Hennessy amazes audiences worldwide with his unique approach to the acoustic guitar. Tying together his background as a traditional Irish musician with influences from both the many disciplines of guitar, and his innate passion for disparate ethnic styles, Hennessy’s live performances are known for their energy, humour, and virtuosity. In 2019 his world tour brought him to the USA, Europe, Russia, and Australia, highlights being headline billings at both the MerleFest music festival and the Milwaukee Irish Fest. He has worked with Riverdance composer Bill Whelan, toured with legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, and been praised by Nile Rodgers (CHIC) for his fresh and innovative style. RTÉ presenter Marty Whelan wrote of Shane: “There is part of me that didn’t really believe that he could do what he does on one guitar until he came into the studio, sat down in front of me, and played it.”

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John Davidson, Shane Booth & Ros O’Meara bring together dynamic and contrasting instrumentation and vocal arrangements. The group create an expansive acoustic soundscape blending guitars, fiddle, bouzouki, percussion and 3-part harmony arrangements to create a world music folk sound that the group call ‘Atlantean’. Soaring melody lines, intense acapella vocals and complex rhythmic structures are all trademarks. The cua live experience references the melodic intricacies of Planxty combined with the harmonic skills of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Since releasing their album, ‘Songs of the Hollow’, and following a hectic 2018, cua have successfully toured Ireland, England and Scotland. Through the combination of great shows and hard work, cua played two sold out gigs at the prestigious Celtic Connections festival in January, a fitting launch to what has been a big a year for the group in 2019. The group have 3 new albums in the pipeline.

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MÍCHEÁL Ó’RAGHALLAIGH SAT 25th JAN Doors 3.30pm / Show 4pm RATHFARNHAM CASTLE €14.99

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Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh is one of the foremost concertina players of his generation. From County Meath, he has performed in Europe and America as both a soloist and ensemble member. He has recorded two solo albums as well as various other albums with the band Providence and with two three-in-a-row winning Ceili Bands. Mícheál is also much in demand both at home and abroad as a tutor of the concertina.

BARBARA DICKSON WITH NICK HOLLAND SAT 25th JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €34.99

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In this special acoustic performance Barbara Dickson and her pianist Nick Holland explore her catalogue of songs at an intimate level. The pair let the words and melodies take ‘centre stage’ as they perform a wonderful range of material drawing on Barbara’s folk roots, contemporary greats, and some of her classic hits. Emerging from the Scottish folk scene of the late 1960’s Barbara had enjoyed mainstream chart success with hits including ‘Answer Me’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’, ‘Caravan’ and the million-selling number one single, ‘I Know Him So Well’. Nick Holland joined Barbara’s touring band in the mid 2000’s playing keyboards and they have recently started working as a ‘duo’ where she plays guitar and piano, with Nick adding keys and harmonies to Barbara’s own wonderful vocals. The intimacy of their musical rapport will doubtless prove contagious for the TradFest audience!

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MAURICE LENNON, CIARA BRENNAN & CHRIS DAWSON SAT 25th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm RATHFARNHAM CASTLE €19.99

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An inherently and instinctively musical trio, Maurice Lennon, Ciara Brennan and Chris Dawson combine their unique performative talents to create a dynamic and diverse repertoire of traditional and newly composed music. Maurice, of course, needs no introduction as, a founding member of Stockton’s Wing, one of Ireland’s leading fiddle players and the creator of innumerable, well-known and much-loved compositions. Ciara and Chris, having performed, composed and recorded intensely together over recent years, had already become well acquainted and connected as a duo. Having played together for Maurice’s Brian Boru suite, Maurice and Ciara join two very different violin styles.

With Chris, they conjure a musical intimacy and connection that can be seen, heard and felt by all. Expect an evening of exquisite musicianship and a truly transporting performance.

TRADFEST GALA:

CHERISH THE LADIES / SHANDRUM CÉILÍ BAND / LAU SAT 25th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm DUBLIN CASTLE €42.99

Supported by

Cherish the Ladies is a Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene. Beyond music – theirs is a movement!

Formed in 2014, The Shandrum Céilí Band became one of only a handful of céilí bands in the long history of the coveted Senior Ceilí Band Competition to achieve the elusive “3-in-a-row”.

Combining exquisite musicianship with irrepressible spirit, they conjure a celebration with the first note.

Lau - Brilliant musicians, powerful performers, free-thinking visionaries and all-round good chaps as well! For this performance Scotland's traditional music’s most celebrated innovators, strip away their banks of electronics, loops and wild effects for a fully acoustic show.

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TURIN BRAKES ACOUSTIC / SOUNDS OF THE SIRENS SAT 25th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm LOST LANE €21.99

Turin Brakes are an English band, comprising original duo Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, and long-term collaborators Rob Allum and Eddie Myer. They had a UK top 5 hit in 2003 with their song “Painkiller”. Since starting out in 1999, the band have sold over 1 million records worldwide. This is an indie band characterised by fine musicianship with an intricate folk sensibility.

Exeter-based duo Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood of Sound of the Sirens have built their fan base not merely through several sublime EP releases, but also through their live shows, which combine a natural facility for connecting with their audiences and unforgettable performances predicated on energy, warmth, humour and, above all, real conviction. Sound of the Sirens want to both enlighten and entertain and they want to do it with euphony. Prepare to be enthralled!

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THE YOUNG’UNS SAT 25th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm BUTTON FACTORY €19.99

Working in partnership with IMRO The Young'Uns will be supported by Grainne Hunt

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Teesside trio The Young’uns have always had the human touch. In the space of little more than a decade – and just five years after giving up their day jobs – they have become one of UK folk music’s hottest properties. Stockton Folk Club’s star graduates clinched the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Group’ title two years running (2015 & 2016) and the last years have seen them spreading the net, taking their unique act to Canada, America and Australia. With their strong songs, spellbinding harmonies and rapid fire humour, they have achieved one of the trickiest balancing acts – an ability to truly ‘make them laugh and make them cry’, while cutting straight to the heart of some of our most topical issues. Their fourth studio album 'Strangers' is bold, profound and resonant, showcasing the growing talents of Sean Cooney, fast becoming one of folk’s finest songwriters. Expect their TradFest debut performance to be at once enthralling, moving and hilarious!

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THE NATIONAL FOLK ORCHESTRA OF IRELAND & SPECIAL GUESTS

TIM EDEY

SAT 25th & SUN 26th JAN Doors 3.30pm / Show 4pm KILMAINHAM GAOL €24.99

SUN 26th JAN Doors 11.30am/Show 12pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €14.99

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The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland was first formed by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the late 1980’s and has always attracted the most gifted young Irish musicians and singers. The line-up is drawn from 24 different counties and the UK. TradFest has commissioned Danú’s Tom Doorley to compose a new work by the NFOI “Machnamh – Airs and Songs of Kilmainham” to be performed in the historic Kilmainham Gaol. Tom has been musical director and composer with the NFOI since 2017. In 2016 the Orchestra presented “MACALLA 1916” which was again specially commissioned by Comhaltas to commemorate the Easter Rising. It was performed in the Barbican Theatre in London and in the RDS Dublin. In 2019 “ORIEL WAVE” written by Tom Doorley, had its World premiere at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, Drogheda. “Machnamh – Songs and Airs of Kilmainham” is a fitting and unique tribute to some of the seminal moments of the Gaol’s history.

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Originally from Broadstairs in Kent and of Irish descent, Tim honed his style learning from his father Richard a fine guitarist and listening to Ed Boyd, Steve Cooney and Django Reinhardt.

He has lived in Ireland and now resides in Perthshire, Scotland where he is based with his family. Tim now a name on the world stage in his own right after seventeen years of hard work, is rated by many to be one of the world’s finest ever Melodeon and Guitar players in the folk & contemporary scene. Tim’s live solo shows are a stunning mix of world music, inspired instrumental virtuosity and passion with a strong Celtic theme, and above all a highly entertaining night of musical genius. A wonderful addition to the TradFest line-up for 2020.

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THE BONNY MEN ALBUM LAUNCH

MARY BERGIN

SUN 26th JAN Doors 1pm / Show 2pm LOST LANE €9.99

SUN 26th JAN Doors 2.30pm / Show 3pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €14.99

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Lauded for their energetic, powerful and electric live performances, The Bonny Men make their TradFest debut at Lost Lane for the launch of their third album, ‘The Broken Pledge’. This new record is at once deeply reflective and joyful, running through themes of the current social environment and history of Ireland. The distinguished sound of the band brings a contemporary flair to the heart and core of traditional Irish music and has seen their following swell in their nine years playing together. This vital seven-piece group is comprised of the Lyons brothers, Conor and Barry; sister and brother, Natalie Ní Chasaide and Maitiú Ó Casaide, along with school friends, Adam Whelan, Turlough Chambers and Moss Landman. All command their instruments in creating a unique sound that always remains staunchly true to trad. Adding to the sound is the introduction of complementary string arrangements and unexpected sounds of the bass and digeridoo by special guests.

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‘Just about the best tin whistle player this century’ is how the Irish Times referred to Mary in a recent interview. She began playing at an early age, winning many awards in Oireachtas and Fleadh Ceoil competitions, including the All-Ireland Championships at Junior and Senior level. Her first solo album ‘Feadóga Stáin’ brought out in 1979, is regarded as a classic in latter-day traditional music. Her second solo album, released in 1992 is similarly feted. She received an Honarary Diploma in Music teaching from C.C.E. in 1980 and subsequently tutored on the C.C.E. Music Teaching Diploma Course. She is a founding member of the group Dordán, playing a distinctive mix of traditional and European baroque music, achieving wide acclaim and receiving the ‘National Entertainment Award’ for Traditional Music. Together they have released 4 collections. In 2000, Mary was awarded the prestigious TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year Award. Her appearance is obligatory for all fans of the whistle.

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MICHELLE MULCAHY

LOUISE MULCAHY

SUN 26th JAN Doors 12.30pm / Show 1pm RATHFARNHAM CASTLE €14.99

SUN 26th JAN Doors 3.30pm / Show 4pm RATHFARNHAM CASTLE €14.99

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Michelle Mulcahy is considered to be one of Ireland’s most talented multi-instrumentalists in Irish traditional music today.

Her array of instrumental mastery spans concertina, harp, fiddle, accordion, piano and melodeon. She is a much sought after performer, tutor and lecturer at music festivals and music schools worldwide and has toured extensively in Europe, United States, Canada, China, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Michelle has recorded four highly acclaimed albums on American record label Shanachie and Irish record label Cló Iar-Chonnacht with her father Mick Mulcahy and sister Louise. Michelle’s debut solo harp album ‘Suaimhneas’ has been receiving worldwide acclaim as one of the top contemporary harp albums. Michelle has received numerous national All Ireland Titles and international awards for her musicianship as well as numerous scholarships during her course of academic studies. A player at the very top of her craft.

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Originally from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, Louise Mulcahy is an internationally renowned performer and tutor on both uilleann pipes and flute. She is a member of the highly acclaimed Mulcahy Family who have upheld the best principles of the tradition for generations. Alongside four album releases with father, Mick, and sister Michelle, Louise also appeared a number of years ago on Na Píobairí Uilleann’s compilation of young uilleann pipers entitled ‘A New Dawn’. Louise released her highly acclaimed début solo album titled ‘Tuning the Road’ in 2014. A consummate player, she has toured extensively throughout the world, garnering awards along the way – including Female Musician of the Year at the Live Ireland Awards 2017, jointly with her sister Michelle and previously in 2015 and 2005. She is currently researching the unique story of women in uilleann piping and has guest lectured widely. A virtuoso and one of the finest of her generation.

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AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM / SKIPINNISH / PEATBOG FAERIES

MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY

SUN 26th JAN Doors 7.00pm / Show 8pm OLYMPIA THEATRE from €27.99

SUN 26th JAN Doors 7.30pm / Show 8pm PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH €24.99

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Formed by Grammy-nominated musician and record producer Simon Emmerson, Afro Celt Sound System is a European and African based collective which has forged a reputation for energetic, uplifting shows. Winners of the Songlines 2017 Best Group award and nominated for the same in the 2019 Awards, they combine folk traditions of different cultures in an inimitable and exuberant way.

Skipinnish are without a doubt one of Scotland’s most exciting exports. A long-standing favourite on the Scottish folk scene, the release of their 2017 album The Seventh Wave catapulted them to new heights and brought widespread recognition.

Peatbog Faeries hail from the Isle of Skye. These legendary Scottish trailblazers have created a glorious mixture of traditional sounds and dance-floor grooves that have been embraced worldwide.

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Maria Doyle Kennedy is an acclaimed singer and actor. She has spent the past 5 years wandering the globe with her family preparing songs for her new album, gigging constantly and filming cult TV show ‘Orphan Black’. Maria collaborated with Feist & Jarvis Cocker on a video for the song ‘Century’ from Feist’s new album. Maria’s album ‘Sing’ released in 2012 featured duets with Damien Rice, Paul Brady and John Prine.

Ireland’s leading music magazine Hot Press described Sing as ‘Maria’s Masterpiece’. Expect a passionate performance from this consummate pro.

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MUSIC ON RTÉ RADIO 1 WEEKDAYS

DELLA MAE SUN 26th JAN Doors 8pm / Show 8.30pm LOST LANE €19.99

Working in partnership with IMRO Della Mae will be supported by Sara Ryan

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Since forming in Boston in 2009, Nashville-based string band Della Mae has established a reputation as a charismatic live act comprised of some of the finest players in bluegrass, Americana and beyond. 2020 sees a brand new album, and a welcome return to touring in the UK and Ireland. Originating from different musical backgrounds and states across the US and Canada, each member brings distinct elements that make Della Mae such a beloved band. Together they have a completely original style – sensitive yet assertive, intense yet playful, steeped in tradition yet undeniably current. Versatile instrumentalists and vocalists, they draw from a bottomless well of roots influences to create vibrant original music that conveys expansive musical vision. They were IBMA’s Emerging Artists of the Year in 2013, GRAMMY Nominees in 2014 for their debut album on Rounder Records and named among Rolling Stone’s “10 bands to watch for in 2015”.

RISING TIME with SHAY BYRNE 5.30am

THE JOHN CREEDON SHOW 8pm

THE RONAN COLLINS SHOW 12noon

LATE DATE with CATHAL MURRAY 11pm

SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS

WEEKEND ON ONE 6am

WEEKEND ON ONE 6am

CÉILÍ HOUSE 9pm

THE ROLLING WAVE 9pm

SOUTH WIND BLOWS 10pm

SIMPLY FOLK 10pm

COUNTRY TIME / ROOTS FREEWAY 11pm

LATE DATE with CATHAL MURRAY 11pm

FREE TICKETED GIGS Brought to you by Smithwicks Smithwicks Sessions is a unique event at TradFest featuring the very best in trad and folk music. Taking place in the intimate setting of the pubs of Temple Bar, enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the very best acts up close and personal.

local environmental and other initiatives throughout the year. In 2020 we would ask you to support the pubs that support the festival.

Only the premises listed as part of the Smithwicks Sessions are official TradFest pub venues.

SHERIDAN & STEPHEN SHERIDAN

Secure your FREE tickets now for an exclusive TradFest concert in Dublin - but you had better be quick as tickets are limited!

TradFest is a not for profit festival. Smithwick's Sessions are organised in the pubs of Temple Bar. These businesses support not only the festival but also the local community through a range of annual activities such as additional street cleaning, 44 tradfest.ie

BRIAN FURLONG WITH CHRISTY THU 23rd - 6pm THE PALACE FRI 24th - 6pm THE TEMPLE BAR SAT 25th - 3pm THE ARLINGTON Tickets are FREE but must be booked

ENJOY SMITHWICKS SENSIBLY. VISIT The SMITHWICK® word and associated logos are trade marks ©Diageo Ireland 2019

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Dubliner Brian Furlong has been playing guitar, bass and whistle for as long as he can remember. His musical journey began with The Billy Barry stage school and performing in pantomime at the The Gaiety Theatre. At 15 years of age he started joining sessions with the likes of Sean Óg Mc Kenna and Liam Rowsome and the trad spark became a flame. He has gone on to play with many Irish trad legends. Christy Sheridan has worked as a professional musician for more then 25 years and has toured extensively in America, Asia, and Europe as a member of well known band The Bards. Renowned for his wonderful touch on both Mandolin and banjo.

Stephen Sheridan, (Christy's son) is one of the finest classically trained guitar players in the country. Stephen has been playing in venues all over the county for many many years and has a natural feel for accompanying any song or tune.

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THE COLONIALS

DROPS OF GREEN

THU 23rd - 6pm THE OLIVER ST JOHN GOGARTY LIBRARY BAR

THU 23rd - 6pm FITZSIMONS

FRI 24th - 6pm MERCHANT'S ARCH SAT 25th - 4pm THE OLD STOREHOUSE SUN 26th - 3pm THE AULD DUBLINER Tickets are FREE but must be booked 46 tradfest.ie

Veterans of the Irish music scene The Colonials have rolled out their high-energy performances to huge crowds all over Europe and the Middle East for the past 30 years. Following their appearances in big-budget movies such as "Leap Year" starring Amy Adams and Brendan O'Carroll's "Agnes Browne" the band developed a worldwide audience. Fiddle player and songwriter Ger Doyle's song "I Can't Dance" achieved chart success in Europe resulting in numerous TV appearances and was later recorded by Stockton's Wing. Singer/guitarist Patrick O'Gorman previously toured with Dick Farrelly and Paul Moore, members of the Van Morrison band. Banjo player Anthony "Titch" Warde was awarded a gold disc for "Dancing At The Crossroads" which was a number 1 hit in Ireland in 1996.

Don't miss this chance to witness The Colonials in a rare Dublin appearance!

FRI 24th - 6pm THE OLD STOREHOUSE SAT 25th - 4pm THE NORSEMAN SUN 26th - 3pm MERCHANT'S ARCH

Drops of Green are a band of four young Irish men hailing from Laois, Kilkenny, and Waterford. Formed in early 2015, they are quickly building a fan base both home and abroad.

Combining a vast array of instrumentation with blissful four part harmonies they cover all of your favourite Irish melodies within the shows set list. Bringing their own unique and modern style to all of these classic Irish ballads, along with a wealth of tradition, storytelling and passion, their show is a must see for Irish music fans young and old alike.

Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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THE FUREYS

GRAINNE AND BRENDAN

THU 23rd - 6pm THE ARLINGTON

THU 23rd - 6pm THE MORGAN

FRI 24th - 6pm THE OLIVER ST JOHN GOGARTY LIBRARY BAR SUN 26th - 5pm THE NORSEMAN Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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Legends of Irish music and song The Fureys, renowned for such hit songs as ‘I Will Love You’, ‘When You Were Sweet 16’, ‘The Green Fields of France’, ‘The Old Man’ and ‘Red Rose Café’ will perform in concert as part of the Front Row Sessions at TradFest January 2020. Having formed in 1978, they are responsible for some of the most stirring music ever to capture the public imagination. Their folk based sound has received standing ovations in some of the biggest concert halls of the world and they credit their musical ability to their parents, Ted and Nora, who were well known musicians themselves and encouraged their sons to play music from a very early age.

FRI 24th - 6pm THE PALACE Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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'Songs from Ireland' is a new Irish folk project and record from contemporary folk singer Gráinne Hunt and awardwinning guitarist Brendan Walsh. They have reimagined a collection of traditional Irish ballads and folk songs in both English and Irish. Brendan's meticulous arrangements give new life to these beautiful old songs. Gráinne and Brendan met in 2000 when they both attended NUI Maynooth, completing the BA (Music) together there. In early 2018 they joined forces to perform at Shannonside Winter Music Festival and from there, 'Songs from Ireland' was born. We look forward to hearing the duo perform their new takes on such beloved songs as 'Raglan Road', 'Trasna na dTonnta', 'Song for Ireland' and 'Mo Ghile Mear'.

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THE HENRY GIRLS

THE KILKENNYS

THU 23rd - 6pm THE NORSEMAN

WED 22nd - 6pm THE PORTERHOUSE

SAT 25th - 4pm THE OLIVER ST JOHN GOGARTY LIBRARY BAR SUN 26th - 3pm THE PORTERHOUSE Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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The Henry Girls are three sisters from the beautiful village of Malin in Co. Donegal. Having produced bands such as Clannad and Altan, Donegal has a reputation for having music beautiful enough to rival its awe-inspiring landscape, and The Henry Girls are part of the proof. The sisters combine something of their Irish heritage with a much more contemporary sensibility and imbue it with compassion, insight, and warmth, both in their lyrics and their magnificent musicianship. The reviews have been exquisite, for example, The Sunday Times described their latest album as ’astonishing’. See them live and you will drift away with impeccable harmonies and catchy melodies, all with a dollop of that world-famous organic Donegal style.

THU 23rd - 6pm THE OLD STOREHOUSE FRI 24th - 6pm THE AULD DUBLINER SUN 26th - 3pm FITZSIMONS Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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The Kilkennys have been going strong for almost two decades, ‘but don’t tell anyone’ says founding member Davey Cashin. Initially called Uisce Beatha they decided to change their name in 2008 for something more recognisable and ‘pronounceable’. Drawing influence from The Dubliners, they named themselves for their home county and haven’t looked back since. Although Davey, Robbie and Tommy Mackey remain the founding members, new recruit Mick Martin has been brought in to bring the uileann pipes to the band’s sound. That sound has evolved over the years into a unique high-energy hybrid of folk and trad that always generates a huge amount of audience participation.

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PADDY CASEY THU 23rd - 6pm THE TEMPLE BAR FRI 24th - 6pm FITZSIMONS SAT 25th - 4pm THE AULD DUBLINER SUN 26th - 3pm THE OLIVER ST JOHN GOGARTY LIBRARY BAR

Paddy Casey received his first guitar when he was 12 and left home soon after and began busking and gigging. He has been to the forefront of the Irish music scene since then. His debut album came out in 1999 Amen (So Be It). Casey returned in 2003 with the multi-platinum album, 'Living'. It spawned the Irish chart hits Saints and Sinners, The Lucky One, Bend Down Low and Want It Can't Have It. 'Living' spent the majority of the year in the top ten, climbing to the top of the charts 21 weeks after its initial release. In 2004 he won his first of two consecutive Meteor Irish Music Awards for Best Irish Male.

PAUL WATCHORN CEOL AGUS CRAIC THU 23rd - 6pm THE AULD DUBLINER SUN 26th - 3pm THE PALACE Tickets are FREE but must be booked

Paul Watchorn of the Dublin Legends (formerly The Dubliners) is taking his new show on the road, and we're delighted to have him join our Smithwicks Sessions at TradFest 2020. Paul is rated amongst one of the best 5 string banjo players in Ireland and as such has played all over the world. He is also an accomplished guitar player and vocalist.

Expect Paul to take us on a journey of Irish music and stories and treat us to some of our all time favourite songs including 'Whiskey In The Jar', 'Dirty Old Town', 'The Wild Rover', 'Seven Drunken Nights', 'The Rare Auld Times' and many many more.

Tickets are FREE but must be booked 52 tradfest.ie

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STEPH GRACE

THE YOUNG FOLK

THU 23rd - 6pm THE PORTERHOUSE

THU 23rd - 6pm MERCHANT'S ARCH

Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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Australian performer Steph Grace is proof that some of the best music comes from the purest ingredients. After a decade mastering her craft in the pubs and streets of Europe and Australia, the Sydney-born artist relocated to Europe in 2018 to team up in the studio with Chris Vallejo (Passenger, INXS, John Spencer Blues Explosion, et al.) With Vallejo at the helm, Steph collaborated with Josh Schuberth, (Ben Folds, Josh Pyke), and Jon Solo (Angus & Julia Stone), and released fresh material in 2019, following acclaimed 2016 release ‘Concentrate’. A support slot on tour with Passenger in 2019 introduced her to stadium sized audiences. Some musicians entertain; others transform – Steph manages both, radiating effortless charm, charismatic depth and a storyteller’s warmth, with the magnetism to command the tone of any room. She is an independent artist on the cusp, and it all comes down to that incredible voice – as well as the soul behind it.

FRI 24th - 6pm THE PORTERHOUSE SAT 25th - 4pm THE TEMPLE BAR Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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The Young Folk primarily consists of a creative triangle with Anthony Furey at its apex joined by Paul Butler and Tony McLoughlin as singer/songwriters of exceptional talent in their own right. The trio are joined by Alex Borwick for most of their live shows enabling TYF to fully flex their musical muscle.

Signed to UK’s Pixie Pace Records – an imprint of ARC Music – their debut album 'The Little Battle' (2014) went straight in at No.2 in the Dutch charts and top 10 in Irish charts. Their commitment to writing lyrics relating to real issues concerning childhood, family and times of great personal value resonate with audiences. The Young Folk marry traditional acoustic instrumentation, perfect harmonies and contemporary production techniques resulting in a sound which has been compared with Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Crosby Stills & Nash.

They continue to win new audiences the world over who are blown away by their fresh take on the folk genre.

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SUPERCÉILÍ

HIDDEN STILLS

THU 23rd - 10pm BUSKER'S BAR

FRI 24th - 6pm THE MORGAN

FRI 24th - 6pm THE NORSEMAN FRI 24th - 10pm BUSKER'S BAR

Powerful and rhythmical with a colossal sound, the SuperCéilí show has to be seen to be believed. Using acoustic instruments and an array of electronics, Peter Staunton and Niamh VarianBarry seamlessly transition from lively polkas and reels to electronic dance hits spanning all the way back to the ‘90s to keep the dance floor bouncing all night. Come with an open mind and leave with an open mouth.

SAT 25th - 4pm THE OAK BAR Tickets are FREE but must be booked

SAT 25th - 3pm FITZSIMONS Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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Mildred Fox and Christian Hind aka Hidden Stills, have been writing and performing their own style of pared back contemporary folk songs since the start of 2017. They attempt to create songs of reflection and introspection with close harmonies and interesting melodies, which turn out at times to be dark and emotional. This distillation process of paring back the songs and music as much as possible gave them their name. The pair spent the greater part of 2017 building their repertoire and developing their style while working on how to best present the songs as an album. To that end, recording began in early 2018 with producer Darragh Nolan in Asta Kalapa Studios in Gorey, Co.Wexford. Several talented local musicians were brought in to augment Mildred and Christian’s acoustic sound. An eponymous collection of 11 songs was released this Summer.

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MEGA-TRAD

NIALL HANNA

FRI 24th - 6pm THE ARLINGTON

SAT 25th - 4pm THE PALACE

SAT 25th - 4pm MERCHANT'S ARCH SUN 26th - 3pm THE TEMPLE BAR Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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MEGA-Trad is comprised of two brothers from the musical O'Dalaigh family and Dennis McAuliffe, a local legend on the mandolin to the regions of West Clare. All are graduates of University of Limerick's renowned BA Irish Music and Dance.

The concept for MEGA-Trad came about when the trio were asked to provide entertainment for The Glen Tavern in Limerick.

They decided to try something new, and so brought whatever pedals and stompbox/beat'n'bass machines they had lying around - no rehearsal, no discussions, just pure feel for the music. That is what MEGA-Trad is all about: improvisation around concepts, playing while listening instead of to an arrangement sheet, and tailoring each performance to the occasion at hand. Every performance of MEGA-Trad is completely unique and never to be heard in that particular arrangement again, guaranteeing each audience a once in a lifetime experience of immersive, contemporary, rich and lively Irish Traditional Music of the 21st Century.

SUN 26th - 3pm THE OAK BAR Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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Niall Hanna is a traditional folk singer and songwriter from Derrytresk in Co. Tyrone. In late 2017 he released his fist solo album of songs to critical acclaim. The title track ‘Autumn Winds’ was nominated for ‘Best Original Track’ at the RTE Folk Awards in October 2018. He also received a nomination for ‘Best Emerging Folk Artist’ and has been making a name for himself within the folk scene in recent times. Niall was immersed in traditional singing at a very young age when he began to learn from the singing of his late grandfather, Geordie Hanna. Since then Niall has combined his songs with his guitar playing and has performed on stages alongside a range of established acts including John McSherry & Donal O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, Barry Kerr, Rioghnach Connolly, The Ulster Orchestra, Buille and many more. He has toured in countries across Europe and in Australia where he has developed his ability to convey the stories in his songs.

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UKULELE TUESDAY SAT 25th - 4pm THE ARLINGTON Tickets are FREE but must be booked

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In the space of just a few years, Ukulele Tuesday has grown from a small musical get-together in the Stag's Head pub, Dublin, into one of the driving forces behind Ireland's ukulele scene. Now a regular feature at music festivals throughout Ireland, Ukulele Tuesday has successfully harnessed the power of social media to score a number of 'viral' hits with songs such as 'Psycho Killer' by Talking Heads, 'Hit Me Baby' by Brittney Spears, and a viral Christmas hit in 2018 with a song of their own! Mumford and Sons called listening to the Ukulele Tuesday rendition of 'Little lion Man' as "One of my favourite Irish moments ever." Conde Naste has listed Ukulele Tuesday as #2 on their list of "10 Amazing Things to do in Dublin". In 2018, they released their first single, ‘We Belong’.

MY

CY

CMY

K

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE FINNS

Thurs 23rd Jan 10:30 - 11:00pm This year has seen some breakthrough moments for The Finns. Two original songs have made huge waves in international songwriting competitions with “Freemind” being a finalist in SongDoor International Songwriting Competition 2018 and “Queen Of Camden Street” reaching the Top 10 in the international “Women’s Freedom Song Contest 2019”. Definitely one to watch!

& SUPPORTED BY

THE OLIVER HUGHES TRADFEST BURSARY AWARD DATE: THU 23rd & Fri 24th JAN TIME: See individual gig listings in the following pages VENUE: The Old Storehouse (downstairs), Crown Alley ENTRY: Free Our Live At The Hub concerts have become an important part of TradFest, introducing new music to agents and managers, potentially propelling performers to the next level of their career. All acts selected for our showcases have a unique sound and talent, and most importantly, passion and love for their music.

In memory of the late Oliver Hughes we have established The Oliver Hughes TradFest Bursary. As Chairman of The Temple Bar Company Oliver was committed to not only establishing TradFest but also in making it a success. Oliver was an enormous music enthusiast and we see no greater tribute to him than in helping future artists on their own journey to a successful music career.

This year we are delighted to continue our collaboration with Milwaukee Irish Fest, one of the world’s largest celebrations of Irish and Celtic music with over 100,000 visitors

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each year. In 2020 TradFest and Milwaukee Irish Fest are joining forces. A judging panel representing both festivals will choose the best Live at the Hub performance and the winning act will perform at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2020 and TradFest 2021.

Come along, show your support and witness the future stars of trad and folk in action.

BRÍDÍN

Thurs 23rd Jan 11.10 - 11:30pm Over the past number of years, BRÍDÍN has developed a distinct style influenced by her West Sligo surroundings and rooted in her background in traditional Irish music.

Employing loop and effect pedals to create her musical pieces, her layered melodies on harp and voice blend beautifully with contrapuntal fiddle, electric guitar and bass, woven together with pulsating drums.

ALFI

Thurs 23rd Jan 11.40 - 12am

Alfi are a fresh new trio combining Appalachian old time and traditional Irish music and song to produce a unique sound.

Their music features a unusual line up of harp, five string banjo, low whistle, uilleann pipes and vocals. The band also won the prestigious ‘Caoimhín Ó Dochartaigh’ battle of the bands competition at Imbolc International Music Festival in 2019.

NIALL HANNA Fri 24th Jan 10.30 - 11.00pm

Niall Hanna is a traditional folk singer and songwriter from Derrytresk in Co. Tyrone. In late 2017 he released his fist solo album of songs to critical acclaim. The title track ‘Autumn Winds’ was nominated for ‘Best Original Track’ at the RTE Folk Awards in October 2018. He has toured across Europe and in Australia

TRADFEST MUSIC TRAIL FREE GIGS! Join us in the pubs and bars of Temple Bar for lively free Trad sessions every day during TradFest. Check the venue websites for more info on acts and find the venues on the TradFest festival map: page 86-87 THE ARLINGTON

THE OLD STOREHOUSE

THE AULD DUBLINER

THE OLIVER ST JOHN GOGARTY

www.arlington.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

MEGA-TRAD Fri 24th Jan 00.10 - 00.40am

MEGA-Trad is comprised of two brothers from the musical O’Dalaigh family and Dennis McAuliffe, a local legend on the mandolin to the regions of West Clare. All are graduates of University of Limerick’s renowned BA Irish Music and Dance. They use pedals, stompbox/beat’n’bass machines – whatever comes to hand – no rehearsal, no discussions, just pure feel for the music.

www.aulddubliner.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

BUSKERS BAR

www.buskersbar.com Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

FITZSIMON’S of TEMPLE BAR

www.fitzsimonshotel.com Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

MERCHANT’S ARCH

HATCHLINGS

www.merchantsarch.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

Fri 24th Jan 11.29 - 11.50pm

Hatchlings are a collaborative project of five songwriters and multi-instrumentalists from the border regions of Ireland. Rooted in a folk sensibility, they are pop-conscious and steeped in jazz, while always keeping sight of the deeply Irish narratives they portray. Their live sets draw their audience into a world of storytelling and lush harmony.

THE NORSEMAN

www.norseman.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

O’FLAHERTY’S at THE OLD STORE-

HOUSE

www.theoldstorehouse.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

www.theoldstorehouse.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

www.gogartys.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

THE PALACE BAR

www.thepalacebardublin.com Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

THE PORTERHOUSE

www.theporterhouse.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

THE QUAYS BAR

www.louisfitzgerald.com/quaystemplebar Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

THE TEMPLE BAR PUB

www.thetemplebarpub.com Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

THE VAT HOUSE

vathouse.ie Music daily, from Wed – Sun during TradFest

TRADFRINGE It’s great to be at the centre of things but sometimes the most interesting stuff happens out at the edges, on the periphery. This is what TradFringe is all about - it’s an opportunity for folks to explore trad esoterica, to interact, to learn and to laugh. Temple Bar has so much to offer - there’s something to surprise and delight around every cobbled corner! From fascinating music documentaries at the Irish

Film Institute, a Sean Nós Workshop with Oonagh McArdle, a genealogy workshop and even a food and whiskey trail - prepare to be enthralled and entertained on the Fringe!

RTÉ'S ARENA LIVE FROM DUBLIN CASTLE MON 20th JAN Doors 6pm / Show 6.30pm DUBLIN CASTLE PRINTWORKS FREE BUT TICKETED

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TradFest in association with RTE Radio 1's Arena will host a special night featuring some of TradFest's top acts from the world of trad and folk. This live broadcast takes place in the historical Dublin Castle. We guarantee a fantastic evening of chat and song. An excellent way of dipping your toe into the ocean of TradFest 2020.

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THE JOHN CREEDON SHOW LIVE FROM DUBLIN CASTLE

IMRO LIVE MUSIC &

TUES 21st JAN Doors 7pm Show 7:30pm DUBLIN CASTLE PRINTWORKS FREE BUT TICKETED

WED 22nd JAN 6pm IMRO, COPYWRIGHT HOUSE, PEMBROKE ROW, DUBLIN 2

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RTE’s THE JOHN CREEDON SHOW LIVE FROM Dublin Castle TradFest in association with RTE Radio 1's The John Creedon Show will host a special night featuring some of TradFest's top acts from the world of trad and folk. This live broadcast takes place in the historical Dublin Castle. We're looking forward to an evening of music and chat - who knows who might show up to join in the craic. You don't want to miss this one!

INTERNATIONAL TOURING SEMINAR

FREE but booking essential: events@imro.ie

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Festivals and venues, big and small, support an ever dynamic live music industry that so many artists increasingly rely on for their livelihoods. Reserve your place now at this seminar to gain a better insight into the challenges and opportunities for artists operating in today’s international touring and festival circuit.

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THE WHISKEY TRAIL

IRISH FOOD TRAIL EXPERIENCE

WED 22nd to SUN 26th JAN DAILY 2pm & 6pm €69 per person

WED 22nd to SUN 26th JAN DAILY 2pm & 6pm €69 per person

MEETING POINT: Adventure Trails, Unit 8, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

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On The Dublin Whiskey Trail you will get to experience the real spirit(s) of Ireland. You’ll have the opportunity to sample a specially curated selection of Irish whiskeys in the company of our local experts. All Deluxe Trail tastings are paired with delicious local Irish produce – for us its all about provenance.

We offer a wide range of pairings to complement our whiskeys, such as beautiful artisanal Irish cheeses, Irish soda bread, local seafood from the Atlantic and Dublin Bay, salted caramels and handmade Irish chocolates.

MEETING POINT: Adventure Trails, Unit 8, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

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The Irish Food Trail Experience is Dublin’s premier gastronomic tour and the perfect way to immerse yourself in Irish food culture. Not only is it a fun and exciting walking tour of Dublin City but you’ll also discover some of Dublin’s hidden culinary gems. What better way to experience TradFest than getting to try local produce and traditional Irish dishes? In the company of a local tour guide, this informative tour is an experience to remember from your visit to Dublin and the ideal way to whet your appetite for the music.

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SONGS OF LONGING SEAN-NÓS WORKSHOP SAT 25th JAN 2pm ANNIE MOORE ROOM, EPIC THE IRISH EMIGRATION MUSEUM €10

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Join talented young singer Oonagh McArdle for a workshop which explores the art of Sean-nós. Listen to evocative songs of travel and yearning, learn the techniques of the Sean-nós style, and sing a song or two – all in the company of like-minded music fans in the surroundings of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. This two hour workshop is suitable for all with a passion for singing, and all skill levels are welcome.

Oonagh McArdle is a 22 year old teacher from Dromore, Co. Tyrone. Living in a county that is steeped in the singing tradition fostered her interest in Sean-nós singing from a young age. She has achieved success across all levels of Feis and Fleadh, and in 2013, won the Traditional Singing category in the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. She has been influenced by some of the greatest singers within the tradition such as Rita Gallagher and Mairead Walls, and seeks to pass on this longstanding tradition to a new generation.

A SONG FOR IRELAND SAT 25th JAN 1pm IRISH FILM INSTITUTE STANDARD €10.00 (IFI MEMBERS €9.00) CONCESSION €7.50 (IFI MEMBERS €7.00) 2001/ 55 MINS/ DIGITAL

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This film is one of eight documentaries made in Northern Ireland by award-winning Irish-American filmmaker Arthur MacCaig. It traces the history of Ireland through her music, and Ireland's music through her history. 'A Song For Ireland' reveals how the nation's rich musical heritage has been influenced by its long and tumultuous political struggle, one in which music and rebel songs became cultural weapons in its anti-colonial resistance. The film uses archival footage to chronicle key points in Irish history - the 1916 Rising; the birth of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland in 1969; the IRA hunger strikes in 1981 and the unfolding of the peace process in 2001 - interweaving interviews with, and performances by, leading Irish and Irish-American musicians.

Filmed in Derry, Belfast and New York City, 'A Song For Ireland' features such talented musicians as Chris Byrne, Declan McLaughlin, Eileen Webster, and the Wolfe Tones.

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SÉ MO LAOCH - PADDY GLACKIN

CLEW BAY PIPE BAND

SUN 26th JAN 1pm IRISH FILM INSTITUTE

SAT 25th & SUN 26th JAN 12pm & 3.30pm THE STREETS OF TEMPLE BAR

STANDARD €10.00 (IFI MEMBERS €9.00) CONCESSION €7.50 (IFI MEMBERS €7.00) 2020 / 52 MINS/ DIGITAL

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As Irish Traditional Music gained global recognition in the early 1970s, one of the foremost figures in the music industry was Dublin fiddle player Paddy Glackin. As his peers in bands like Planxty, The Chieftains and The Bothy Band all went professional, Paddy chose another road. A razor-sharp commentator on Irish Traditional music, Glackin explores his reasons for not going professional, what made the music great at the time and his thoughts on where the music is today. ‘Sé mo Laoch' presents a revealing story that is both personal and political and traces his career as he moved into broadcasting presenting 'The Long Note' on radio and 'The Pure Drop' on television and became the first Traditional Music Officer in the Arts Council – continuing to play music all the while.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and Paddy Glackin - and a few tunes from Paddy!

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Since arriving on the stage in 2012, The Clew Bay Pipe Band has thrilled audiences all over Ireland and beyond. This exceptionally talented young group, led by renowned musician Des Cafferkey (Pipe Major) and Peter Carney (Pipe Sergeant) first attracted the attention of Matt Molloy of The Chieftains and he subsequently invited the band to perform with the legendary band in 2013. Since then the band’s rise has been meteoric. They reached a huge international audience (an estimated 75 million!) after performing the German National Anthem at the European Qualifier in 2013 at The Aviva Stadium. It was the first time the German National Anthem was performed on the bagpipes and their rendition went viral the following day. They have appeared on ‘The Late Late Show’, ‘Up For The Match’, ‘The Imelda May Show’, ‘The Gathering’ on Irish TV as well as performing live with Imelda May, The Chieftains, Damien Dempsey and many others.

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GENEALOGY WORKSHOP –

TRADFEST RECORD FAIR

CONNECT TO EXPLORE YOUR IRISH ROOTS

SAT 25th & SUN 26th JAN 12pm TAILOR'S HALL, BACK LANE DUBLIN 8 FREE

SUN 26th JAN 2.30pm IRISH FAMILY HISTORY CENTRE, Unit 12, CHQ Building, IFSC, Dublin 1

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Irish Record Fairs, the largest organisers of fair events in the country, join forces with TradFest to offer an eclectic mix of music on cd and vinyl. Concentrating on a wide collection of Irish artists and music, there will also be every genre imaginable from Metal to Jazz and Punk to Indie to Soul!

Irish artists include U2, Rory Gallagher, Clannad, Thin Lizzy, Cranberries, as well as traditional, ballad, ceili, Celtic new age, Folk and Rock acts. Entry is free, so why not make a date to visit the TradFest Record Fair during your festival visit?

Come along to discover how to research your Irish Family History. This workshop will be conducted by one of our expert genealogists from the Irish Family History Centre. Learn from us about all things family history related.

All participants will receive: 1 month’s FREE world subscription to Findmypast.ie Enjoy a complimentary visit to the Irish Family History Centre.

TRADKIDS It’s never too early to start the young ones on a journey of cultural and artistic expression. For 2020 the Ark TradKids programme includes some great concerts and workshops.

Try your hand at a variety of fun crafts using different materials at this year’s Tradfest Children’s Crafts Club for Ages 4+. We're very excited to have multi-award winning quintet, Goitse, with us this year. Their drive and energy is something to be experienced! They will introduce young audiences

CHILDREN’S HUB at

to our unique traditional musical heritage in exploring the Listening & Responding strand of Music Curriculum. We also have ‘Give Trad a Try’ sessions for beginners and the Ukulele Céilí family workshop. The little ones will be spoiled for choice!

TRAD GIGS FOR CHILDREN

GOITSE FRI 24th 10am & 12.15pm 50 mins approx €12.50 / €9.50 20% off for members Suitable for all ages

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The Ark presents a series of special gigs for children of all ages from popular and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse, a band at the forefront of new Irish trad music. ‘Goitse’ (an informal Irish greeting meaning ‘come here’) features allIreland Bodhrán champion Colm Phelan and Conal O’Kane, fast making a name for himself as one of the finest guitarists of his generation. The gripping rhythm section sets a powerful drive for the music while the sweet, charismatic voice of Áine McGeeney draws audiences into a song. These energetic music concerts will explore the Listening and Responding strand of Music Curriculum in particular in relation to exploring our unique heritage of music through its style, songs and indigenous Irish instruments. Children will also gain an understanding of regional differences in Irish music and folk music from other parts of the world.

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CHILDREN’S HUB at

CHILDREN’S HUB at

GIVE TRAD A TRY

CHILDREN’S CRAFTS CLUB

CHILDREN’S OPEN

FAMILY WORKSHOP:

DATE: Sat 25th & Sun 26th January TIME: 11am - 1pm DURATION: Each session is 15 minutes ENTRY: Free. Places will be allocated on the day. Ages 6+

DATE: Sat 25th & Sun 26th January TIME: 12-5pm DURATION: Drop-in sessions will take approx. 30 minutes; last session starts 4.30pm ENTRY: Free. Places will be allocated on the day. Ages 4+

DATE: Sun 26th January TIME: 12.30 - 2pm DURATION: Drop-in sessions ENTRY: Free. Places allocated on the day.

Drop-in session. Last entry 1.45pm

DATE: Sun 26th January TIME: 2.30pm DURATION: 90 mins ENTRY: €11.50/€8.50 (20% off for members). Ages 7+

Have a go at playing traditional music on one of a range of instruments at our popular drop-in sessions for beginners. Suitable for beginners or newcomers to Irish music, each participant will enjoy a short 15 minute introduction to playing one traditional instrument and complete a simple musical task on that instrument. Participants will get a certificate of participation at the end of the session. Presented in partnership with TradFest 2020 and Ceoltoirí Chluain Tarbh.

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In partnership with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland

Try your hand at a variety of fun crafts using different materials at this year’s TradFest Children’s Crafts Club for Ages 4+. Children will be invited to try their hand at a variety of fun traditional crafts using different materials. These are short 30 min ‘taster’ sessions and children must choose one of three options led by a professional crafts artist.

TRAD SESSION

If you’re aged 6+ and play an instrument, this is your chance to come and play in a real trad session, led by members of Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh. Children can play a tune on the fiddle, bodhrán, harp, concertina, or any instrument at all! Recommended for children who have been learning music for one year or more. Children wishing to participate must bring their own instruments.

UKULELE CÉILÍ

A family music and dance workshop with a difference! Learn to play a well-known céilí tune on the ukulele, the little guitar-like folk instrument from the pacific islands. You'll also learn the steps of an Irish céilí dance to go with the music. Towards the end of the workshop we’ll bring it all together for a big Ukulele Céilí – fun like you’ve never had before is guaranteed! You don't need to bring a Ukulele as we will provide them tuned and ready for you on the day!

No experience necessary. Adults must be accompanied by a child.

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TRADFEST YOUTH CONCERT SAT 25th JAN

Craobh Sean Treacy CCE Junior 12.00 - 12.30pm Craobh Sean Treacy CCE Senior 12.50 - 1.20 pm Catriona Lagan 1.40 - 2.10 pm

Craobh Chualann Grupa Óga 2.30 - 3.00 pm Craobh Chualann Le Chéile 3.20 - 3.50 pm

We’ve got two great days of trad, folk and Ukulele at Dublin Castle! We’re delighted to welcome some of our favourite family performers to TradFest. Two branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann are back in the castle: Craobh Sean Treacy and Craobh Chualann guaranteeing a weekend of toe-tapping tunes. New to our family concerts this year is Caitríona Lagan, a 13-year old Irish Traditional Musician from Castledawson in County Derry. Playing both the mandolin and banjo, in 2018 Catriona won the AllIreland Under-12 Mandolin at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Drogheda. And back by popular demand are Ukulele Tuesday who promise a fun and energetic performance.

UKULELE TUESDAY & GUESTS

TRADFEST FAMILY CONCERT SUN 26th JAN Doors 2.30pm / Show 3pm DUBLIN CASTLE PRINTWORKS €15 (Family of 4 ticket) Suitable for all ages

Join us for a weekend of great music that all the family can enjoy.

Suitable for young and older children, this is an opportunity for the whole family to share the joy of TradFest through music and song. In the space of just a few years, Ukulele Tuesday has grown from a small musical get-together, into one of the driving forces behind Ireland’s ukulele scene. Now a regular feature at music festivals throughout Ireland, Mumford and Sons called listening to the Ukulele Tuesday rendition of ‘Little lion Man’ as “One of my favourite Irish moments ever.”

In 2018, they released their first single, ‘We Belong’. Ukulele Tuesday will be joined by a number of special guests including The East Cork School of Ukulele to perform a medley of everyone’s favorite songs. And if you play a Ukulele, why not bring it along, participation is encouraged!

Supported by

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TRADFEST VENUES Because this is a festival like no other, our headline venues are historical landmarks, many of them dating back a millenium. From the majesty of the Rotunda at Dublin City Hall to the grandeur of the High Victorian style at The Olympia Theatre, TradFest is made magical by the experience of just inhabiting these special venues. If you're a visitor to Ireland, or have just never explored the architectural heritage of the city, this is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in both musical melody and the drumbeat of history.

This year we’ve added the historically resonant Kilmainham Gaol - vitally important in the scripture of Irish

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Nationalism and in the fight for Irish Independence.

The historic venues are not purposebuilt theatres so some sightlines are restricted. We endeavour to do our best to prepare venues to the very highest standards to make your experience an enjoyable one. Please note that seating is unallocated. As not all our venues are wheelchair accessible, staff will need to be notified in advance.

Please contact us if you require special assistance: admin@templebarcompany.com

DUBLIN CITY HALL

PRINTWORKS at DUBLIN CASTLE

Dublin’s City Hall was built between 1769 and 1779 to the designs of architect Thomas Cooley.

This neo-classical building contains a central entrance hall or Rotunda, with a large dome supported by twelve columns. A breathtaking example of the Georgian architecture for which Dublin is renowned.

For over 800 years Dublin Castle has been at the heart of Irish history. In fact, the city gets its name from the ‘Dubh Linn’ or Black Pool, on the site of the present Castle Gardens and Coach House.

The Printworks is the largest and newest venue in Dublin Castle, opened for Ireland’s hosting of the European Presidency in 2013. It is located in the lower courtyard on the ground floor of the Stamping Building. An incredible place to experience live music.

Dame St, Dublin 2

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Dame St, Dublin 2

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PEPPER CANISTER CHURCH

Mount Street Upper, Dublin 2 St. Stephen’s Church, fondly referred to by Dubliners as the Pepper Canister, was the last of a series of Georgian churches built by the Church of Ireland in the early 1800’s. The nickname derives from the shape of the spire, resembling a pepper canister. It was originally conceived as a 'chapelof-ease' for the parish of St Peter’s. An iconic and really unique spot.

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KILMAINHAM GAOL

OLYMPIA THEATRE

Kilmainham Gaol (jail) opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin, only closing its doors in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were detained and in some cases executed here. Many members of the Irish Republican movement during the Anglo-Irish War (1919-21) were also detained in within its walls. Names such as Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, Charles Stewart Parnell and the leaders of 1916 will always be associated with the building.

This venerable institution first opened in 1879.

Mutating through turbulent times and pivoting to cultural rhythms – she has been a constant locus of imagination and entertainment for generations of Dubliners. Following a catastrophic roof collapse in 1974, Dublin City Council, along with other local investors, restored this most storied place to its full potential. A stage graced by luminaries such as Laurel & Hardy, Noel Coward and John Gielgud has ceded applause to the likes of David Bowie and Morrissey. Recently refurbished at great cost, this is the Grande Dame of Dublin Venues and we are honoured to have her hosting shows for TradFest 2020.

Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8

Dame St, Dublin 2

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TAILORS' HALL Back Lane, Dublin 8

The oldest surviving Guild Hall in Dublin which has been at the heart of Dublin for over 300 years, dating from 1707. Located on Back Lane where tailors, brewers, goldsmiths, glovers, barber-surgeons, couriers and saddlers all plied their trades at various times Tailors' Hall has had a variety of uses, including a meeting place for the Tailors’ Guild and other Guilds. It was also used for entertainment, teaching, as an army barracks and a court house and is of considerable architectural and historical interest. After significant decline in the 20th century it was saved and restored by An Taisce – National Trust for Ireland – and is now used as its headquarters.

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RATHFARNHAM CASTLE Rathfarnham, Dublin 14

Rathfarnham Castle is an Elizabethan fortified house commissioned in 1583 by Archbishop Adam Loftus as his private residence. The design was radically modern at the time and combined defensive features with all the comforts of a luxurious home. The castle was extensively remodelled in the eighteenth century under a series of later owners and has elegant neo-classical interiors to the designs of renowned architects Sir William Chambers and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart.

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LOST LANE

1-2 Adam Court, Grafton Street, Dublin 2 Lost Lane, opened in 2019, is a venue where music means everything, a place where emerging talent fuels ambition. This new venue exists to create and forge a reputation as the home of live music in Dublin. Diversity is the draw, with artists across the spectrum represented, from rock and indie to jazz and, yes Trad. The building which once housed the much storied Lillie’s Bordello has embarked upon a new chapter and we couldn’t be happier to team up for TradFest 2020. Independently owned and independently minded, we can’t wait to raise the roof here in January.

THE BUTTON FACTORY

Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 In the company of some of the other TradFest venues The Button Factory is very much the new kid on the block. While it may not have witnessed a thousand years of Dublin’s history, it has surely played host to a thousand unforgettable live-music shows since it opened its doors. Located in the refurbished Temple Bar Music Centre on Curved St, this custom-designed music venue boasts state of the art sound and lighting systems. Right at the beating heart of the Cultural Quarter…

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DAY BY DAY HEADLINERS SMITHWICKS SESSIONS LIVE AT THE HUB TRADFRINGE Times refer to concert times, please check full listings in this programme for door times

DAILY

IRISH WHISKEY & FOOD TRAILS: 2pm & 6pm Wed - Sun - see pages 69 & 70 MUSIC TRAIL: daily in the pubs of Temple Bar - see page 64

WEDNESDAY Jan 22nd 1.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 8.00pm 8.00pm 8.00pm 8.30pm 8.30pm

Sárán Mulligan, Dublin City Hall IMRO Conference. IMRO, Pembroke Row The Kilkennys, The Porterhouse Catherine McEvoy & Family/Padraig Rynne & Tara Breen, Dublin City Hall Hothouse Flowers/Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings/Screaming Orphans, The Olympia Stephen James Smith, Lemoncello & Silken Same, Pepper Canister Church Aoife Scott Album Launch, Button Factory John Craigie & Cat Clyde, Lost Lane

THURSDAY Jan 23rd 1.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 8.00pm

Seamie O’Dowd, Dublin City Hall Brian Furlong with Christy Sheriday & Stephen Sheridan, The Palace The Colonials, The Oliver St. John Gogarty Library Bar Drops of Green, Fitzsimons The Fureys, The Arlington Grainne and Brendan, The Morgan The Henry Girls, The Norseman The Kilkennys, The Old Storehouse Paddy Casey, The Temple Bar Paul Watchorn – Ceol Agus Craic, The Auld Dubliner Steph Grace, The Porterhouse The Young Folk, Merchant’s Arch Seamus Begley & Oisin McDiarmaida with Samantha Harvey/Brona McVittee, Dublin City Hall

8.00pm 8.30pm 8.30pm 8.30pm 10.00pm 10.30pm 11.10pm 11.40pm

Sibéal Ní Chasaide and the DKIT Ensemble, Pepper Canister Church Seth Lakeman, Button Factory Daoirí Farrell and Friends present The Dublin Session, Dublin Castle Emma Langford / Katie Theasby / Clare Sands / Saorise Casey, Lost Lane SuperCéilí, Buskers Bar The Finns, The Old Storehouse Brídín, The Old Storehouse Alfi, The Old Storehouse

FRIDAY Jan 24th

10am & 12:15pm Trad Gigs for Children: Goitse, The Ark 1.00pm Doireann Glackin and Sarah Flynn, Dublin City Hall 6.00pm Brian Furlong with Christy Sheridan & Stephen Sheridan, The Temple Bar 6.00pm The Colonials, Merchant’s Arch 6.00pm Drops of Green, The Old Storehouse 6.00pm The Fureys, The Oliver St. John Gogarty Library Bar 6.00pm Grainne and Brendan, The Palace 6.00pm Hidden Stills, The Morgan 6.00pm The Kilkennys, The Auld Dubliner 6.00pm Mega Trad, The Arlington 6.00pm Paddy Casey, Fitzsimons 6.00pm SuperCéilí, The Norseman 6.00pm The Young Folk, The Porterhouse 8.00pm Lisa Lambe, Pepper Canister Church 8.00pm Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh plus Gerry O’Beirne, Dublin City Hall 8.30pm Boxing Banjo / Connla / Réalta, Button Factory 8.30pm Damien O’Kane and Ron Block, Lost Lane 8.30pm Stockton’s Wing Among Friends, Dublin Castle – Print Works 10.00pm SuperCéilí, Buskers Bar 10.30am Niall Hanna, The OldStorehouse 11.20pm Hatchlings, The Old Storehouse 00.10am Mega Trad, The Old Storehouse

SATURDAY Jan 25th

11.00am Give Trad a Try, The Ark 12.00pm Kevin Burke, Pepper Canister Church 12.00pm TradFest Youth Concert, Dublin Castle Printworks

HEADLINERS

SMITHWICK'S SESSIONS

LIVE AT THE HUB

TRADFRINGE

Times refer to concert times, please check full listings in this programme for door times 12.00pm Irish Record Fair, Tailor's Hall 12.00pm & 3.30pm Clew Bay Pipe Band, the streets of Temple Bar 1.00pm Secret Song Circle, Tailor’s Hall 1.00pm Shane Hennessey, Rathfarnham Castle 1.00pm A Song for Ireland, Irish Film Institute 2.00pm Songs of Longing: Sean-nós Workshop, EPIC Emmigration Museum 2.00pm Children’s Craft Club, The Ark 3.00pm Cua, Pepper Canister Church 4.00pm The National Folk Orchestra, Kilmainham Gaol 3.00pm Supercéilí, Fitzsimons 4.00pm Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh, Rathfarnham Castle 4.00pm The Colonials, The Old Storehouse 4.00pm Drops of Green, The Norseman 4.00pm The Henry Girls, The Oliver St. John Gogarty Library Bar 4.00pm Hidden Stills, The Oak Bar 4.00pm Ukulele Tuesday, The Arlington 4.00pm Mega Trad, Merchant’s Arch 4.00pm Niall Hanna, The Palace 4.00pm Paddy Casey, The Auld Dubliner 4.00pm The Young Folk, The Temple Bar 8.00pm Barbara Dickson with Nick Holland, Pepper Canister Church 8.30pm Maurice Lennon, Ciara Brennan and Chris Dawson, Rathfarnham Castle 8.30pm TradFest Gala, Dublin Castle – Print Works 8.30pm Turin Brakes Acoustic / Sounds of the Sirens, Lost Lane 8.30pm The Young’uns, Button Factory

SUNDAY Jan 26th

11.00am Give Trad a Try, The Ark 12.00pm Time Edey, Pepper Canister Church 12.00pm & 3.30pm Clew Bay Pipe Band, the streets of Temple Bar 12.00pm Children’s Craft Club, The Ark 12.00pm Irish Record Fair, Tailor's Hall

TRADKIDS

12.30pm 1.00pm 1.00pm 2.00pm 2.30pm 2.30pm 3.00pm 4.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 4.00pm 5.00pm 8.00pm 8.00pm 8.30pm

Children’s Open Trad Session, The Ark Michelle Mulcahy, Rathfarnham Castle Sé Mo Laoch, Irish Film Institute The Bonny Men – Album Launch, Lost Lane Family Workshop: The Ukelele Céilí, The Ark Genealogy Workshop, CHQ Building, IFSC Mary Bergin, Pepper Canister Church The National Folk Orchestra, Kilmainham Gaol Brian Furlong with Christy Seridan & Stephen Sheridan, The Arlington, O’Connell Street The Colonials, The Auld Dubliner Drops of Green, Merchant’s Arch The Henry Girls, The Porterhouse The Kilkennys, Fitzsimons Mega Trad, The Temple Bar Niall Hanna, The Oak Bar Paddy Casey, The Oliver St. John Gogarty, Library Bar Paul Watchorn – Ceol Agus Craic, The Palace Ukelele Tuesday & Guests - TradFest Family Concert, Dublin Castle Printworks Louise Mulcahy, Rathfarnham Castle The Fureys, The Norseman Afro Celt Sound System / Skipinnish / Peatfog Faeries, Olympia Theatre Maria Doyle Kennedy, Pepper Canister Church Della Mae, Lost Lane

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Buskers Bar 1 Dublin Castle Printworks 7 Dublin City Hall 3 EPIC Emigration Museum 26 Fitzsimons 8 IMRO 29 Irish Family Centre IFSC 26 Irish Film Institute 10 Kilmainham Gaol 31 Lost Lane 32 Powerscourt Townhouse 24 Rathfarnham Castle OFF MAP Tailor’s Hall 2 The Ark 9 The Arlington 18 The Auld Dubliner 17 The Button Factory 12 The Merchant’s Arch 15 The Morgan 30 The Norseman 11 The Oak Bar 5 The Old Storehouse 16 The Oliver St John Gogarty 20 The Olympia Theatre 27 The Palace Bar 22 Pepper Cannister Church 29 The Porterhouse 4 The Quays 14 The Temple Bar Pub 13 The VAT House 19

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Find us online: www.tradfest.ie @templebartrad /TempleBarTradFest /tradfesttemplebar