Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival 2023

Kilkenny Roots Festival launched this year’s festival at the Smithwick’s Experience venue this week and will celebrate 25 years from 28th April to 1st May with a stellar line-up of acts From USA, UK, Sweden and Ireland.

e lineup includes JAMES YORKSTON/NINA PERSSON & THE SECONDHAND ORCHESTRA, CHUCK PROPHET, DAVID KEENAN, FANTASTIC CAT, WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, MARTINSTEPHENSON/JOHN PERRY, CARSON McHONE, EARLY JAMES, JOLIE HOLLAND, FLORENCE DORE, KASSI VALAZZA, AUSTIN LUCAS and SPENCER CULLUM.

Legendary music journalist, ALLAN JONES, will read from his just published book, ‘Too Late To Stop Now,’ at the Pembroke Hotel on Sunday e festival kicks o with the amazing Swedish singer, Jesper Lindell, and his band in Billy Byrnes on Friday 28th April and continues with a fantastic range of music until the grand nale in Kyteler’s on Monday May 2nd with Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express. Chuck was due to perform at last year’s festival, but had to cancel and undergo treatment for cancer. He has made a great recovery and is back touring all over the USA and Europe. e appearance of James Yorkston, Nina Persson and e Second Hand Orchestra is a big coup for the event. is is the only gig scheduled for the band in Ireland this year. Scottish singer, James Yorkston, has teamed up with Nina Persson of e Cardigans for this project. e eight piece band will include some big names from the music world including guitarist Peter Móren of Peter, Bjorn, and John, saxophonist Lina Langendorf and Philip Selway, drummer with Radiohead. ere is still a limited number of tickets on sale for their Saturday afternoon show at e Set eatre on April 29th.

30th April at 12.30. His previous book, Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down, was the Sunday Times Music Book of the Year 2017.

Many of the acts, including Kassi Valazza, Carson McHone and Fantastic will be making their rst Irish appearances. In addition to the ticketed shows, there will be over 70 gigs on the free Smithwick’s Music Trail in venues throughout Kilkenny city.