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STEVE EARLE (USA)
Singer/songwriter/composer... 'Copperhead Road', 'My Old Friend The Blues', 'Galway Girl' etc.
The 'Hardcore Troubador', multi-Grammy winner Steve is perhaps the most prolific songwriter and outspoken artist of his generation. His songs are deep, his accolades are many.
He has collaborated with everyone from Iris DeMent to The Pogues to Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Patti Smith, Joan Baez. His songs have been recorded by Carl Perkins, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless. Joan Baez, The Pretenders, The Proclaimers, The Highwaymen, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, and Johnny Cash. Steve's 'Galway Girl' is currently the most covered song in Ireland, with everyone from traditional, country and even rock bands recording and performing the hit. |
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MUNDY (Ireland)
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BLUE HIGHWAY (USA)
Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The band's eight exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the stellar reviews, Grammy nominations, and numerous awards earned by the band since it first took the stage on December 31, 1994. With a deep bench of virtuosic songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists, Blue Highway's hallmark is an unwavering commitment to the ensemble, the "democracy of the band" that makes Blue Highway a powerhouse. |
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LUNASA (Ireland)
Hailed by the Irish Voice as "Ireland's newest 'supergroup'... the
hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet.", Lunasa are truly a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. They use melodic interweaving of wind and string instruments, pairing flutes, fiddle, whistle and pipes in often breathtaking arrangements.
Like the younger generation of Nashville musicians such as Bela Fleck or Edgar Meyer, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass into jazz and beyond, Lunasa are redefining Irish music by going right to the heart of its rhythms. With its distinctive use of the upright acoustic bass teamed with percussive guitar, the group seeks out the essential heartbeat of a tune. |
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GERRY O'CONNOR (Ireland)
Gerry O'Connor has brought the banjo to places no other player had tread before. He has travelled the world - physically and musically - experimenting with everything from Irish to bluegrass to African and Asian, and back to Irish. Both as a soloist and as a member of the highly acclaimed Four Men and a Dog, Gerry has truly traced the banjo's journey through the world of music. |
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LEROY TROY (USA)
Leroy has been entertaining audiences for more than 3 decades. With his charming wit, old time songs of America's days-gone-by, and his spectacular banjo playing and flipping tricks, Leroy is a favourite wherever he performs. We are delighted to have Leroy return to our stage this year by popular demand! |
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BANJAXED! (Ireland/UK)
(featuring Enda Scahill, Leon Hunt, Angelina Carberry, Marcus Maloney)
Banjo lovers will be delighted at the treat that awaits them in this captivating bill, featuring four leading exponents of the instrument. Angelina Carberry, Enda Scahill, Leon Hunt and Clare's recently adopted Marcus Moloney will lift the roof in what promises to be a mighty night. |
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ELEANOR SHANLEY (Ireland)
Eleanor is one of Ireland's greatest traditional singers. As singer with De Danann she recorded with and toured throughout the world. She toured extensively in Germany and Ireland with Ronnie Drew, and has re-united with DeDanann for various gigs in China and the U.S. |
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CARTER BROTHERS BAND (USA)
Intrepid world travelers... bringers of brief moments of happiness... blood relatives of The Carter Family... creators of their own brand of
"groovinappalacian-
folkrockfunkedupbluegrassgypsybluesmusic". Returning this year with their full band in tow, Tim and Danny Carter have become favoured performers of many Irish venues... |
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ROSS NICKERSON (USA)
Reknowned five-string banjo master Ross Nickerson has been playing professionally since the age of 17. He is the author of Mel Bay's 'The Banjo Encyclopedia', and 'Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z'.
He has been a member of numerous successful bands, and has been performing and teaching for many years internationally. Ross comes to the festival as a tutor, and as a performer as part of Canadian bluegrass outfit Hungry Hill. |
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WE BANJO 3 (Ireland/UK)
(featuring Enda Scahill, Leon Hunt, Martin & David Howley)
We Banjo 3 are a quartet of banjo players
Irish Tenor banjoists Enda Scahill and All-Ireland champions Martin & David Howley have teamed up with bluegrass 5-string banjo maestro Leon Hunt from Bath in the UK to explore a range of banjo band music and song, combining their formidable skills to produce an infusion of Irish, Bluegrass, Old-Time and Ragtime Banjo music. |
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NIALL TONER BAND (Ireland)
Niall Toner, Clem O'Brien and Dick Gladney have been performing and writing together now for numerous years. During this time they have recorded and released three all-original, all-acoustic CDs, There's A Better Way, Mood Swing, and NTB3.
Niall's songs have been recorded by Albert Lee, Bill Wyman, The Special Consensus and most notably by the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Niall also presents the Roots Freeway on RTE Radio One every Tuesday evening, bringing a wide range of Bluegrass, Old Time Traditional and contemporary singer-songwriters and blues singers to a wide audience. |
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LLUIS GOMEZ' BARCELONA BLUEGRASS BAND (Spain)
Lluis Gomez' Barcelona Bluegrass Band.... featuring Lluis Gomez on 5-string banjo, Ricky Araiza on guitar, Joan Pau Comellas on harmonica & Maribel Sanchez on upright bass. Bluegrass music, from the Catalan region of Spain! |
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ROUGH DEAL STRING BAND (Ireland)
The music they play came from many sources, but they all come from the band's love of and passion for old-time stringband music. Rough Deal String Band are always a always a welcome addition to the festival lineup. |
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TOM CUSSEN (Ireland)
Maker of the supreme Clareen Banjos. Tom's banjo set-up workshops are well attended each year. |
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TUPELO (Ireland)
With a line-up consisting of acoustic guitars, a double bass, mandolin, fiddle and saxophone, they're as far removed from your average groupon the Dublin gig circuit as possible. Armed with a set-list made up entirely of originals, the band's diverse influences can be heard in their leftfield sound. American folk, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll! |
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