Something's Coughlan us to Douglas Street
Some incredible musical talents, both local and international, are descending on Cork’s southside as we speak for the 2025 Cork Roots Festival.
Promising four full days of outstanding music at the iconic Coughlan’s Bar on Douglas Street, the festival kicked off yesterday, Thursday, with acclaimed folk duo Lemoncello.
A powerful voice in the alternative folk scene in Ireland, Lemoncello are songwriter Laura Quirke and cellist Claire Kinsella. Lemoncello were recently nominated for Best Folk Song and Best Emerging Folk Act at the RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards. Lemoncello play tonight from 7.30pm. Tickets cost €22.50.
On Friday, Kevin Quigley & The Great Ideas will be performing from 8pm. Quigley's 2024 was packed with highlights, including his own headline shows and sharing the spotlight with artists like Hermitage Green, Mary Black, and The Shoos. Kevin is gearing up to release his anticipated EP ‘Catch You Down the Road’, shortly. Tickets for the show are €12.
Starting things off on Saturday at 3pm are The Half Room with support from The Raines. The Half Room features the evocative vocals of renowned Dingle singer Pauline Scanlon, and the velvety richness of singer-songwriter Nicola Joyce from celebrated Galway trio The Whileaways.
The Raines are a folk/Americana trio based in Galway. The band consists of Ruth Dillon, Yvonne Tiernan, and Juliana Erkkonen. The Raines have used their collective influences to create a unique and pure sound, writing strong and melodic songs, in which they weave in and out of vocal harmony and counter-melody, interlaced with tender and rhythmic strings.
On Saturday evening, Scottish folk singer James Yorkston will be performing from 7pm. Yorkston is returning to Ireland for his first run of solo shows since his 2023 album ‘The Great White Sea Eagle’. He will be playing solo with old songs and new, including tracks from his yet to be announced 2025 album for Domino Records. He’ll also be dipping into one of his most recent novels, ‘The Book of The Gaels’.
Then for something a little unusual, a silent disco will take place from 10pm. Everyone attending will get a pair of wireless headphones allowing the to switch between the live DJs. Tickets are €10.
Closing out Saturday’s festivities from 10.30pm are Ricky Lynch & The Lynch Mob. For many years Lynch has been electrifying Leeside music lovers with the energy and vitality of his live performances, covering songs by Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and other classics. His own self-penned songs are as vivid in their imagery as his output as an established and acclaimed visual artist. Entry for this show is free.
On Sunday from 2pm, one of the country’s most acclaimed live acts, Scullion, will take to the stage. Formed in the mid-1970s, the band is still going strong an released their latest record, ‘Time Has Made a Change in Me’ in 2022. Tickets for the show are €28.50.
At 6pm on Sunday, alternative/indie-folk seven-piece from Cork city, Briars, will bring their dynamic energy to Coughlan’s. 2024 saw the band make a name for themselves in the live music scene at home and abroad, with performances at Electric Picnic, When Next We Meet, Galway Folk Festival, Whelan’s Trad and Folk Fest, Guinness Cork Jazz Fest, and Liverpool Irish Festival. Entry to the show is free.
At 7pm, Ireland’s best kept songwriting secret, John Blek, will be performing songs from his new LP ‘Cheer Up’ as well as some of his classics. ‘Cheer Up’ is a powerful reflection on the singer/songwriter's life, lyrically demonstrating his personal growth while sonically showing his musical evolution. To some this may seem like a stylistic departure, while to others it’s the natural next step. Entrance to the show is €20. In a fitting end to the weekend, the Céilí Allstars will play the night out from 8pm. Formed from a group of friends playing the session trail in Cork city in the late nineties, the four piece trad group will have the place hopping until last call. Entry is free.
To finish off the festival in traditional style on Monday, the Original 7 Night will see seven original artists take to the stage from 7.30pm. Artists this year are Finn Fletcher-White, Ronan O’Driscoll, Julia Maria, Kit Barrett, Molly Fawl, Sam Healy, and Jodie Lynn. Entry is €15.