American folk star Aoife is bound for Clon
Music fans in West Cork are in for a real American-style treat this month when Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan comes to visit.
The multi-instrumentalist, who hails all the way from Newton, Massachusetts, recently announced an intimate show at the legendary DeBarra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty on 29 July.
O’Donovan began her musical journey at a young age, eventually blossoming into a celebrated artist known for her captivating vocals and heartfelt compositions. With a diverse range of influences, including folk, bluegrass, and indie rock, O’Donovan’s distinctive sound weaves together intricate melodies and introspective lyrics.
Deemed “a vocalist of unerring instinct” by the New York Times, O’Donovan has received seven Grammy nominations throughout her glittering career. Two of these, including one for Best Folk Album, were for her fourth and most recent solo album, ‘All My Friends’.
Released in March 2024, the album was inspired by the letters and speeches of suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt who founded the League of Women’s Voters in the US. It questions how much has really changed for American women, just over a century after gaining the right to vote. Amidst a lush soundscape of brass, orchestra, girls' choir, and her own compelling vocals, O’Donovan explores the nation’s evolution through her compassionate songwriting and voice. Her earlier solo albums include ‘Fossils’, ‘In the Magic Hour’, and 2022’s boldly orchestrated and literarily crafted ‘Age Of Apathy’. The album received three Grammy nominations and includes the song ‘B61’, which was awarded Folk Alliance International’s Song Of The Year.
Also known as collaborator, O’Donovan formed the folk supergroup I’m With Her, alongside bandmates Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. The band just released their sophomore album ‘Wild and Clear and Blue’.
O’Donovan gained widespread recognition as a founding member of the progressive folk band Crooked Still, who many might know from their appearance in HBO’s hit show, ‘The Last of Us’.
O’Donovan is also the featured vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions, a group featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. She has also performed with over a dozen symphonies including the National Symphony Orchestra and spent a decade as a regular contributor to the radio variety shows ‘Live From Here’ and ‘A Prairie Home Companion’.
Aoife continues to enchant audiences worldwide with her soul-stirring music and unwavering passion for storytelling through song. To catch her show at DeBarra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty on 29 July, book now at debarra.ie.