Get folked!
Leeside music lovers are licking their lips today as they get ready for the 47th Cork Folk Festival which kicks off this afternoon.
Running from today, Thursday, until Sunday, the festival will again see some of Ireland’s finest traditional and folk musicians perform at venues across the city as part of an incredible programme of free and ticketed events.
Helping to kick things off today from 1pm at Cork City Library is sensational Australian cellist William Jack, known for his ability to take audiences on a captivating musical journey through sound, culture and creativity. Jack recently featured on BBC Radio 3 and was also recently selected as a New Folk songwriter at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.
One of this year’s headliners is iconic Donegal band Altan, known the word over for their dynamic twin-fiddling, powerful rhythm, and beautiful Irish-language songs rooted deeply in the musical heritage of county Donegal. Formed in Donegal in 1987 by lead vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her late husband Frankie Kennedy, the group has sold over a million records over their career. Altan play Triskel Christchurch from 8pm on Friday evening. On the Saturday, Gals at Play, organised by Mary Greene, will include Mide Houlihan, Aoibheann Carey Philpott, Suzanne Rowe, and Trish Reilly over at Coughlan’s Bar from 5pm.
Later on Saturday over at the Triskel, a historic concert celebrating 100 years of traditional music on Irish radio will be curated by trad legend and former radio presenter, Peter Browne, featuring an all-star lineup including Johnny McCarthy, Majella Cullagh, Peadar Ó Riada, and Lily Munday.
From 10pm on Saturday night, ticketed event, Le Cabaret, will be taking over the upstairs at Riordan’s Bar on Washington Street where new contemporary duo The Oars will perform tracks from their recently released album, recorded and produced in Louisiana by multi-Grammy winner Dirk Powell. One of Sunday’s many highlights is Folk fest in the Fort which will take over Elizabeth Fort Barrack on Street from 2-5pm. The free event will feature renowned Cork songwriter, Fiona Kennedy; Club Ceoil Ballyphehane Ballad Group; Douglas Comhaltas Group; Cork-based Ukrainian choir, Kalyna; and a vibrant dance group from the Mexican Community of Cork.