Iarla Ó Lionáird

Iarla Ó Lionáird has carved a long and unique career in music both internationally and in Ireland. From his iconic early recording of the vision song “Aisling Gheal” as a young boy to his ground breaking recordings with Dublin’s Crash Ensemble and New York’s Alarm Will Sound, he has shown a breadth of artistic ambition that sets him apart in the Irish Music fraternity.

Iarla Ó Lionáird will be joined by guests Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Matthew Nolan & Ryan Molloy at Butler Gallery Courtyard.

McCauley Brothers & friends

The stellar McCauley Brothers & friends will play the stunning Butler Gallery on Sunday, 24th September.

Mick McAuley is an Irish musician, singer, songwriter and composer who plays traditional and original music and songs of Ireland on accordion, melodeon, whistle and guitars. 

GARY O'NEILL

Born and raised in Kilkenny, Ireland - songwriter and producer Gary O’Neill returned to form in 2020 with, 'Set For Life’. A song about "...home and the offering of safety we find in family."

2020 also saw the release of 'Tofino' and 'Corduroy' - which led to support tours with Villagers and Brian Deady. With an Irish & UK tour being rescheduled, and the release of an upcoming EP; quietly crafted in his home studio - we can expect this young songwriter to be on everyone's radar in 2021.

ALI COMERFORD

Ali is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Kilkenny. At the age of 18 she left for London and completed a Degree in Classical Violin at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama followed by a Masters in Violin at the Royal College of Music. Shortly after this she fell in love with the viola and won a scholarship to study at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. After she completed her studies she freelanced as a chamber and orchestral musician in New York before going on tour with Lincoln Center Stage around Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Fiji. When the pandemic hit however, Ali came home and finally had time to delve into her own music. She finished writing and recorded her debut album Knots at Crossroads Studio in Kilkenny at the beginning of 2020. She wrote, played and produced the whole album which was released in July 2021 to critical acclaim. Her single Knots was featured on the RTE Radio One Recommends List along with her song Come Home being track of the day for Hotpress magazine. Ali has found her voice as a musician and she is proud that she came home to Kilkenny to do so.

KAIREN CAINE

Folk and Americana are at the heart of Kairen Caine’s songs. Influenced by the likes of Kathleen Edwards and Emmylou Harris, she explores themes of belonging, distance, longing and change. Based in the peaceful County Kilkenny countryside of Woodsgift, Kairen has an MA in Songwriting from Bath Spa University and is preparing for her upcoming album release. Partly recorded in an old blue bus affectionately known as Rusty, and produced by Jed Parle, the album features musicians Sarah Jory (pedal steel), John McCullough (Hammond), Rod Quinn (Drums), Gerry Kavanagh (Bass) along with long-time collaborator guitarist Kevin Bruce and vocalist Kate McDonald. 

At the beginning of 2020 Kairen was selected as one of six songwriters to attend a special community collaboration project with the Hackney Empire Elders held at Cecil Sharpe House in London, organised by the Americana Music Association UK. Kairen then returned to London at the end of January last year to take part in a follow up panel and performance as part of the Americana Music Association Conference. 

THE WANDERING SOULS

Evan Grace and Phil Coulter make up the acoustic duo that are The Wandering souls. Based in south Kilkenny they have an eclectic style of music with influences of Irish and American Folk. Evan is a native of Piltown Co.Kilkenny whilst Phil originally hails from Co.Antrim but has firmly made a home in Kilkenny for the last 12 years. Formed 8 years ago at a chance meeting, a music partnership was created and very soon after the phone started to ring with booking requests for the duo.

From year round residencies in Kilkenny, to sharing stages at 'Altogether Now' and the long running 'Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival' armed with only 2 guitars, a Tenor Banjo and their well matched voices, Evan and Phil give equal passion to each live performance regardless of size.

ELISE

Elise is an up and coming singer- Songwriter from Kilkenny. Elise’s songwriting comes from a collection of personal experiences. The core of her songwriting is about love, loss and growth and finding the light in dark times. Her music is a combination of genres like dark-folk and pop-rock.

In October 2019, Elise released her Debut EP 'These Thoughts' and toured with band members Thomas Donoghue (Electric guitar), Benedict Warner Clayton (Drums) and Gary O’Neill (Bass) playing three successful launch nights in the Set Theatre Kilkenny, Bello Bar Dublin and Crane Lane Cork. Elise began 2020 on a high note as a headline act at Whelan’s Ones To Watch Festival followed by preforming in many venues around Dublin as a solo act or with her band. In October 2020, Elise released her single Cowboy. Cowboy was recorded in Sun Studios, Temple Bar, by Thomas Donoghue and was mastered by Joe LaPorta in Sterling Sound. Cowboy was a great success gaining over 35,000 online listeners when it was put into Spotify’s Fresh Folk playlist.  Elise received attention from radio stations including RTE Radio 1, Beat 102103, Today fm, KCLR and more. Her music featured in many playlists and Irish music blogs such as Golden Plec and Imro. Elise is preparing for her next single release for September
2021.