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Co-hosts for the event are Eileen Ivers, who will also perform, a Grammy awarded, Emmy nominated, fiddler, and an Irish American to boot. She has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today, and said this regarding this event: “St. Brigid was a light in the darkest of times, a peacemaker, a woman who provided sustenance and a safe haven for all. I’m thrilled to be joining other female artists as part of a livestream concert honoring this beloved Irish saint. May the perpetual flame that St. Brigid ignited so long ago, which still burns in Kildare Town’s Market Square today, live in our hearts and shine through the gift of music and community.”
Eileen will be joined by Joanie Madden, who is considered one of the greatest musicians and personalities in the history of Irish music in America, and since its inception in 1985, has also been the leader and driving force behind the all-female Irish music and dance troupe, Cherish the Ladies.
Additional guests and performers include:
The Bowtides, featuring Katie Grennan, Jessie Burns, and Ellery Klein, The Bow Tides don’t let any tune sit long without lush harmonies or rocking rhythms. After 14 cumulative years in Gaelic Storm (but never at the same time), these three fiddlers decided a pandemic was as good a time as any to join forces and were thrilled to perform for the first time in person together at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival.
Ashley Davis, who is an American singer-songwriter whose musical imagination invites the world into her eclectic sphere. Think Joni Mitchell meets contemporary Celtic and you’ll get something like the creative force of Ashley Davis- while this mash-up may classify her work, Davis’s unique ability to capture and cross musical traditions ultimately transcends comparison.
Goitse, The popular and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse was forged in the white-hot creative crucible of Limerick’s Irish World Academy. Named Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year”, Chicago Irish American News’ “Group of the Year”, Goitse have become a leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles. Their distinctive sound lies in the quality of their own compositions interspersed with traditional tunes from the countryside of Ireland and abroad, which make each performance unique.
Dani Larkin, is a singer-songwriter and folk musician from the Armagh-Monaghan border. Her sound is inspired by the Irish traditional melodies she was raised with, her songs are reminiscent of Celtic folk tales. Hailing from the Armagh-Monaghan border, Dani is a singer-songwriter and folk musician who is already being heralded as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters. Larkin has been creating music for several years, and is a well known face on the live circuit in Ireland. A storyteller by nature, her music is inspired by the folktales she was raised with, intertwined with elements of traditional melodies and rhythms from around the world in a timeless tradition. She is a seasoned performer who is impossible to ignore once taken to the stage.
Susan O’Neil, A critically acclaimed performer, as well as a member of King Kong Company, SON – aka Susan O’Neill – is one of Ireland’s brightest emerging talents. The basis of her first album ‘Found Myself Lost’ saw SON find her voice amongst her peers, introducing her unique and otherworldly style. The enigmatic singer-songwriter honed her musical skills as one of the youngest members of the Ennis Brass Band and gained her first gospel influences with the ‘Really Truly Joyful Gospel Choir.’ Eclectically fusing traditional Irish folk with rock, soul, gospel and blues, her live performances are quite simply electrifying. Her husky vocals combined with her superb guitar technique, loop pedals and trumpet, have wowed audiences everywhere from Stradbally to Sydney, Glasgow to Glastonbury, Manhattan to Milwaukee, and many places beyond.
Cathie Ryan: Cathie is a captivating performer whose shows are renowned for their intimacy and power, as well as her witty banter. For over twenty-five years, including five solo albums, countless musical collaborations, and multiple awards, Cathie Ryan has been in the vanguard of Irish music. She is blessed with a voice of luminous clarity and a gift for unearthing gems from Irish and American song traditions, creating her own heart-stirring originals, and for showcasing writers whose work deserves wider recognition. Wrap this musical integrity into a consummate entertainer and it is no wonder the Wall Street Journal calls her music, “a revelation.”
Clare Sands, A sixth generation fiddler and multi-instrumentalist creating an eclectic & energetic Folk sound rooted in Irish Traditional music, the remarkably versatile musician, composer, performer, and singer-songwriter is an unstoppable artist to be reckoned with. The Cork-born artist with deep family roots in Northern Ireland and County Wexford, took up the fiddle at the age of three, learning tunes from her father Seamus on a weekly basis while her mother Susan introduced her to the Blues. Clare Sands is a passionate and alluring unique force in Irish music., and has been wowing audiences around the world with her groundbreaking style, gravelly vocals, exceptional performance, and infinite energy.
Aoife Scott, a Dublin folk singer songwriter, with an impeccable pedigree as a member of the legendary Black Family, which includes her mother, Frances, and her aunt, Mary, Aoife is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, while garnering acclaim and recognition both in Ireland and abroad as she hones her craft and continues to be a force to be reckoned with on the Irish Folk and traditional scene. Her sublime voice is a thing of beauty that stops people in their tracks. Aoife has steadily risen to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, has long enjoyed success as an established artist in her own right. Fragile and ethereal one minute and strong and vibrant the next, her dynamic and profound vocals explore the emotional depths of her lyrics, leaving the audience entranced.
Sponsored by:
Embassy of Ireland, USA – DFA
Association of Irish and Celtic Festivals
In Partnership With:
