Pictured above: Kate Rusby, one of the impressive array of artists appearing in Tradfest.
TradFest returns to Dublin for five days in January (26-30) with an impressive programme combining many rising stars with veterans of the traditional and folk music scene in Ireland and Britain. Gradam winners, Thomas McCarthy, Séamus Begley, Laoise Kelly and Frankie Gavin feature alongside veterans of British folk, Martin Carthy (with daughter Eliza), Kate Rusby, Peggy Seeger, Ralph McTell and Fairport Convention.
Long established Irish artists like Altan, Four Men and A Dog, The Dublin Legends, Seán Ó Sé, Kíla, Anúna, Karan Casey, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Stockton’s Wing will be joined on the festival bill by former All-Ireland champions, Oisín Mac Diarmada, Brenda Castles and BBC Folk Award winners, Dervish. and recent Scots Trad award winner, Tim Edey. Among the younger generation of Irish performers are siblings, Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, Aoife Scott, Brídín and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ultan O’Brien. The schedule for the major concerts is outlined below.
In addition to the headline concerts, a number of free events are also on offer featuring performers like the Henry Girls, Paddy Casey, Phelim Drew, The Kilkennys and George Murphy.
Tradfest will also include a seminar entitled The Futures of Irish Music which aims to discuss how Irish music can centre equality, diversity and inclusion moving forward both as an artform and as an industry. The panellists for the seminar include Niamh Ní Charra and Jack Talty along with Ola Majekodunmi, Enda Gallery and Mamobo Ogoro.
In an effort to anticipate any ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 virus, Tradfest is partnering with Novaerus to equip all of the festival venues with air disinfection devices to eliminate any harmful airborne pollutants including Covid-19.
Tickets may be booked at https://tradfest.tickets.ie/
