Concerts
Portlaoise TradFest, in partnership with The Dunamaise Arts Centre, is delighted to announce Dervish as this year’s headline act. Kicking off the festival on May 2nd, Dervish will take to the stage at The Dunamaise for a one-night-only performance. Don’t miss this chance to see one of Ireland’s most celebrated trad bands live.
As one of the world's most renowned and imaginative interpreters of Irish folk music, Dervish have devoted the last three decades to gently reinventing the traditional songs of their homeland.
Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan.
Dervish are long-established as one of the biggest names in Irish music internationally. They’re renowned for live performances, which match dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs. Their studio and live albums – 13 to date – make up one of the most outstanding catalogues in Irish music.
Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan.
Portlaoise Tradfest in Partnership with Kavanaghs Bar and Venue is delighted to welcome Ye Vagabonds as our Saturday night headliner.
** 2019 BBC Best Traditional Track - WINNERS **
** 2019 RTÉ Best Traditional Track, Best Group, Best Album - WINNERS**
Brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn grew up playing music together around their hometown of Carlow, a small town in the southeast of Ireland. After moving to Dublin in 2012, they quickly became a staple of the live music and session scene in Ireland, playing their own original songs as well as folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America.
“A remarkable album” - Songlines
“Joyous” - Uncut
“A cavern of delights… A labyrinthine treasure trove” - The Irish Times
“They remind me of my first days at ‘Les Cousins’ in Soho in 1965... Ye Vagabonds are a modern expression of a tradition that is truly robust and important to these islands.” Roy Harper.
Portlaoise Tradfest in Partnership with Kavanaghs Bar and Venue is delighted to welcome Scullion as our Sunday night headliner.
In the mid-1970’s, Scullion are revered and feted as one of Ireland’s most innovative, original and brilliant live bands. Their latest record 'Time Has Made a Change in Me' (released September 2022) emphasises the band's musical curiosity and like all of their records, it breaks new ground.
James Joyce and Sufjan Stevens are woven into the DNA of this record with the inspirational music of Sonny Condell beating at the heart of it.
Recorded during the pandemic, this record is an uplifting and inspirational collection of songs for the head and heart, written to take to the highway, collapse distance and bring us back together in the halls, front rooms, back rooms and bar rooms of Ireland.
Robbie Overson, Philip King and Sonny Condell are back on the road, meeting old friends and new, bringing new music and their favourites from their back catalogue to venues all over the country.