The Trip to Birmingham TradFest

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The Trip to Birmingham TradFest

The UK's newest Traditional Irish Music Festival. A weekend full of top class concerts, instrument w

A weekend full of top class concerts, instrument workshops and trad sessions.

04/12/2024

Dreaming of the Snug Sessions at Birmingham Trad Fest and it’s only been a week ❤️‍🔥

📸 (dm for photo requests)
🎪
📍 .digbeth

30/11/2024

✨The Rising✨ These lads fairly got the craic going on Friday night!

🎵 .music
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28/11/2024

This year was for you, Eamonn 💙

23/11/2024

Congratulations to who claimed winners of the 2024 Molloy Award competition this afternoon! Catch them live at the Festival Club tonight at MIDNIGHT!

22/11/2024

🎉 BIRMINGHAM TRAD FEST 2024 LETS DO THIS 🎉

20/11/2024

FESTIVAL LAUNCH EVENT

Feat. Patsy Moloney, Kevin Maher and Cathy Kingcome

Venue: The Spotted Dog, B12 0NH, Digbeth, 7.30pm
Date: Thursday 21st November 2024
FREE ENTRY!

19/11/2024

We are delighted to announce our session trail for 2024!

17/11/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // Siobhan Peoples, Murty Ryan & Seánie McGrath

See this powerful trio on Saturday 23rd November at Birmingham TradFest 2024!

Siobhan Peoples is one of Ireland’s best known names when it comes to the fiddle. She is a daughter of the legendary Donegal fiddler Tommy Peoples, and her grandmother on her mother’s side was Kitty Linnane, the piano player with the storied Kilfenora Ceili Band. Siobhan is very much a Clarewoman but nevertheless has always loved and been influenced by the Donegal fiddling tradition.

Murty Ryan is a button accordion player originally from the village of Toor in Co. Tipperary, he learned his music from the great box player Willie Fogarty of Nenagh, he cites the likes of the late Paddy O’Brien and Joe Burke as some of his earlier influences. He moved to the town of Ennis in 1996 where he teamed up with fiddle player Siobhan Peoples and in 2001 released the cd “Time on our hands”.

Seánie McGrath is a renowned Irish Bouzouki player
from Co. Clare, Ireland, a county steeped in Traditional Irish music. He started playing Irish music at 12 years of age and soon progressed onto the Irish bouzouki after hearing recordings of Planxty & The Bothy band.

🎪 Saturday 23rd November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

07/11/2024

2 WEEKS! Birmingham TradFest is nearly with us!! One of the biggest celebrations of Traditional Irish Music in the UK! Don’t miss out, get your tickets booked today!

🎫21st-24th November 2024
🎪 birminghamtradfest.co.uk

06/11/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // KAYNA

Feat. Anton Davis, Liam O’Sullivan & Ciaran Cooney

Kayna, an electrifying three-piece folk/trad band from the UK and Ireland, is known for their dynamic performances that keep audiences captivated and guessing. The group features Ciaran Cooney, a gifted singer and guitarist whose powerful voice carries Kayna’s intricate songs with ease. Anthony Davis, a master of piano and piano accordion, adds depth and backing vocals, forming the backbone of their signature sound. ‘Sully’ completes the lineup with his energetic and precise work on the box, injecting vibrant drive and detail into each piece.

With a mission to bring joy and wonder, Kayna’s performances are journeys brimming with passion, seamlessly blending tradition with innovative twists. This revitalized trio has wowed audiences at festivals and venues, leaving them on their feet and wanting more.

Kayna is thrilled to return “home” to Anthony’s town for this year’s Birmingham Trad Festival, where they will share exclusive, never-before-heard music. Expect an unforgettable experience filled with the spirit, energy, and musical mastery that sets Kayna apart. Prepare to be swept up in their journey and experience the powerful, life-infused sound that defines them.

🎪 Sunday 24th November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

04/11/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // Macdara Ó Faoláin & Victoria Adiiye

Victoria Adiiye and Macdara Ó Faoláin are a dynamic musical duo blending diverse backgrounds and rich cultural heritages. Raised in Uganda, Victoria’s early immersion in traditional Ugandan music and classical music expanded to Irish music after discovering recordings of it while living in Uganda. Victoria later moved to Minnesota for university, where she met guitarist Dáithí Sproule and began developing her own style on the guitar.

Macdara, from An Rinn, Co. Waterford is renowned for his innovative bouzouki playing. A native Irish speaker, he composes solo pieces that blend traditional roots with modern influences and writes songs in Irish. His trio’s debut album, “Beo,” received critical acclaim, and his solo EP, “Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua...,” was praised for its emotive journey.

Now living in Aghada, Co. Cork, Victoria and Macdara perform together frequently, combining their interests in various genres & traditions from around the globe. They have performed at festivals and concerts across Ireland, Europe, and Canada and continue to develop as an exciting duet.

🎪 Sunday 24th November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

27/10/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // The McGoldrick Sisters

Catherine (flute and whistles) and Ciara (concertina, whistles, and vocals), from Manchester, have been immersed in music from a young age. Their traditional upbringing and profound appreciation for their heritage infuse their music with authenticity and vitality.

Catherine and Ciara both developed their skills studying Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, exploring the thriving traditional music scene in Glasgow. They have played at numerous UK festivals, including Celtic Connections, Craic by the Creek and Bromyard Folk Festival. The duo were awarded the Youth Folk Award at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival.

The sisters are an integral part of The McGoldrick Family band together with their Uncle, Mike McGoldrick and their cousin, Mairead Hussey. They released their debut album ‘One for the Road’ earlier this year.

Tom Keenan, hailing from Co Down, is making waves with his unique, energetic take on traditional accompaniment. Despite his recent entry into the music scene, Tom has already collaborated with uilleann piper John Mc Sherry and Dublin whistle maestro Kevin Meehan, with whom he is currently co-producing an album. Immersed in Irish music since his teenage years, Tom also plays the banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki, making him a standout talent in traditional Irish music.

🎪 Sunday 24th November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

23/10/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // The Rising

Formed in 2016, Irish band The Rising are well known for their unique approach towards Irish trad/folk music, ensuring they leave their audience members feeling electrified after every performance.

From 2016, The Rising have progressed immensely over the years between playing sold out concerts around Europe to headlining some of the biggest folk festivals around the world. To date, The Rising have sold out the Balver Höhle Cave in Germany 2019, headlined the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil main stage from years 2016 - 2019, and in 2023, they represented Ireland performing at the Tag Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony in Limerick. More recently, The Rising have performed at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the 2024 Europa League winners after party in Dublin. The Rising have also toured all over the EU, the UK as well as performing in the U.S. on numerous occasions.

In recent months, they have gone viral on social media numerous times with their spontaneous video content, accumulating up to 50K followers across all platforms in just 4 months while reaching 10 million viewers.
music

🎪 Friday 22nd November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

22/10/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // Cathal Ó Curráin & Marty Barry

Cathal Ó Curráin is a multi-instrumentalist from Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal, who specialises in Irish Traditional and Folk Music on fiddle, banjo, bouzouki and song. Performing from a young age Cathal has travelled the world with different bands to America, Australia, New Zealand and all throughout Europe. His most recent work features on albums with The High Seas, The Friel Sisters, Bláth na hÓige, Aoife Scott with Ron Block of Alison Krauss and Union Station and his debut solo album Cosán Ceoil was launched in 2022. He was awarded “Best Emerging Artist” at the 2022 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

Marty Barry is a traditional musician/singer from Banbridge County Down, and plays guitar, banjo and bouzouki. Coming from a long line of musicians spanning back to the 1800s, Marty’s interest in music came from the stories and recordings of his great-grandmother Maggie Barry, spurring him on to develop his own music at the University of Limerick. Marty has featured on many albums to date, most recently Cathal Ó Curráin’s ‘Cosán Ceoil’ and is soon releasing his debut solo album titled ‘The Sweet Bann Waterside’.

🎪 Saturday 23rd November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

29/09/2024

ARTIST FEATURE // The Johnny Quinn Macs

John McSherry, Brendán Quinn & Francis McIlduff

John McSherry, Brendán Quinn and Francis McIlduff are three phenomenal musicians who first got together as a trio at Belfast’s Féile Trad Trail in August 2022.

John has been a major figure in Irish music for over 20 years. He is a composer, producer, arranger, and established studio session musician of world renown, having recorded and performed with artists including Sinéad O’Connor, Rod Stewart, Nanci Griffith, Gary Kemp, The Corrs and Clannad. A founder member of top traditional bands Lunasa, Tamalin, Donal Lunny’s Coolfin, and Irish-American super-group the olllam, John has produced a string of critically acclaimed and innovative albums, both solo and collaborative.

Brendán has toured the world as a singer-songwriter and traditional accompanist for many years. Hugely influenced by his love of Irish music and the Irish language, his ability to convey the stories of strangers and his own experiences through song has created his distinctive, captivating style.

Francis McIlduff, a member of the legendary McPeake musical family from Belfast, was immersed in traditional Irish music from an early age. He debuted with the family band Clann McPeake in the 1980’s, and has gone on to play with leading outfits including Alias Ron Kavana, Afterhours, Sin É and more recently At First Light, the band in which Francies and John first created the “double pipes” sound that has become their trademark.

🎪 Saturday 23rd November 2024
🎫 Tickets available via birminghamtradfest.co.uk

23/09/2024

Yeeeeow! Birmingham TradFest returns in just over 8 weeks time! One of the biggest celebrations of Traditional Irish Music in the UK this year, showcasing talent from right across the globe! Don’t miss out, get your tickets booked today!

🎫21st-24th November 2024
🎪 birminghamtradfest.co.uk

Address

Birmingham
DIGBETH

Website

http://birminghamtradfest.co.uk/

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Videos

Was this not just what we all needed on Sunday night? 🤩 @kaynaband @ciarancooneymusic @antond1 @sully6057

Sunday sessions in full swing in the Big Bull🎻

It’s all kicking off at the Festival Club in @nortons.digbeth with @tomkeenan12 @eoininoggriofa and @patrickharvey_01

@antond1 @sully6057 @ciarancooneymusic otherwise known as @kaynaband return live in #Birmingham next Sunday 24th November! Lads and ladies - this is not to be missed! #birmingham #birminghamtradfest #irishmusic #kayna

@donalmurphybox checking in ahead of his gig alongside @greta.curtin.music @healyjessie @eoinmurphy304 @macofaolain @victoria.adiiye @catherine.mcgoldrick @_ciaramcgoldrick at @nortons.digbeth on Sunday 24th November! Tickets in Bio! #birminghamtradfest

I wonder if we can beat the record this year? 👀 Ticket link in bio! 📍 @nortons.digbeth 🎪 @birminghamtradfest 📸 @claireloughshots 🎶 mikevass #birminghamtradfest #triptobirminghamtradfest #tradsession #irishsession

Here are last year’s Molloy Award winners, Claddach, performing their winners encore set! We’re delighted to have the band travelling back again on Friday 22nd November ahead of @damomullane and @therising.music! REMINDER! Deadline for all applications is this Friday 4th October! #birminghamtradfest #tradfest #birmingham #trad #festival #molloyaward