Performers for 2023!

LAOISE KELLY, NELL NÍ CHRÓINÍN, TARA BREEN & JOSEPHINE MARSH

In 2019 Laoise, Nell, Tara and Josephine began their musical collaboration and together they have been “setting the bar high, both at home and around the globe.” (Music Network). We are delighted and excited to have them with us this year!

Laoise Kelly has been described as “the most significant harper of her generation” (Nuala O’Connor) and “An exuberant and innovative talent which catches the spirit of the modern Irish music movement in a way that few harpers have done to date” (Irish Music Magazine). Laoise began playing harp at age 12 in her hometown of Westport, Co. Mayo where she was taught music and encouraged by her parents from a young age. She has won three All-Ireland competitions on harp, as well as numerous other awards including TG4’s Musician of the Year (2020). Laoise was a founding member of the bands The Bumblebees and Fiddletree, with whom she toured and recorded widely. While she has multiple solo and duet trad albums, she has also crossed musical genres as guest musician on albums by Kate Bush and Tim O’Brien. She is a full-time musician and harp tutor and now lives on Achill Island, where she founded the Achill International Harp festival.

Nell Ní Chróinín, from the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) town of Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, is one of the most prominent sean-nós (old style) singers in Ireland. She became interested in singing at the age of 10, when she attended her first Oireachtas na Gaeilge (festival of Irish Language Gathering, first established in 1897). She began taking lessons shortly after, and quickly went on to receive numerous accolades for her Irish language singing, including multiple Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and An tOireachtas awards. She was the youngest ever recipient of both TG4’s ‘Gradam Ceoil Traditional Singer of the Year‘ award in 2012, as well as the national ‘Corn Uí Riada’ competition in 2014. She received a B.Ed at University of Limerick, and is currently a teacher and professional musician. Described as having an “Exceptionally pure voice” (The Living Tradition), Nell has been a guest on several TG4 programs, and is currently the lead singer with the world renowned band Danú and is a member of the Raw Bar Collective, with whom she performed at the 3rd Feile Seamus Creagh in 2012.

Tara Breen is a talented multi-instrumentalist from Ruan, Co. Clare. She comes from a very musical family, and started playing whistle and fiddle at a young age, adding classical flute and saxophone to her long list of instruments along the way. She has received countless awards for her fiddle playing, including All-Ireland titles for fiddle in every age category through the years, in addition to awards for flute and saxophone. She studied music at UCC and graduated with BA (Hons) in Music and Arts, and B.Mus Degrees. She now lives in Ennis, where she teaches fiddle at Music Generation Clare. In addition to her solo work, Tara has performed and recorded extensively with such greats as The Chieftains, Stockton’s Wing, Cirrus, the Trí Tones, Donal Lunny and Carlos Nuñez, to name just a few. She has been described as “a musical wizard” by Music Network in Ireland.

Josephine Marsh, a music teacher, composer and full-time musician, is considered one of the finest accordion players in Ireland. A multi-instrumentalist, she also plays fiddle, whistle, concertina, guitar, mandolin and banjo. Her compositions have been widely recorded not only on her solo albums, and by the Josephine Marsh Band, but also by such performers as Mike McGoldrick and John McSherry, Cherish the Ladies, and The London Lasses. In 2020, she received the TG4 award for Composer of the Year. Born in England to Irish parents, she returned to Ireland with her family in the early ‘70s. Josephine began playing at an early age, and while she was largely self taught, her father Paddy had a significant influence on her playing. She now lives in Co. Clare, where she is an integral part of the music scene. Folk Roots described her playing as "light, joyous and flowing."

JIM PAYNE

Jim Payne is an award-winning performer, collector and producer of traditional Newfoundland music, as well one of the province’s most prolific songwriters. He is a multi-instrumentalist and stepdancer who teaches traditional Newfoundland folk dance. As a songwriter, Jim is widely known for his musical portrayals of life in this province, his willingness to write and sing about difficult and controversial issues, and his ability to compose humourous ditties directed at powerful people and institutions.

Jim teaches courses in traditional Newfoundland music and song at Memorial University and is a recipient of ArtsNL Awards for Outstanding Cultural Achievement and Arts in Education, and is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has received Cultural Tourism Awards from the provincial Dept. of Culture, the Dept. of Canadian Heritage, and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2016, he was inducted into Arts NL’s Hall of Honour, and in 2017 he was awarded the East Coast Music Association’s Stompin’ Tom Connors Award for outstanding contributions to the cultural fabric of Eastern Canada. In 2020, he was presented with Music NL’s Industry Builder Award, and was honoured with the St. John’s Folk Arts Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

Jim is also a seafarer who has circumnavigated the island of Newfoundland more than 20 times, sailed through the Northwest Passage, and throughout the Canadian and Scandinavian Arctic, including Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. He has also crossed the Southern Ocean to Antarctica several times to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

MISCELLANY OF FOLK

Formed in 2022, Miscellany of Folk is a captivating act that brings together three talented musicians hailing from Ireland and Newfoundland. Each member of the band brings a wealth of diverse music and life experiences to the concert stage. With impressive accomplishments in both touring and studio recording, they are consummate professional music makers. With decades of experience performing around the world, their music traverses the Atlantic Ocean, spanning from Ireland to North America.

At the core of Miscellany of Folk are three exceptional musicians: celebrated multi-instrumentalist Billy Sutton (from Harbour Grace in Newfoundland), joins forces with accordion maestro known for his work with Danú Benny McCarthy (from Co.Waterford in Ireland) and a singing powerhouse and guitarist Eddie Costello (from historic Cahir in Co. Tipperary, Ireland). United by their deep love for music and their shared passion for creating new arrangements and sounds, they collectively bring a fresh perspective to the folk genre.

AARON COLLIS & EMILIA BARTELLAS

Aaron Collis and Emilia Bartellas are two of Newfoundland's outstanding traditional musicians, performing dance tunes from the province's rich musical history in a tight, dynamic playing style. As members of local trad band, The Dardanelles, Aaron and Emilia have performed on stages across Canada, the US, and as far afield as Scotland and Australia. Aaron is also a member of the Juno-nominated band, Rum Ragged, and can be found regularly touring at folk and traditional music festivals around he world. Both Aaron and Emilia have individually been awarded The Dermot O’Reilly Legacy Award for promoting traditional music and demonstrating leadership and creativity in the tradition-bearer community of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

MARK MANNING

EUGENE MOONEY & DENIS NASH JR.

Hailing from lovely Branch in St. Mary’s Bay, we are delighted to have Eugene Mooney and Denis Nash Jr. perform at this year’s féile. Eugene is a seasoned vocalist and story teller with a deep repertoire of traditional songs, many of which were passed down by his late father, Jack Mooney. Eugene is passionate about preserving the time-honoured tradition of storytelling through unaccompanied singing. Denis learned many of his traditional ballads and tunes from his father, Denis Nash Sr., and his uncle, well-known traditional singer, Gerald Campbell. Denis is a vocalist, accordion player and guitarist, who takes great pride in sharing the music of his rich heritage.

JUSTIN BOWMAN