Double act of trad musicians at Kilkenny's Medieval Mile Museum

Concert double acts are a rare treat, and this concert of traditional musicians in the new Medieval Mile Museum Music series, as part of the extended Kilkenny TradFest programme promises to be an exciting and engaging one for locals and visitors. 

Aoife Scott is an award-winning folk singer and songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland. Born into the legendary Black Family, she is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, and has long enjoyed success as an established artist in her own right. Scott, who performed as supporting act to Sharon Shannon on her UK tour this January 2022, will perform on The series consists of five nightly concerts featuring some of Ireland’s most renowned and best loved Traditional musicians.

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. Aoife Scott has a unique sound. Her music has a broad creative scope but is largely influenced by her own roots in folk and traditional Irish music.

Following her highly celebrated debut album, ’Carry The Day’, which was triumphantly launched at Temple Bar Tradfest in 2016 to rapturous acclaim, Scott released her much anticipated second album ‘HomeBird’ in January at the Button Factory at Temple Bar Trad Festival 2020. Recorded in Nashville and Dublin, ‘HomeBird’ is an impressive collaboration featuring the best of Irish folk musicians and Grammy award winning Bluegrass musicians Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan and producer Ron Block.

 It’s only a few short years since Scott’s single ‘All Along the Wild Atlantic Way’ also hit the number 1 slot, knocking Ed Sheeran off the top spot and was named ‘Song of the Year’ at the Irish Folk Music Awards in 2017. While in America she received the award of ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ at the Live Ireland Awards (US), 2018. Aoife Scott’s distinctive talent has resulted in a variety of recent accolades. These include: ‘Readers Poll Best Folk/Trad’ (Hot Press 2021); Finalist in the 17th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards); ASLR Celtic Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year 2020

Harmonica playing brothers John and Pip Murphy

Wexford harmonica playing brothers John and Pip Murphy, renowned for their unique and distinctive style, are part of the double act to also feature in the new Medieval Mile Museum Music Series.  Influenced and inspired by their late father John, they have created a new way to play traditional dance music. 

Speaking about the brothers, Philip King has said ‘There aren’t a lot of Irish harmonica players who play jigs and reels, and who write jigs and reels … the Murphys have a special way of playing. They’re masters.’

John and Pip Murphy’s effortless harmonica playing and enthusiasm for the local tunes they play were handed down from their father Phil and form another deep connection to the area’s past. They play a vital role in preserving South Wexford’s musical heritage. 

Pip and John first began to play with their father as children at local Fleadhs, and the family played as a trio until Phil’s death shortly after they recorded the album, ‘The Trip to Cullenstown’ together in 1989.

Prior performing commitments led to the brothers playing as a duo in the months following their father’s death, and in the years that followed they have continued to proudly play and share the music of South Wexford, as members of “The Tin Sandwich Band”, and through the annual Phil Murphy Festival, founded as a one-off event in memory of their father and 29 years later still going strong. 

The talented John and Pip Murphy will play as part of a double act a double headline act with Aoife Scott & Band in the new Medieval Mile Museum Music series on Friday 7.30pm 18th March. 

The concert is just one of the many superb acts in this year’s Kilkenny TradFest. The programming of musicians is supported by the Local Live Performance Support Scheme (LLPPS): a Government funded scheme administered through the Kilkenny Arts Office.

Tickets are €20 plus booking fee. All proceeds to Amber Women’s Refuge.                                        For more see www.kilkennytradfest.com