Music highlights for this year's Kilkenny Arts Festival

Kilkenny Arts Festival is set to welcome back some of its favourite artists to the Marble City this August.

Bassekou Kouyate will perform at Set Theatre on August 10. Traditionally, the ngoni, a four-stringed lute, was used to accompany the stories of Malian griots. It wasn’t used as a lead instrument, but ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate has turned that tradition on its head.

His award-winning debut album Segu Blue revolutionized the way the instrument was played, and since then Kouyate has gone from strength to strength, releasing a string of acclaimed albums and collaborating with everyone from Youssou N’Dour to Damon Albarn. He has twice been voted Best Artist at the Songlines Music Awards. For this performance in the Set, Kouyate is joined by his wife, the celebrated griot singer Amy Sacko, and by his band Ngoni ba. A group of outstanding musicians playing ngonis and percussion, the band exemplifies Kouyate’s fresh approach to tradition, effortlessly blending traditional Malian sounds with Cuban rhythms, rock and blues.

Another highlight is This Is The Kit - the musical project of Kate Stables, who draws accolades for her pure voice and songwriting craft.

This is Kit will perform at St Canice’s Cathedral on August 14 as part of this year’s Kilkenny Arts Festival. For fifteen years Stables has been honing her original take on alt folk with the aid of band members Rozi Plain (bass), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums) and Neil Smith (guitar), releasing a string of celebrated albums and delivering ecstatically reviewed live shows.

Another festival favourite is Lisa O’Neill who will perform at St. Canice's Cathedral on Friday, 16 August at 7.30pm.
Lisa O’Neill’s latest album, All of This Is Chance, was rapturously received on its release last year and fans of O’Neill’s work know that none of this is chance.

Since her debut album in 2009, O’Neill has won a devoted following with her evocative storytelling and raw, unforgettable voice. Whether reinventing folk standards or performing her own compositions, O’Neill grabs a song by the neck and makes it her own. Her craft gets better and better and her performance in the stunning St. Canice's Cathedral is surely one not to be missed.

The legendary singer/songwriter Mick Flannery who is one of Ireland’s most acclaimed artists will perform at Set Theatre on August 16. Flannery is a master craftsman whose storytelling skills and distinctive blend of folk, rock and blues have earned comparisons with the great American singer-songwriters, along with numerous awards.

Last year his eighth studio album, Goodtime Charlie, went straight to number one in the independent charts.

For full lineup and programme of events see kilkennyarts.ie