Amazing acts announced for Kilkenny's April Sounds concerts in aid of Red Cross Ukraine and Unicef

A host of leading and local musicians, actors, and spoken word artists will descend on Kilkenny next month for April Sounds.

The three-day series of concerts will take place in two of Kilkenny’s most historic and beautiful venues - St Canice’s Cathedral and the Medieval Mile Museum.

Concert-goers will enjoy performances from Lisa O’Neill, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Louise Mulcahy, actor Stephen Rea, spoken word artist FeliSpeaks and many more from April 8 to 10, with proceeds from tickets going to the Red Cross Ukraine and Unicef who are running emergency appeals.

April Sounds opens on Friday, April 8 at St Canice’s Cathedral with a full-capacity venue and live sets from Lisa O’Neill, duo Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O’Reilly, Arrivalists and Bríd Lyons.

Over the years Lisa O’Neill has quietly built a reputation for herself on the Irish and international scenes and now has a growing following with her unique folk sound, strong song-writing and distinctive voice.

Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly will showcase their album ‘Tá Go Maith’, it has that inner poise, depth and controlled meditation, as well as soundtracking a gentle spirituality.

Former Hedge Schools voice and wordsmith Patrick M Barrett will also take to the stage on the night to showcase work from his new solo project Arrivalists. Kilkenny’s singer-songwriter Bríd Lyons will open the concert series.

Saíocht
Saíocht, a celebration of Ireland’s leading poets and Irish traditional musicians, will be held on Saturday, April 9 at 8pm in St Canice’s Cathedral.

Saíocht is hosted by renowned actor Stephen Rea and features Ireland’s leading poet Gabriel Rosenstock, spoken word artist FeliSpeaks and will include poems by two Kilkenny poets Robert McLoughlin and Emily Murtagh.

Joined by acclaimed Irish traditional musicians, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy and Neil Martin, this incredible super-group will explore the fascinating artistic relationship between the Irish literary tradition and traditional music.

Caoimhe and Séamus Uí Flatharta’s recent performance of the lament Anach Cuan on the Late Late Show in honour of Aishling Murphy captured the mood of the nation. The siblings hail from the Gaeltacht region of Connemara in Galway and make their Kilkenny debut on Sunday, April 10 at the stunning Medieval Mile Museum at 12pm.

The talented pair are multiple All-Ireland winning performers who keep their language and heritage at the heart of all their musical endeavours.

Critically acclaimed songwriter Niamh Regan and local musician Gary O’Neill take to the stage at 3pm. A natural storyteller, Regan’s songs are windows into her world and snapshots of the intimacy of everyday life. Gary is a Kilkenny-born singer-songwriter and producer, whose live performances have been described as ‘Intimate, Honest and Full Of Character’.

John Hegarty
Celebrating the launch of his new record, Kilkenny-based singer-songwriter songwriter, John Hegarty will close April Sounds on Sunday, April 10 with an album launch at 8.30pm.

The record, which is called Twilight, will be released on Rollercoaster Records label.

Tickets for the April Sounds series go on sale this Friday. Tickets for shows and more information on the series is available from Rollercoaster Records, Kieran Street, Kilkenny or online at rollercoasterrecordskk.com

April Sounds is delivered locally by Kilkenny County Council Arts Office and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.