Featuring Dibbs from the Rockats and Lyn from the Shillelagh Sisters, Boz Boorer (rockabilly legend and musical director and guitarist for Morrissey) returns to Kilkenny for the sixth year running. We like to think of them as the Kilkenny House Band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNxT743j2rM
American songwriter currently residing in Nashville, he’s inspired by the Beat Poets. Jeff Finlin comes from the same motherlode of American music as songwriters such as Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle.
Greg Trooper is one of the best-kept secrets in Nashville these days. As diverse a group as Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Robert Earl Keen, Maura O’Connell and Billy Bragg have all recorded his songs. The trembling-twang production and rumbling rhythm here are as compelling as anything being recorded in Nashville today.
From Fort Wayne, Indiana, this is high octane rockabilly, rooted in the fifties sound and equally loved by the punk and psychobilly audience.
A warm welcome back to Paul who thrilled us in Kilkenny in 2001. Supporting Laura Cantrell this time around, Paul’s brand of heartfelt music sounds as music from Nashville ought to sound.
The Rockabilly Filly has done more for women in rockabilly than anyone since Wanda Jackson. Her mix of country and rockabilly has won her fans world-wide and her breakthrough album A Honky Tonk Reprise helped launch the new country scene, along with Dwight Yoakam and Lyle Lovett.
Los Angeles’ Devics’grand, melancholic ballads are mysterious and ambiguous, not evoking any particular decade nor neatly aligning with any musical trends. Think early bar-room sounds, think a cinematic music, the haunting soundtrack to a movie that has not yet been made. Dark, atmospheric and moody, the Devics’ music has captured the attention of critics and fans
Jerry Fish’s alter ego Ger Whelan started off as lead singer with An Emotional Fish, one of Ireland’s leading musical lights in the 90’s. Imagine an album where Tom Waits meets the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, throw in a sprinkling of George Melly and you’ve got something approaching the eclectic mix that exists on “Be Yourself”, the debut
Laura Cantrell has struck a chord with public and critics alike receiving glowing reviews in Mojo, Q and The Times ( who named one of Laura’s songs in their top 10 of 2000). She’s recorded two prestigious radio sessions for John Peel who has called the album “my favourite album of the last ten years
With a traditional American music but a contemporary aesthetic. The music is lush and full with Sally’s voice shaping each word. Blending musical influences from rock n roll to Wooody Guthrie, it’s melancholic heartbreaking Americana.
Songwriters Timothy Bracy and Peter Hoffman brought together a love of Replacements era punk, traditional country and “Elephant 6” styled indie-pop into the musical language that defines them.
Kurt Wagner of Lambchop called him “sublime”; Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies said he was responsible for making him “fall in love with my record collection all over again”. Since his highly acclaimed debut, Josh Rouse has been honing his skills as a songwriter, singer and guitar player to play for us in Kilkenny this year.