Kilkenny Roots Festival presents James Yorkston, Nina Persson & The Second Hand Orchestra

James Yorkston, the renowned songwriter from Scotland, is set to perform in Kilkenny on April 29th, 2023. Joining him will be Nina Persson, an international star and former lead singer of The Cardigans, and Karl-Jonas Winqvist with his project The Second Hand Orchestra. Yorkston’s 2021 collaboration with Winqvist resulted in the release of “The Wide, Wide River,” a top 10 folk album of the year, and their newest release, “The Great White Sea Eagle,” featuring Persson. This concert promises to be an evening of tenderness, melody, and unique sound blending the talents of three extraordinary artists. Don’t miss this opportunity to see James Yorkston, Nina Persson, and The Second Hand Orchestra live in Kilkenny.

James Yorkston, the gentleman-songwriter of the East Neuk of Fife, has released a series of albums of tenderness and melody, insight and empathy. His eye for the details in life and the richness of his brogue make a Yorkston song instantly recognisable.

His 2021 collaboration with Karl-Jonas Winqvist – the Swedish music producer, leader and conductor of The Second Hand Orchestra – resulted in the soothing, warm and sublime The Wide, Wide River (a Guardian Top 10 Folk Album of the year).

Shifting from writing on guitar to piano in early 2021, James sent 5-6 songs to Karl-Jonas, and a second collaborative release, featuring Nina, was born, the equally beguiling The Great White Sea Eagle (out January 2023).

Nina Persson became an international star in the 1990s fronting Swedish pop/rock sensations The Cardigans, before releasing a series of acclaimed albums under her own name and as A Camp. She’s also collaborated with such artists as composer David Arnold and Manic Street Preachers, and – as Nina Letar Jazz – The Soundtrack Of Our Lives‘ Martin Hederos and Nils Berg.