Galway Folk Festival has announced the line-up for this year’s festival, taking place from 5 to 9 June. The festival, which is mainly based in Monroe’s music venue in Galway and is now in its third year, will present a programme of Irish and international artists as well as free pop-up events. 

Opening the festival is singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke who will perform at Leisureland on 5 June with support from Dublin singer-songwriter Saoirse Casey. The traditional trio of fiddle player Tara Breen, concertina player Pádraig Rynne and guitarist Jim Murray perform at Monroe’s Backstage on 6 June in a concert also featuring acoustic duo Niall Teague and Padraic Joyce.

The Glasgow five-piece Ímar, who perform traditional Irish and Scottish music, will play Monroe’s on 7 June with support from guitarists Ger O’Donnell and Trevor Sexton, folk singer Niall McCabe, and bluegrass band Yonder Boys. 

English musician Beth Orton, who blends folk with electronica, plays a concert on 9 June with support from Dublin singer-songwriter Niamh Bury and folk and soul artist Lady Nade. Also performing on 9 June is the uilleann pipes and fiddle duo of Cillian Vallely and David Doocey supported by steel guitarist David Murphy, and a collaboration between singer Eleanor Shanley and singer-songwriter Mike Hanrahan. 

In addition, the festival will feature Galway singer Seán Keane with support from singer-songwriter Matt McGinn (8 June); folk trio Amble with support from Armagh musician Conchúr White (6 June); and Scottish folk band Talisk with a supporting line-up including The Trouble Notes, Eve Belle, Dug, and Sally in the Woods (8 June). Trad-pop band Mec Lir and brass band The Circus Ponies will both perform late-night concerts in Monroe’s. 

Galway Folk Festival will also present free daytime events including the talk event Culture Vultures with journalist Tony Clayton-Lea, youth music performances with Cuppa Tea TV, and pop-up events that will be announced closer to the festival. 

For full programme information and tickets, visit galwayfolkfestival.com.

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