Folk festival Quiet Lights will return for its second year on 22–24 November in several venues across Cork city. The festival has grown this year and will feature American singer and composer Peter Broderick and Rozi Plain, bassist with This is the Kit but performing her own solo work. Two new larger venues are also being used, Triskel Arts Centre and St Luke’s. 

The festival line-up includes several folk and traditional Irish acts including Cormac Begley and Liam O’Connor, singer and multi-instrumentalist Anna Mieke, strings and vocal-led duo Lemoncello, Kerry songwriter Junior Brother, Lankum, and Galway singer Maija Sofia.

A showcase of River Lea Records will take place on the opening night of the festival, with a joint concert by Ye Vagabonds and Scottish piper Brìghde Chaimbeul.

Double bass commissions
Also taking place as part of the festival is a concert by Caimin Gilmore of new solo double bass commissions on 23 November, featuring works by Irish composers Linda Buckley (Seancheann for double bass and tape), Benedict Schlepper-Connolly (Blackberry for double bass and resonator), Sam Perkin (<3 for double bass, cello and tape) and Nick Roth (Arris for solo double bass). With the overall title of String Ogham, the new works will be also be performed at upcoming events including Other Voices, Kilruddery House and Gardens and the Hugh Lane concert series. 

Conversation strand
In addition to the concerts, there will be a new conversation strand to the festival, which will feature talks, workshops and live podcasts with musicians, festival planners and other industry practitioners. On Friday 22 November, filmmaker Myles O’Reilly will host the public premiere of his 25 minute piece Tenore Cuncordu Orosei in collaboration with Ernst Reijseger, followed by music from folk three-piece Alfi. 

Tony Clayton Lea’s Culture Vultures will take place on 23 November, with guests Myles O’Reilly, Galway singer Maija Sofia and Cork poet Michelle Delea. The Rebel Matters podcast will record a live show titled ‘Cultural and Social Entrepreneurship – It’s Challenges, Rewards, and Future’ and on Sunday 24 November, The Point of Everything podcast will record live with Junior Brother. 

For more information and ticketing, visit www.quietlights.net/