The Talbot Theatre

A former electrician, who decided to become a musician after seeing Christy Moore perform on Irish TV, Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoir (pronounced Derry) Farrell has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years.After a promising debut album, The First Turn, back in 2009, Daoir spent several years studying traditional music and performance at respected colleges across Ireland. While at the University of Limerick, Fintan Vallely introduced him to the singing of the late Liam Weldon, an encounter that was to prove formative to his sound and his approach to folk song.Daoir had cut his teeth as a singer in Dublins famous Gilin Singers Club and at other sessions across the city, many of which he still visits regularly. Following his studies he quickly found work accompanying artists including Christy Moore, as well as a list of names that sounds like a whos who of folk music: Dnal Lunny, Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Alan Doherty, Dan, Dervish, Julie Fowlis, Arty McGlynn, The John Carty Big Band, Kla, Sean Keane, Gerry OConnor (Banjo), Gerry OConnor (Fiddle), Lankum and more. In 2013 he won the All Ireland Champion Singer award at the Fleadh in Co. Derry, and in 2015 won theprestigious Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in Glasgow with the line-up FourWinds.Daoir finally stepped into the limelight in his own right, launching his own solo live career at Celtic Connections, in January 2016. In May the same year he was invited to fly to Manchester to do a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe just a week before his first UK tour. His name was suddenly everywhere and festival and show dates started to stream in from across the world.His long-awaiting follow-up album to The First Turn, True Born Irishman was released in October 2016. The following spring his won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Traditional Track and Best Newcomer and performed with a six piece line-up at the awards ceremony at Londons Royal Albert Hall.He has since performed in Australia, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, The Czech Republic, USA, Portugal and more and played festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival of Australia and many more. In 2018 he toured the UK with Transatlantic Sessions and recorded his next album with Dnal Lunny in the producers chair. His new album was released in February 2019.

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We welcome back the The Leylines who entertained us wonderfully n 2017.West-country collective established in 2013, with a genre-defying, eclectic sound that ranges from traditional folk to full blown festival rock. The Leylines are: Steve Mitchell (Vocals/Guitar), Hannah Johns (Violin), Dan Thompson (Electric Guitar), Sean Booth (Bass) and Dave Burbidge (Drums).The Leylines was founded by a group of musicians in Weston-super-Mare (via Bristol), wishing to combine their individual musical styles into something that isnt quite folk, sort of punk, 100% heart-pounding revelry. This unique sound, combined with Steves lyrics centred around life on the road and the state of society, has launched the band into the heart of the live music community and made them firm favourites of the festival circuit.The band released their debut album, Along The Old Straight Track in June 2016, produced by Sean Lakeman, recorded at The Metway studios in Brighton and mixed by Al Scott. With this team on board, inevitably the record has drawn strong comparison to the likes of The Levellers, Mad Dog Mcrea and Ferocious Dog, whilst remaining an album by a band which have forged their own sound and identity.In the following years The Leylines went on their first of many national tours, and were booked for Glastonbury Festival, where they performed six sets in as many days. They also played stages at Beautiful Days, Goldcoast Oceanfest, Something To Smile About Festival, The Godney Gathering and Big Feastival, as well as many other music festivals across the UK.The band then released their second studio album Recover Reveal, in March 2019.Starting work on it almost immediately after the release of Along The Old Straight Track, their second record was nearly three years of honing and crafting, with a number of tracks crowd-tested at numerous venues and festivals across the UK. The result is a collection of sincere, straight-from-the-heart performances, constructed with care, and played with passion.The Leylines then took Recover Reveal across the country, before heading into festival season to play everyones foot stomping favourites from both their albums.With a fiercely loyal and ever-growing fan base, The Leylines guarantee to have their audiences up on their feet and they will be having as much fun as their audience while theyre doing it!

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Tannara (Owen Sinclair, Robbie Greig, Becca Skeoch and Joseph Peach) have established themselves as one of the UKs most interesting and unique contemporary folk groups.Formed in 2014, the band came about as a natural extension of the four members love of making music together. Fuelled by this, theyve covered considerable musical ground over the past five years. With a background in Scotlands native traditions, their ceaseless musical development is a melting pot of ideas, genres and sounds: From indie rock to electronica, as well as Scotlands vibrant and diverse folk scene. Unafraid to experiment, their music is an electrifying meeting place for a world of sounds: Punchy and clean, riotous and gritty, tender and honest. On fiddle, harp, guitar, accordion and vocals, Tannara make an intensely considered musical world which is uniquely theirs. Their debut album Trig was released in 2016. Produced by Rachel Newton, their first offering as a band was a raw, joyous, reflection of a band finding its sound. It was received to great acclaim, from critics and audiences alike. Described by Living Tradition Magazine as Simply Outstanding, it was longlisted for Album of the Year at the 2016 Scots Trad Music Awards, the same year in which the band were nominated for Up and Coming Artist of the Year. From open air festivals, to intimate housconcerts, and everything in between, the band love playing live. A fact thats reflected by their so far busy schedule of performances and radio appearances across Europe, with highlights including Cambridge Folk Festival, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, a performance described as Fiery and Graceful by The Herald.The year ahead will be the biggest yet for Tannara, with the release of their second album Strands at Celtic Connections Festival 2019. The album represents a significant development for the band, whove spent the past two years writing and recording it.

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A WINTER UNION - Jade Rhiannon (Vocals, Shruti Box), Katriona Gilmore (Vocals, Mandolin, Fiddle), Jamie Roberts (Vocals, Guitar), Hannah Sanders (Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer) and Ben Savage (Vocals, Dobro, Guitar). Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic.Originally formed in 2015 for a one-off yuletide concert, A Winter Union returned in 2016 for more shows including Londons Cecil Sharp House and a live session on BBC Radio 3. This year brings the bands first line-up change with BBC Folk Award nominees Gilmore Roberts joining members of The Willows and Hannah Sanders.

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