Ensemble Ériu, a septet led by Jack Talty and Neil O’Loghlen draw on a wealth of creative sources to perform arrangements of Irish traditional music rooted in the styles of West and North County Clare. The group brings together a chamber ensemble of some of Ireland’s most exciting young musicians from a range of performance backgrounds. The result is a unique combination of the fresh and familiar, a soundscape that is creatively progressive, yet rooted in tradition.

Monster Ceilidh Band, a five-piece outfit from Newcastle, are no strangers to experimentation, and they continue to demonstrate a great talent for producing innovative yet accessible music. They are a band which push the boundaries of contemporary folk in all the right directions, never retreating into a pastiche of either drum ‘n’ bass or folk. Their synergy respects both genres, and this results in a sound that is both credible and really good fun. The real talent here is that Monster Ceilidh Band’s style is clearly club influenced, yet light enough to still be enjoyable for those who are not natural followers of dance music. Their sound is like the cool sibling of traditional folk, the one with the band t-shirt and heavy eyeliner. In short…

“Monster Ceilidh Band have created a sound full of head-banging, glowstick-waving energy – and it’s epic.” Martha Buckley Folk Radio

Contemporary Irish Trad Group

Athrú are a new, vibrant, award winning, contemporary Irish Trad group that draw upon influences from Belfast and beyond to deliver music that is a combination of powerful accompaniment fused with modern tunes and delicate harmonies that is dynamic, energetic and fresh. The band originated through sessions in Belfast in early 2014, and despite their short time together have won Derry's "An Re Nua 2014" Competition, and have began recording their début EP album to be released next year. Through several competitions and festival appearances such as “Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann”, "Pan Celtic Festival", "Club Sásta", and supporting the likes of Trad super-groups: MOXIE, KAN, Goitse, Buille and the Máirtín O'Connor Trio; they have begun to build a strong following with their great sets and infectious onstage character.

 The band includes Belfast musicians Niall McIlroy (whistles/flutes/guitars), Cormac Crummey (guitars/fiddle/banjo), Brendan Loughran (concertina). Kevin Meehan from Dublin (bodhran/percussion/whistles) and Conor Broderick from Galway (piano/rhodes).

Folk trio TEYR evolved out of London’s thriving session scene, combining bothy ballads, focsle shanties, folk tunes and Irish poetry. Their unique blend of voices and instruments draws links between the many sounds of the Celtic and British isles. Featuring close vocal harmonies, fiddle, uilleann pipes, guitar, low whistle and accordion, and influenced by the great folk musicians who've come before, TEYR (‘3’ in the Cornish language) have honed their craft and thrive on weaving their diverse threads together.

Their acclaimed debut release Far From The Tree is a distillation of two years of playing, writing and wrangling. Recorded with the assistance of celebrated producer Gerry Diver (Lisa Knapp, Sam Lee, Tom Robinson), the “Excellent debut album” (The Independent) blends originals and reworked ballads, displaying the full breadth of the trio’s innovative and distinctive sound.

Described by Folk Radio UK as “High-energy brilliance”, James Gavin, Dominic Henderson and Tommie Black-Roff are three of London’s finest new breed of folk musician.

“Hugely impressive” fRoots

“If you only see one thing today, see TEYR” The Independent

”With a debut like this, UK folk music is in good hands” Maverick Magazine ****

“Their playing is exemplary, TEYR mesh and merge beautifully” Songlines

“TEYR create wonderful worlds” Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3

“Musicians of this dexterity, quality and charisma make post-trad ensemble TEYR one of the most playful and artful groups around.” Sam Lee

"Boundless energy, imagination and instrumental expertise” Folk Radio UK

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