TradFest kicks off in Dublin

THE full line up for the 12th annual TradFest kicking off in Temple Bar this week has been announced. Running from 25-29 January, the programme features a wide array of traditional and world music reflecting the festival theme ‘Trad with Frontiers’.

Headline concerts will be taking place in many historical and iconic buildings including St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin City Hall, Dublin Castle, St Werburgh’s Church and St Michan’s Church.

‘Front Row Sessions’, featuring five of the very best in trad and folk music, will be taking place in the intimate setting of the pubs of Temple Bar while Live at the Hub will host late night gigs where you can enjoy some of Ireland’s brightest new talent in the trad and folk scene today. 

The TradFest Music Trail – organised by the pubs of Temple Bar – offers the chance to discover new acts, enjoy rousing ballad sessions and get involved in sing-a-long sessions. 

Among the artists taking part will be Fairport Convention, Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, Maria McKee, Crannua, featuring Moya Brennan, Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney, Altan, and Four Men & A Dog.

There will also be family concerts at Dublin City Hall featuring two days of wonderful music, song and dance with young students of trad from all over Ireland.

There will also be a very special performance by The Chinese Spring Festival Children’s performers who are travelling to Ireland to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

A series of special concerts for young audiences performed by Moxie, a young band at the forefront of new Irish trad music, will be staged as part of Children’s Hub at the Ark,  from Friday, January 27 at 10.15am and 12.15pm and on Saturday, 28 at 2pm and 4pm.

As well as the live music there will be other attractions laid on over the various days of the festival including a Childvision Petting Farm, IMRO Live Music and International Touring Panel, TradFest at the Icon Factory, ‘The Irishmen: An impression of Exile’ screening at the IFI, Songwriting from Within A Tradition: Masterclass with Iarla Ó Lionáird, Visual Rhythm at Graphic Studio Gallery and the Lazy Bike Tour. 

For full details see templebartrad.com