Forest Fest, the indie boutique festival in Emo, which will be held in July 2023, has added a folk and trad programme, ‘The Forest Fleadh’ to its schedule, with the legendary Paul Brady the highlight act.
‘The Forest Fleadh’ will run on a separate stage across all three days of the festival weekend from July 21,22 and 23 next, featuring the who’s who of the genre alongside some of the most exciting emerging talent making a name for themselves on the trad scene.
Brady will perform on the main Forest Fest stage on the Sunday of the festival.
Others to feature on the Forest Fleadh line-up, a veritable festival within a festival, are Sharon Shannon, Daoirí Farrell Trio, Stockton’s Wing, Kíla le Prás, (Kíla with Brass), Greenshine, Two Time Polka, Goitse, Buíoch, and Emer Dunne.
“Such was the response to the folk acts and the trad sessions at our first Forest Fest this summer that we felt it was an important progression as the event evolved to ensure that this quality, this level of talent, this renaissance in interest in the phenomenon that is the Irish folk and trad,” says concert promoter Philip Meagher.
“Trad fans are going to be glued to this stage, Kíla performing with an eight-piece brass section, the thoughts of it, and we really have to commend the talented Dale Mckay for collaborating with us and helping to pull all this together.”
Talented trad musician himself, Dale Mckay is equally excited about what lies in store at next summer’s ‘Fleadh’ at Forest Fest.
“The Forest Fleadh brings you the very best of Irish traditional and folk music,” he added.
“There is something for everyone at next summer’s Forest Fleadh stage from the singing of the amazing Daoirí Farrell Trio, to a full on céilí featuring set dancing with The Grange Céilí Band and Irish trad from the absolute best such as Goitse, Blackie O’Connoll and Cyril O’ Donoghue to name just a few.
“The Forest Fleadh stage is a brand-new addition to next year’s festival, and we can’t wait to welcome you all to the Fleadh in the Forest to experience the very best of Irish music, culture and heritage,” outlines Dale, too bashful to mention that he’ll be there with his own crew, Buíoch.
“Curating a stage at a festival has always been a dream of mine so I want to extend a big thank you to Philip Meagher and the Forest Fest Team for asking me to help curate this stage.
“This has all grown out of the success of last year’s trad sessions at Forest Fest. I want to extend a special thanks to my band mates from Buíoch, Ruaidhri Ó Tiarnaigh, David Harte and Kurt Dinneen-Carroll for positive energy, abundant creativity, and the amazing welcoming atmosphere you create when playing music.
“This would not be happening without your helping hand, and that of Chloe Finlay and what we really want to do is bring a smile to people’s faces at the Fleadh and lift the place with our music,” Dale excitedly anticipates the trad scene in Emo village next July.
The full Forest Fleadh programme features
- Paul Brady
- Sharon Shannon
- Daoirí Farrell Trio
- Stockton’s Wing
- Kíla le Prás
- Greenshine
- Two Time Polka
- Emer Dunne
- Goitse
- Blackie O’Connoll and Cyril O’ Donoghue
- Carlos Sweeney McCairtin
- Buíoch
- Trad Hits
- Bog Bodies
- Caoivin
- Eva Coyle Band
- Eric de Buitléir
- Alfi
- The Grange Ceili Band and Set Dancing with Maureen Culleton
- Darren Roche and Cillian Doheny
- Splendid Isolation
- Roo Elizabeth and Band
- Tommy Fitzharris, Siobhan Buckley and Aoife Buckley
- Music Generation Trad Orchestra
- Miadhachlughain O’Donnoll and Joe Cambell Mcardle
- The Off Beats Bodhrán Club.
The day-by-day highlights for Forest Fest are now available on the festival website www.forestfest.ie, along with full details on flexible day tickets, weekend, and weekend camping tickets from Eventbrite.
Day tickets for the festival are transferable and can also be upgraded to weekend tickets.
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