Quiet Lights is an exciting and well-loved winter festival with a big heart, which aims to shine a light on the new wave of Irish and International folk, traditional, and experimental talent that are quietly forging new paths, recollecting old tales, and creating new stories.
Highlights this year include a large-scale double-header from Elaine Howley and Rachael Lavelle, presented with festival partners Live at St. Luke’s. Quiet Lights’ usual fare of presenting the best in upcoming folk & traditional music is the main strand throughout the festival again this year. They welcome artists Joshua Burnside & Memorial, who have both been trailblazing a name for themselves in the folk world, and the festival are excited to host a new duo performance from Aoife Ní Bhríain (fiddle) and Cork’s own Cormac McCarthy (piano) in Triskel Arts Centre. The Kurdish/Syrian phenom Mohammad Syfkhan opens the festival in Coughlan’s on the Thursday night, and the legendary concertina player Cormac Begley headlines St Lukes on the Sunday of the festival. There’s a feast of favourites, from Fionn Regan, Lisa Hannigan, Lemoncello, and the programme also features very exciting new indie artists such as Morgana (Saint Sister) and The Kates, as well as Zoe Basha, Ana Palindrome, The Tan Jackets, Catrin Fince, Cormorant Tree Oh, Julia Maria + more.