Music / January 9, 2023

Bricknasty, Alicia Raye & more to join cbakl at TradFest

Music / January 9, 2023

Bricknasty, Alicia Raye & more to join cbakl at TradFest

Photo credit: Mark Ryan Ferguson

The Belfast-based producer is reimagining traditional music with the help of hip hop samples.

As part of Temple Bar TradFest, Portrush artist cbakl is going back into the archives to put his own spin on an established sound. The hip hop producer has made a name for himself as a prolific artist through his sample heavy works that pull influence from Knxwledge and J Dilla. As part of the festival he’s reworking trad music with samples from modern hip hop classics as part of his mission to innovate without totally abandoning Ireland’s roots.

The show (Word Up Collective presents cbakl: seanfhocail) takes place on January 27 and will feature a number of guests including fellow Belfast-based artist Alicia Raye, Ballymun’s Bricknasty, one half of Tebi Rex Matt Ó, Natalya O’Flaherty and Sasha Terfous.

Having established a following on Soundcloud as a teenager, working with underground UK rappers like looms. and sharing instrumentals of his own, he’s continued to expand his sound in the past couple of years as he’s graduated to Spotify and Apple music.

The performances will also feature archival footage. For a taster of what’s to come, watch cbakl’s teaser which features a Chance The Rapper sample below:

cbakl performs at the Button Factory on 27 January 2023. Click here for tickets.

Elsewhere on District: How a fan convinced Loyle Carner to keep making music.