The Smithwick’s Sessions Temple Bar are a series of over 50 free curated Trad & Folk concerts which take place in only 12 premium venues across Temple Bar. These concerts feature some of the best-established folk and trad artists from across the island of Ireland along with some of the most exciting emerging talent. More info and the full line-up can be found here.
Photo: Cat Couture
Each year, Tradfest takes over the city with 12 venues welcoming over 50 curated trad sessions. Smithwick’s Sessions are adding to the pedigree by taking over Temple Bar with free performances from some of Ireland’s favourite trad musicians.
Kicking off on the 23 January, Dublin’s citywide celebration of traditional music is set to span until Sunday 26 January. Giving a mixture of established folk artists and emerging trad performers, the sessions allow you to hear what you know best and also unearth some gems. Irish artists such as The Scratch and BIIRD, who have left an impact on the trad and folk world will be taking centre stage. Perfect music for a winter’s eve.
Tradfest’s reach ranges across Dublin, ranging from grand, historical venues such as The GPO or Malahide Castle to the intimate snug in your local. In its history, some of the most prominent names in trad have graced the festival, facilitating céilí’s in churches and sessions in theatres. A free for all flurry of flutes, fiddles harps and more.
The Smithwick’s Sessions see almost 50 artists throughout Temple Bar establishments, including The Auld Dubliner, Gogarty’s, O’Riorden’s and The Porterhouse. Folk and trad like are set to abundant for a weekend in the heart of the capital.
Madra Salach
A group to keep an eye on for sure. Recently performing at Whelan’s Ones To Watch Weekend, Madra Salach were hard to forget. A mesmerising melancholy comes from the five-piece group, taking us through a timewarp to traditional Ireland and beautifully performed vocals by Paul Banks. Music that controls a crowd. In a world where cajons and synths exist, why not use both?
The lads are set to be playing on 25 January, alongside a dozen other acts, in the perfect pub setting of Fitzsimmon’s.
Alfi
The trad scene in Louth is clearly alive and hopping, and Alfi is proof of that. This multi-award winning trio, formed in 2017, blend traditional Irish and Appalachian music into a distinctive sound that has gained them recognition in the folk and traditional music circles. Their unique instrumentation – Alannah Thornburgh on harp, Fiachra Meek on uilleann pipes and banjo, and Ryan McAuley on the five-string banjo sets them apart. Ryan and Fiachra first crossed paths at Dundalk Institute of Technology and later joined forces with Alannah at the Arcadian Fields Festival at Bellurgan Park.
Their growing acclaim includes nominations for the RTE Folk Awards’ ‘‘Best Emerging Folk Artist’, US Embassy Creative Minds Award and ‘The Caoimhin O Dochartaigh Award.’ With the release of their debut album ‘Say Old Man’ in July 2023. Catch them on Sunday 26 January in The Nyx Hotel.
Smithwick’s sessions and the rest of Tradfest is an unmissable weekend to reconnect with the roots of trad and witness those who are preserving the genre as well as pushing it forward. Click here to find out more about Tradfest and grab tickets to Smithwick’s Sessions.
Please enjoy Smithwick’s responsibly. Visit www.drinkaware.ie for more information.
The Smithwick’s Sessions Temple Bar are a series of over 50 free curated Trad & Folk concerts which take place in only 12 premium venues across Temple Bar. These concerts feature some of the best-established folk and trad artists from across the island of Ireland along with some of the most exciting emerging talent. More info and the full line-up can be found here.