Seventh Heaven @ Kilkenny Roots Festival 2023
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, The Kilkenny Roots Festival once more lived up to its standing as the premier roots festival in Ireland. With a hybrid-genre line up that catered for all tastes, it was little surprise that the venues were teeming at the majority of both the ticketed acts and the free trail. It wasn’t possible for Lonesome Highway to get around The Marble City to see all the artists but here are seven that particularly hit our sweet spot.
1. Freeman’s Country Carvery @ Cleere’s
The Honky Tonkers from The Rebel County transformed the backroom at Cleere’s into a Robert’s Western World Nashville experience, with over two hours of classic country music. Joined by the sweet-voiced Anna Mitchell for a number of songs, the six-piece band is on a noble journey to keep real country music alive and kicking in Ireland.
2. Florence Dore @ Billy Byrne’s
Classy, sassy, and full-on, Florence Dore and her razor-sharp band of Mark Spencer on guitar, Jeff Rigby on drums and Bonnie Whitmore on bass, lived up to all expectations with a set that overflowed with positive energy and was laced with catchy hooks.
3. Kassi Valazza @ Kyteler’s
A laid-back set of cosmic Americana from Californian Kassi Valazza mainly featured material from her upcoming album KASSI VALAZZA KNOWS NOTHING. Her crystal-clear vocals and deft playing from her two-piece band were enthralling, rich and hypnotic.
4. Carson McHone @ Cleere’s
Playing to a pin-drop silent room, Austin’s Carson McHone accompanied by Shannon McGrath, performed material from her most recent album, STILL LIFE. Carson’s crystalline vocals and slick guitar work presented the songs in a stripped- back and impassioned format, emphasising her elegant lyrical style.
5. Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection @ Ryan’s
The London-born and Nashville-based pedal steel supremo’s mesmerising set genre hopped between prog, folk and freeform instrumentals. Aided by guitarist Sean Thompson and ambient spiritual jazz player Rich Ruth, they cast their musical spell far and wide.
6. Chuck Prophet @ Kyteler’s
A much-loved and charismatic guitar slinger, Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express’ much-anticipated return to Kilkenny brought the Festival’s curtain down in fine style. Pumped up and enjoying every moment as much as the packed house, Chuck and his band sent us home sweating, with ringing ears, and grinning broadly.
7. Fantastic Cat @ The Set
On their first visit to Ireland, Fantastic Cat wowed the late-night Set Theatre audience on Saturday night with their blend of high energy pop/rock/folk songs, performed with verve. Their individual songwriting talents merged superbly, along with their harmonies and truly staggering instrument swopping.
Photography and review by Declan Culliton and Eilís Boland