Ispíní na Éireann + John Byrne Band

Dublin native and Philadelphia resident, John Byrne leads his eponymously-named band. Their latest recordA Shiver in the Sky, recorded at Spice House Sound in Philadelphia and produced by long-time collaborator Andy Keenan, shows his band of multi-instrumentalists vibrantly executing ten new originals. Strings, banjo, accordion and guitars escort Byrneʼs vocals through a set of songs about living and pushing forward through negative times. Following up After the Wake (2011), Celtic Folk (2013) and The Immigrant and the Orphan(2015), A Shiver in the Skyfocuses on triumph over trauma and on Jan 13th reached #1 on the Roots Music Report Alternative Folk Album Charts. It has also reached #18 on the overall Folk Album Charts. With influences ranging from Tom Waits to Planxty, Johnʼs songwriting honors and expands upon the musical and lyrical traditions of his native and adopted homes. Critics have called his writing “powerful, deeply moving work that will stay with you long after you have heard it” (Michael TearsonSing Out); Both as a solo/acoustic act, and a full 6-piece band, John logs in over 150 shows per year, building a loyal and devoted following. John spent 2017/18 recording and releasing an album of folk songs and Dublin Street Songs with his father John Sr. Released under the name John J.Byrne and the Twangmen,the album has been included in the National Folk Music Archives in Ireland. Previous Festival experience includes Adams County, Erie Folk Festival, The Philadelphia Folk Fest (on 4 occasions), Celtic Classic (Bethlehem, PA), Pipes in the Valley (Hartford CT), Saltwater Celtic Fest, Phila Irish Fest, Phila Fleadh, Musikfest (on 4 occasions), Maine Celtic Celebration (twice headlining), Hollywood Irish Festival (Florida) and performing for former President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a celebration of the Good Friday Agreement at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Ispíní na hÉireann is a dynamic trad-rock collective from Dublin, formed in 2018 and fronted by singer-songwriter Tomás Mulligan. Drawing from deep roots in Irish traditional music, the group features a rotating lineup of exceptional musicians, including regulars cellist and fiddle player Aongus MacAmhlaigh, multi-instrumentalist Pádraig Óg Mac Aodhagáin (saxophone, flute, Uilleann pipes), banjo player Paahto Cummins, and bodhrán player Declan Gillen, among many other celebrated Irish artists. Blending original compositions with inventive reimaginings of classic tunes, Ispíní na hÉireann craft a sound that is bold, vibrant, and unmistakably Irish. Their music combines technical brilliance with wit, heart, and layers of social commentary, creating performances that are as thought-provoking as they are entertaining. Following the success of their debut album Hard Working Men, the band is currently recording their much-anticipated second album, Poxtail Soup, promising more high-energy songs that will both inspire and amuse audiences. With a reputation for electrifying live shows and a unique creative voice, Ispíní na hÉireann continue to redefine what contemporary Irish music can be.