Exciting Line Up at Monroe’s Live For Galway Arts Festival

Monroe’s Live has a vibrant line-up of acclaimed artists as part of the Galway International Arts Festival, with performances from Oisín Leech, Lemoncello, Lumiere, Darren Kiely, Róisín O, Teddy Thompson, Gruff Rhys, George Murphy and The Rising Sons and Tara Howley. 

Oisín Leech and Lemoncello:

Singer-songwriter Oisín Leech, one half of revered folk duo The Lost Brothers, will perform on Saturday, July 20th at 7:30pm. Having released his debut album, Cold Sea to critical acclaim, this intimate yet otherworldly collection of songs has been named by the Irish Times as one of the top ten Irish albums of 2024.

He will be supported by Lemoncello duo, Laura Quirke and Claire Kinsella. Embedded in Irish and folk roots, they embrace off-kilter indie pop, jazz, romantic and contemporary classical, with irresistible chemistry, charisma, and humour.

Lumiere:

Renowned music duo Éilís Kennedy and Pauline Scanlon come together as Lumiere on Sunday, July 21st at 8pm. Immersed in the west Kerry singing tradition, they bring a fusion of traditional Irish music and modern sensibility, creating an experience that is both timeless and refreshingly contemporary. 

Darren Kiely:

Recently announced as the support act for James Blunt in Ireland, and fresh from an extensive US tour, singer-songwriter Darren Kiely will bring his brand of folk infused pop on Tuesday, July 23rd at 8pm. An award winning musician from a young age, he unleashes his life experience through song, and with over 6.5 million total global streams, he is making waves from his adopted home of New York.

Róisín O:

As one of Ireland’s most accomplished female vocalists, Róisín O performs on Wednesday 24th July at 8pm. Renowned for her captivating voice that has been likened to Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush, Róisín O has firmly established herself as one of Ireland's leading female artists. Since the release of her debut album, The Secret Life of Blue, Róisín has been celebrated for her introspective and powerful song writing. The daughter of Mary Black, she has carved her own path in the music industry.

Teddy Thompson:

The only son of British folk-rock legends Richard and Linda Thompson, singer-songwriter, Teddy Thompson, takes to the stage on Thursday, July 25th at 8pm. He is renowned for his rich, honey toned vocals, blending British folk, American pop, and country elements. 

He has collaborated with artists such as Martha and Rufus Wainwright, Allison Moorer, Shelby Lynn, Dori Freeman and Roseanne Reid. His album, My Love of Country, is a stunning reinterpretation of classic country songs originally made famous by George Jones, Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, and many others, and he has also reimagined the great country duets with Jenni Muldaur.

Gruff Rhys:

One of the great pop eccentrics of his generation, Gruff Rhys, brings his melodically rich, stylistically adventurous works to Monroe’s Live on Friday, July 26th at 8pm. He gained fame in the mid '90s with Super Furry Animals, and has continued to craft melodically rich, stylistically adventurous works as a solo artist.

With a career spanning over three decades, his mix of rock, electronic, and psychedelic elements has come together in his latest album, Sadness Sets Me Free. Written around maintaining hope in bleak times, he continues to celebrate otherness, a way of reaching out to the oddballs and characters, who create imperfect connections.

George Murphy and The Rising Sons:

George Murphy and The Rising Sons combine stellar vocals with traditional Irish instrumentation and classic rock n’ roll on Saturday, July 27th at 7:30pm. This eight piece band comprising of banjos, whistles, fiddles, bodhrans and electric guitars blend trad, folk and rock n’ roll, with the enigmatic George at the helm, hailed as one of the most exciting vocal finds in Ireland. 

Tara Howley:

Multi award-winning artist and former Riverdance piper from Kilfenora, Co. Clare, Tara Howley will perform on Sunday, July 28th at 8pm. Having recently released her new album, Take Two, featuring traditional music and song, this is a unique opportunity to see the Kilfenora native as she showcases her latest work. Tara gained international acclaim for her role as the lead uilleann piper and whistle player with Riverdance.

Classically trained, she has leveraged her technical skills to connect with audiences worldwide, and began her career gigging in Doolin at the age of 15. Inspired by Co. Clare uilleann piper Blackie O’Connell, she has mastered the instrument and earned recognition in the traditional music scene. With numerous all-Ireland titles, she has performed across Europe, Asia, America, and Canada.

For more information and to purchase tickets log on to www.monroes.ie .