Philadelphia Here She Comes... Virtually!

Cavan native Lisa O’Neill, is among the 18 Irish musical acts who will perform virtually at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Due to take place Saturday, August 15, the event is being held with the support of Culture Ireland. For the first time ever, the festival has dedicated a full day of its programme to performances by Irish musicians.

Many of the artists taking part would normally be headlining summer festivals.

Along with Lisa, the festival will welcome the sounds of We Banjo 3, Téada, Moxie, and such emerging bands The Ocelots, Corner Boy and Karrie with Jimmy Smyth.

Amazingly skilled soloists include Daoirí Farrell, Mick Flannery, Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hot House Flowers, and virtuoso guitarist Shane Hennessy.

Others to play include The Henry Girls from Donegal, Lisa Canny from Sligo, Susan O’Neill from Clare, uilleann piper Mark Redmond from Wexford and Kila from Dublin, as well as Navá, who explore the music of Ireland and Persia, and Slow Moving Clouds, who fuse elements of the Irish and Nordic folk traditions with more contemporary sounds.

Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, announcing the line-up today, said: “I am delighted that my Department, through Culture Ireland, can support this hugely talented line-up of Irish artists to reach a global audience at the Philadelphia Folk Festival this year. The festival’s special online platform allows us to share our musicians worldwide and build on Ireland’s strong reputation for music as well as offering the musicians an important paid opportunity to perform and connect with their audience.”

Lisa Schwatrz, Festival and Programming Director added: “I believe that music is what connects us and we could all use a positive reminder right now that we are all in this storm together. So, creating an event that can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world where there is internet, I hope will go a long way to bringing our community closer, especially at a time when we are forced to be apart.”

READ MORE: https://www.anglocelt.ie/2020/06/17/watch-lisas-voice-fills-the-national-concert-hall/