Mercury Prize nominee Gwenno brings her Welsh and Cornish folk pop to Donegal
Tuesday night’s concert in the Regional Cultural Centre is one of the highlights of the Earagail Arts Festival in the coming days
Mercury Prize-nominated artist Gwenno brings her Welsh and Cornish folk pop to the Regional Cultural Centre on Tuesday, July 14.
Presented by Earagail Arts Festival in association with the Regional Cultural Centre, the concert offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience one of the UK's most original and celebrated contemporary artists live.
Born in Cardiff to Welsh and Cornish parents, Gwenno has earned international acclaim for her pioneering blend of psychedelic synth-pop, folklore and minority languages.
Her Mercury Prize-shortlisted album Tresor cemented her reputation as one of contemporary music's most distinctive voices, while her immersive live performances combine shimmering electronics, krautrock rhythms and soaring vocals to explore themes of identity, heritage and belonging.
Described by The Guardian as "a masterpiece of understated, atmospheric psych-pop" and by The Quietus as "one of the most impressive and singular artists at work in the British Isles today", Gwenno's Donegal performance promises to be one of the musical highlights of the summer.
Also on Tuesday, traditional music audiences can enjoy another festival favourite as the popular Trad Tráthnóna series continues at Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, at 8.30pm, with acclaimed singer-songwriter Inni-K (Eithne Ní Chatháin).
Celebrated for her distinctive fusion of sean-nós singing with folk, jazz and global influences, Inni-K is one of Ireland's most compelling contemporary traditional artists.
Also opening on Tuesday is the critically acclaimed Distillation, presented by An Grianán Theatre in partnership with Earagail Arts Festival.
Created and performed by Longford artist Luke Casserly, this extraordinary multi-sensory production invites audiences into the Irish bog through scent, sound and storytelling.
Inspired by the Midlands bog landscape where Casserly grew up, Distillation explores our relationship with the place following the end of Ireland's peat harvesting industry.
Developed in collaboration with renowned perfumer Joan Woods of Waters + Wild Organic Perfumery, the production creates an immersive theatrical experience that has captivated audiences across Ireland, the USA and Canada since premiering at Dublin Theatre Festival in 2023.
Performed on Tuesday and Wednesday at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm, the 50-minute production has received widespread critical acclaim, with The Irish Times awarding it four stars and praising it as "an ode to our landscape" that engages "not just sight and hearing but also touch, smell and even taste."
Wednesday, July 15 also sees acclaimed Derry pianist Ruth McGinley brings her acclaimed solo recital Glass and Beyond to the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, at 8pm.
Long recognised as one of Ireland's most adventurous pianists, McGinley presents an uninterrupted programme spanning the hypnotic minimalism of Philip Glass, the meditative beauty of Arvo Pärt, intimate Keith Jarrett arrangements and the lyrical jazz masterpieces of Bill Evans, concluding with the iconic Peace Piece.
From internationally acclaimed contemporary music and innovative theatre to exceptional traditional performance, Earagail Arts Festival continues to showcase world-class artistic experiences across Donegal throughout July. For full programme details and tickets visit www.eaf.ie.
Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by Donegal County Council, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Wild Atlantic Way.