Right Here Right Now festival returns in November to celebrate some of the finest in contemporary Irish music in the wonderful settings of Cork Opera House and Coughlan’s. Now in its fourth year, Right Here Right Now is a celebration of the vibrant and eclectic music scene both in Cork and across Ireland. Tickets are on sale from Monday, October 4 at 12PM.
An exciting all-female bill of Mary Coughlan, Wallis Bird, Loah and Niamh Regan open the first night of Right Here Right Now on Friday November 12, accompanied by the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. This is followed by a very special evening of traditional and folk music with John Spillane and Junior Brother, again playing alongside the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra on Saturday November 13, with more artists still to be announced playing over the weekend.
“Ireland’s Mary Coughlan is arguably the greatest female singer to have emerged from Ireland in recent times. Mary is a jazz & blues singer whose life story gives weight to the truth that the best singers are the ones with the most painful lives” – (The Guardian). Whether into folk, blues or jazz, no one can fail to be moved by the emotional depth, expression and power in her voice, forged from an extraordinary life.
Loah is Sallay-Matu Garnett, a singer-songwriter of Irish/Sierra Leonian descent. She performs her unique blend of Afro-folksoul across solo projects and with collaborators including Hozier and Lisa Hannigan. During the pandemic Loah continued to contribute culturally, co-presenting the primetime RTE show The Heart of Saturday Night with Úna Healy and has just released a mini-album of poetry from the 1920s set to music as a direct response to the backdrop of our current moment.
Wallis Bird, meanwhile, needs no introduction to a huge and loyal fanbase on Leeside – who rightfully acknowledge her as one of the most visceral and exciting live acts to come out of Ireland in recent times. The Choice Music Prize-nominated Niamh Regan is one this country’s fastest rising stars and her stunning debut album, Hemet, wowed critics across the boards on its release in 2020.
A second evening of tradition and folk music will also be accompanied by the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. Offering up the very best in our dynamic folk scene, John Spillane and Junior Brother will come together on the iconic Cork Opera House stage for a memorable concert on Saturday, November 13th.
John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. His vocal style has a unique, almost sean-nós, quality and his performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs, as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent humour. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure
An idiosyncratic, challenging and richly lyrical singer-songwriter, Junior Brother is the pseudonym of Co Kerry artist Ronan Kealy. Following his acclaimed debut album, Pull The Right Rope, (another Choice Music Prize nominee for Irish Album of the Year), Junior Brother has whipped up a dedicated following thanks to his unmissable live shows and music both excitingly forward-looking and anciently evocative.
Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO Cork Opera House says: “’The Right Here, Right Now Festival brings together everything that lies at the core of who we are at Cork Opera House, and everything that we’ve been missing over the last 18 months – our orchestra live on stage with amazing established and upcoming home-grown artists, a diversity of programme; collaborating with outstanding artists and professionals; working together with our talented friends and colleagues in Coughlan’s who, like many small independent venues over the last while, have worked so hard to keep the show on the road, and most importantly, welcoming audiences into our house to share magical experiences together with friends and loved ones. It’s a glorious return to live music and I really can’t wait!”
Brian Hassett, Managing Director Coughlans Live, says: “There were times over the course of the last year and a half where it seemed like we may never get back to our normal way of life – in our industry in particular, it was difficult to imagine a return to what we do: rooms packed full of people, artists creating special moments on stage, and everyone working so hard behind the scenes to make these moments happen. There’s a community in bringing that all together, and Right Here, Right Now is a way of celebrating that community, and really shouting from the rooftops that ‘we’re back’. Working together with Cork Opera House on such a special project is really proof of what amazing things we can all create when that community comes together.”
Right Here Right Now will be an unmissable weekend of music celebrating some of our most treasured artists. The Cork Opera House and Coughlan’s team have assembled an impressive line-up so far, and promise even more captivating announcements to come, with a third day in store on November 14. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 4 at 12PM.
Tickets: €25*, €15* concession tickets for Students and OAPs.
Book Online: www.corkoperahouse.ie
Book by phone: 021-4270022 *Phone and online tickets may include booking fees
Cork Opera House acknowledges the financial support of The Arts Council of Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council
