Nicola Joyce, one of Ireland's most distinctive folk music voices, is best known as a founding member of the acclaimed Galway folk trio The Whileaways. Hailed by Hot Press as "among the finest singers in the country" and the Irish Echo (USA) as "masters of arrangement and songwriting”, the group are renowned for their luminous three-part harmonies, evocative songwriting and innovative arrangements. The Whileaways have released four critically acclaimed albums with a fifth due for release in September 2026.

Alongside The Whileaways, Nicola performs with traditional music ensemble The Half Room, featuring long-time collaborator Pauline Scanlon, and is also a member of Bird on the Wire – The Songs of Leonard Cohen, a celebrated collective honouring the music of one of songwriting's most enduring voices.

Nicola first came to international prominence with the groundbreaking traditional band Gráda, whose energetic and contemporary approach to Irish music saw them tour extensively throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Their final album, produced in Nashville by Grammy Award winner Tim O'Brien, cemented the band's reputation as one of Ireland's most innovative traditional acts.

As a solo artist, Nicola draws from a deep well of folk traditions on both sides of the Atlantic, weaving together traditional song with compelling original material. Her music is rooted in a lifetime immersed in Irish traditional and folk singing, while embracing contemporary influences with warmth, honesty and emotional depth. Whether performing centuries-old ballads or her own compositions, Nicola's unmistakable voice continues to enthrall audiences wherever she performs.

Recipient of the inaugural Liam O’Flynn Award presented by the National Concert Hall and the Arts Council, Barry Kerr hails from the southern shores of Lough Neagh in County Armagh. He is an acclaimed composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and visual artist whose work is deeply rooted in Irish landscape, tradition and storytelling.

Over an international career spanning more than two decades, Barry has toured extensively as a solo artist and collaborated with many of Ireland’s leading performers including Steve Cooney, Cara Dillon, Lumiere and Dervish. His compositions have been recorded and performed by artists such as Damien Dempsey, Karan Casey, Flook, Jiggy, Beoga, Brian Finnegan, Damian O’Kane and Kate Rusby, becoming part of concert repertoires around the world.

His work has also made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural life and, in 2023, he was appointed Traditional Musician in Residence at University College Cork. Further afield, Barry has appeared on some of the world’s most renowned stages including Radio City Music Hall, New York and the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles. His career has taken him throughout Europe and North America, as both a solo artist and collaborator, sharing Irish traditional music with audiences worldwide.

His seventh studio album, Curlew’s Cry (2026), inspired by folklore, the natural world and Ireland’s rich musical tradition, was named Folk on Foot‘s Folk
Album of the Year confirming his place as one of Ireland’s most distinctive contemporary folk and traditional artists.

Alan Doherty is one of the most admired and respected flute players in Irish music. The inspiration behind traditional super groups Gráda and Aldoc, he is constantly exploring new musical ground, creating breathtaking music that has delighted listeners for decades. With a jazz influenced and improvisatory style, his soaring flute playing transcends genres and “updates and reinforces the common bond between his own traditional Irish dance music and the music of the rest of the world”.

The quality of his creative output has been recognised by many esteemed artists, with leading flute player Matt Malloy describing Alan as “one of Ireland’s foremost traditional flute players” and legendary bluegrass artist Tim O’Brien referring to his “pristine and soulful flute and whistle playing”.

Much in demand as a courageous and generous collaborator, he has worked with such notable artists as Damien Dempsey, Declan O’Rourke, Eleanor Shanley, Kila, Emily Smith, Guildwires, Jarŋŋa and The Barleyshakes. As a producer, he has lent his considerable skills to albums by Four Men and a Dog, Julie Fowlis, Gerry O’Connor, Tom Moore, Colin Farrell, Mick Mc Namara and Aglor gospel.

TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2020 Young Musician of the Year, Sharon Howley is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer and arranger from Kilfenora, Co. Clare. Growing up immersed in the rich musical heritage of North Clare, she began playing cello at the age of ten and has since developed a unique distinctive approach to the instrument, firmly rooted in the Irish tradition. She has been highly praised as “one of the pioneers of cello within Irish Traditional Music” and her playing combines the expressive qualities of the cello with the rhythm and character of Irish traditional music.

Sharon is a member of the renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band, one of Ireland’s most celebrated traditional music groups. The band performs an exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music and song and is lauded worldwide for its signature sound, combining driving rhythms and stunning arrangements. As a key member, Sharon has performed regularly to sold out audiences at the National Concert Hall and appeared on national radio and television programmes such as The Late Late Show.