The countdown is on to the 25th anniversary out of the Kilkenny Roots Festival, set to take over the city from 28 April to 1 May.
In truth, the countdown has been on since the last guitar was packed away for the 2022 edition last May and over the past few months we’ve been treated to regular name drops in the buildup towards a full lineup reveal. Now, all the big names have dropped.
If you’re unfamiliar with the festival, there are essential two strands – the ticketed gigs, as outlined below, and the non-ticketed or music trail gigs. Whatever your flavour, or whether you mix and match, you won’t be disappointed wherever you end up, such are the calibre of acts that appear on the bill every year, some arriving in Kilkenny before going on to much bigger platforms.
This year sees a few names make a return to Kilkenny – James Yorkstorn, Chuck Prophet, David Keenan among them – but there are plenty of new faces to grab tickets for and soak up some of that Roots goodness oozing out of venues around Kilkenny city.
2023 Kilkenny Roots Festival Marquee Acts
- James Yorkston, Nina Persson & The Secondhand Orchestra
- Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express
- William The Conqueror
- Jesper Lindell
- David Keenan
- Early James
- Kassi Valazza
- Fantastic Cat
- Florence Dore
- Carson McHone
- Austin Lucas
- Jolie Holland
- Allan Jones (in conversation)
- Martin Stephenson & John Perry
- Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection
There are also over 50 gigs planned for the Smithwick’s music trail with details of those usually finalised closer to March/April time.
All tickets are available online now at KilkennyRoots.com. Booking fees may apply.
