Gary Óg

Gary was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1978. He has been playing music professionally since 1994. It was then he joined his first band (Éire Óg), with whom he played for around 7 years. During that time he was privileged to play in many different cities and countries ranging from London, Belfast, Dublin, Sydney and New York to name just a few.

Since then he has been involved in a number of different musical projects, playing with bands such as Partisan and one of his current projects, The Exiles. He has been performing solo since 2001 and continues to ignite audiences everywhere he plays with his powerful delivery and uniquely rousing renditions of classic Irish tunes and his self-penned material. Gary has toured Australia three times with Troubadour, gaining avid new fans every time.

http://www.garyog.com

Damien Dempsey

From the post-pub singsongs of his childhood home to the stadiums of the world, Damien Dempsey is one of the biggest acts out of Ireland today. Following in the footsteps of The Dubliners and The Pogues, and adding reggae and rock and Celtic rap, Dempsey imbues traditional Irish folk with hard-hitting social themes. Astonishingly gifted, his arrow-true voice is powerful and poignant, his live performances, passionate and profound.

Damien has toured Australia with Troubadour Music on two occasions, once as main support for Sinéad O’Connor and most recently performed one of his best shows yet at the Sydney Opera House as part of the 2009 Luminous Festival.

'Look no further; Damien Dempsey is the real thing.' – Hotpress

'A phenomenal voice...' – Sunday Times

http://www.damiendempsey.com

Declan O'Rourke

Declan O'Rourke used to be one of Ireland's best kept secrets. But that all changed with the release of his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’. On it's release in Ireland, it reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine's 'Best Debut Album' award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers – invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the UK, and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller..

Declan's lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on the centre of everyday emotions and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands.

Declan’s Australian tours are a sort of homecoming for him, having spent much of his youth in Victoria.

"it's a rare gift that his music can bear comparison with so many classic era troubadours, Fred Neil, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen while still sounding so completely original" – Nigel Williamson, Uncut

http://www.declanorourke.com

John Spillane

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer – a canvass filled with colour and brilliance. His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience. In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic.

Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane, George Murphy, to name a few. He performs to audiences large and small everywhere. From his heart-warming visit to Senegal to film a 'musical visit' for an Irish television series (where he met and played music with, among others, the legendary Baaba Maal), to his 2008 Australian tour where he sang the Irish National Anthem before 45,000 people attending the Australia vs Ireland Aussie Rules Football, to singing for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese (by invitation), and so on ad infinitum... John's 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 Cork humour. If you are looking for a night of good 'craic', a John Spillane show should not be missed.

" ...some of the most skillfully crafted, vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland over the past dozen years." – Earle Hitchner, premier writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal.

" ...glorious technicolour hues that transcend linguistic boundaries; world music for a new world." – Siobhán Long, Irish Times (The Gaelic Hit Factory).

http://johnspillane.com

Gavin Moore

Based out of West Cork, for the last 8 years Gavin Moore has taken his time in tending his own branch of a family tree that is among the most celebrated in Irish Music. Over this period, with Debarras Folk Club as his base, he has perfected his craft on the English, Eastern European, Australian and Scandinavian Folk Circuits performing headline shows and at festivals, spanning from Dundee Scotland to Dundee Australia. With his soulful emotive voice Gavin’s songs owe far more to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and anomie of every day modern life than that of his titanic uncles, yet all the while giving them respectful nods.

His new record 'Tonnta', about to be released, is a beautiful atmospheric combination of folk rock & traditional Irish influence, which makes assured steps into musical territory as yet uncharted, surfing the crest of a secret wave somewhere between Jack Johnson and Iarla Ó Lionáird.

http://www.myspace.com/mooregavin

Gaelic Storm

It has now been more than a decade since Gaelic Storm's career lifted off with their appearance in the blockbuster film 'Titanic'. Since their big-screen debut 12 years ago, the band's fan base continues to multiply with each new album, turning the one-time-pub-band into one of the premier touring acts in the Celtic/World music genre. Gaelic Storm's compelling originals and fresh arrangements steeped in Celtic traditional melody combined with their unique blend of world rhythms continue to broaden the musical horizons of the Celtic music genre creating new standards for generations to come.

Highlights from their decade-spanning career include seven Billboard Chart topping albums, a DVD, a full-length concert film featured on HD.net in 2007 – 2008, song placement on two EA Sports Games, a 2008 Hallmark greeting card featuring their song 'Kiss Me I'm Irish', countless television and radio appearances, and of course, an appearance in James Cameron's 'Titanic'.

Gaelic Storm toured Australia in 2008 and were a huge success.

http://gaelicstorm.musiccitynetworks.com/

Liam Byrne (Christy Moore tribute show)

Liam J. Byrne, (the J is for Jesus!), was born on July 9th 1973. During the summer of 1991 he met a local musician who promised to teach him a few chords on guitar. The following year he played his first gig in Boggan’s Bar, Co. Wexford. Being a solo musician he found himself performing a lot of songs by made famous by another great influence, Christy Moore.

Christy’s style of singing, playing, and the humour of his shows appealed to him and in 2000 began to tour Ireland performing his "Ordinary Man - A tribute to Christy Moore" show. This show has taken him all over Ireland performing at the top festivals, finest venues, and nearly all the main colleges and Universities. Last year he took it to Australia, the home of the tribute act, and played some huge shows capping it all off with a sold-out night a Sydney’s Manning Bar. With the 2008 tour being so well received he’s decided to come back this November.

Check the upcoming shows page for dates.

http://www.liambyrne.com/

The Luke Kelly Tribute Band

In a country which has produced countless great ballad singers, Luke Kelly is widely recognised as being the finest ballad voice Ireland has ever heard. As the lead singer with the internationally renowned Dubliners, the power and passion of the voice of Luke Kelly gave us the definitive versions of numerous all time classics. 'Raglan Road', 'The Town I Love So Well' and 'A Song for Ireland' will forever be associated with the legendary Luke Kelly.

In 2001, the show 'The Legend of Luke Kelly', featuring Chris Kavanagh & The Patriots, was launched at the Hot press HQ in Dublin. In attendance were many of Luke's family, friends and former musical colleagues. The show proved to be an overwhelming success and the band were booked for what was to become a 'sell out' three month residency at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin. This success placed the show among the most highly acclaimed box office hits in Ireland. The group has continued to amaze audiences following powerful performances in many prominent Irish venues.

Lead singer, Chris Kavanagh, bears a remarkable resemblance to Luke while his singing talent captures the depth and the passion of the great man. Chris's natural voice has been described by critics as the closest comparison to the voice of Luke Kelly, and that is some claim by anyone's standards.

http://www.legendoflukekelly.com

Brett Hunt

Born and bred in a small country town, Brett Hunt’s family always had music. They would sit around a century old pianola at family gatherings and sing everything from American country to Australian folk.

Since then Brett’s signature sound has evolved over hundreds of shows in country town pubs, National festivals and packed house at city venues. From early performances in country halls, Brett has gone on to wow crowds in major metro venues. His proven stagecraft has seen him support music legends such as Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Roger McGuinn, Terry Callier, Dr. John and Robben Ford.

Brett is currently in Europe working on his next album.

http://www.bretthunt.com.au

Anthony McKeon

Anthony McKeon is a man with a message; his songs are intelligent, funny and emotive and his performances warm and engaging, sometimes bordering on outrageous!

Born and raised in Dublin and now based in Bondi, Anto has travelled the world with a guitar on his back. His ability to connect with people gives him a unique view of humanity that is grounded, beautiful and optimistic.

http://www.myspace.com/antomckeon

Sydney City Trash

Sydney City Trash have been playing for 6 years. Through constant touring and their amazing, energetic live performances, Sydney City Trash have established a loyal and ever expanding fan base, both in Australia and abroad.

The Trash have played numerous festivals including The Come Together Festival, Earthdance, The St Patricks Day Festival in Sydney's Hyde Park, Reclaim The Streets, The Australian Fleadh as well as headlining at the 2008 Newtown Festival. They have shared the stage with a wide range of international acts, including Flogging Molly, Gary Óg, Declan O'Rourke, Alastair Hulette, Damien Dempsey and British performance artists Dirty Sanchez. Damien Dempsey was so impressed by the band that he offered to record a song with them which features on their new album 'Terror Australia' due out October 2009.

Having independently released two albums 'Classic Country Hits' and 'Once Upon In Australia' The Trash are set to release their third album through Troubadour Music in October 2009. This is an album the boys are intensely proud of - the strongest and most accomplished to date. They are about to set sail to launch the new album with a series of national tours. They are most certainly destined for bigger and better things as they spread their unique brand of Convict Country Rock'n'Roll.

Check out Sydney City Trash at a venue near you for some good time jig dancing, jug swilling Aussie country punk this October.

“…get thee to a Sydney City Trash show or your eyes be damned!” – Drum Media.

Go to upcoming shows for tour dates.

www.myspace.com/sydneycitytrash