The annual SOMA Festival kicked off yesterday in Castlewellan and the surrounding area running until Sunday July 22.
Featuring a wide range of entertainment including walking tours, creative workshops, a Body & Soul weekend hosted by TONIC Health and Wellness, the Festival will also see 15 live music events taking place at venues across the town.
From hip hop groups to traditional Irish singing by the greats, and from Cuban drum beats to sing along choirs, there’s something for everyone at SOMA.
Following Paul Brady’s stellar performance last night along with support act Brigid O’Neill here are 14 live music events taking place over the course of the rest of the festival that you won’t want to miss:
1. Transgroak, Wednesday July 18 – 10pm, King’s Inn
Transgroak is the brainchild of Yacine Aouissi and Tonino Villar. The pair have toured the world with their team of international musicians, playing a variety of styles blending world, funk and folk music into a sound that is distinctly their own.
Tickets: £10.00, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/FYKJJWKKIIGx
2. Damien Dempsey, Thursday July 19 – 9pm, St Malachy’s GAC
Damien will be joined by the 2018 SOMA House Band. Damien’s wide appeal lies in his ability to understand and interpret the sufferings and wrongs inflicted upon the working class of Irish society, his deep-rooted love of his country and culture, and his unwavering commitment to singing songs with a message – delivering hop to his many fans.
Tickets: £25, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/BCDqBWTlRFNE
3. Cathy Jordan, Friday July 20 – 9pm, King’s Inn
Singer-songwirter, multi-instrumentalist, and frontwoman of one of Ireland’s most iconic traditional bands, Dervish, Cathy Jordan is rightly regarded as one of the finest traditional singers this country has ever produced. With a remarkable musical career that has spanned over two decades and taken the renowned Roscommon singer all over this globe, this is a show not to be missed.
Tickets: £15
4. The Olllam, Saturday July 21 – 9pm, St Malachy’s GAC
A sheer melting pot of sound, The Olllam fall somewhere between jazz, progressive rock, trad and a little touch of roots. Expect a stomper of a night with these trailblazing artists as they fuse their unique musical tastes together to create an awe-inducing, mesmerising, and stand-alone sound that will forever cement The Olllam as embodying the spirit of their namesake – the masters.
Tickets: £20, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/xAuDOONSJJDE
5. The Grainne Holland Band, Saturday July 21 – 9pm, King’s Inn
Entrancing singer, songwriter and Gaeilgeoir, Grainne possesses a voice that engages the listener – beautiful in tone, her deep love and understanding of the Gaelic tradition can be heard in the timbre of every note. Well-known and beloved for her interprestations of traditional songs, she is soon set to release her much-anticipated third studio album, material from which will excitingly have its first outing on the 2018 SOMA stage.
Tickets: £15, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/LUrjMVbSeRvL
6. Sharon Shannon, Sunday July 22 – 8pm, St Malachy’s GAC
Sharon Shannon is a name entrenched in the culture and fabric of traditional Irish music. An exceptionally accomplished musician, Sharon’s self-titled 1991 debut album is the best-selling traditional Irish music album ever released. Her infectiously playful personality has cemented her as one of Ireland’s most well-liked and popular performers.
Tickets: £15, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/pGqxHXmLtAxb
7. Ded Rabbit, Sunday July 22 – 11pm, King’s Inn
Ded Rabbit are the band of brothers hell-bent on playing raucous sets for the masses. Captivating vocals are met with lick basslines, razor-sharp guitar and drumming fit to stir the feet to action. Expect a tight, fun and enthralling performance from the foursome, as they set the floor alight with enough catchy riffs and punchy lyrics to shake a stick at.
Tickets: £5, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/IFAhZUGMKKHP
8. KNEECAP, Friday July 20 – 9pm, Savages Bar
A trailblazing hip hop trio from West Belfast, KNEECAP’s inventive use of Irish and English language in their music has already garnered them a huge following. The threesome gained international attention when RTE censored their first track, C.E.A.R.T.A, and the music video went viral last winter.
Tickets: £8, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/FjcEShKVEfew
9. Sing Along Social, Sunday July 22 – 7pm, Mulholland’s Bar
A zero-commitment choir hosted by Aoife McElwain that’s designed for people who can’t really sing, the Sing Along Social is all about caterwauling along to some gas songs in the company of good friends and strangers.
Tickets: Free
10. The Singing Tree, Saturday July 21 – 11am to 3pm, Maginn’s
Maurice Leyden, Jane Cassidy, Niamh Parsons, and Francis Rodgers will all perform individually from their varied and extensive repertoires including traditional and contemporary songs in both English and Irish.
Tickets: £5, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/boxoffice/select/SVpPUuFEouQQ
11. Natural Voice Workshop, Friday July 20 – 3pm, The Lodge
Voice of Lecale Choir Director and Natural Voice Tutor, Laura Plummer, offers this fun voice workshop open to all!
Tickets: £5
12. BEATnDRUM, Friday July 20 – 9pm, Lower Square
BEATnDRUM are bringing dancefloor anarchy to the streets of Castlewellan. This tight-knit crew of over 30 performers is at home performing toe-to-toe with this audience in the streets, encouraging spontaneous and uncontrollable dancing, jigging and moshing to their funky Afro Brazillian and Cuban rhythms.
Tickets: Free
13. The Belfast Bullfrogs, Friday July 20 – 9pm, The Town House
The Belfast Bullfrogs will be rocking it out in The Town House at the SOMA Festical. A five piece band with the hottest female singer north of Havana, come and dance the night away to Soul, Country, Rock, Rhythm n Blues.
Tickets: Free
14. Green Tangerines, Friday July 20 – 9pm, Maginn’s
Liverpool-based quasi jazz-funk-soul collective with members from Ireland, England and Peru, Green Tangerines have an eclectic mix of influences and have previously performed at the infamous Cavern Club.
Tickets: Free
For more information and details of the full festival line-up go to www.somafestival.com or follow #SOMAFest18 on social media.