MUSIC ARTIST BIOS
CHAPTER 13
THE WAILERS
FRIDAY
Stendhal is thrilled to welcome back the most requested return act in the history of the festival, The Wailers.
Having played an absolute blinder in 2018, The Wailers first headline set at Stendhal has become festival folklore for those in attendance and for 5 years we have been bombarded with the question, “when are The Wailers coming back?”
Well wonder no more, Bob Marley’s legendary band are returning to Ballymully Cottage Farm on Friday July 7th and they will be bringing all of the classic Bob Marley tunes with, played the way only The Wailers know how.
We can’t wait.
BELL X1
SATURDAY
For two decades Bell X1 have held a unique territory in the Irish rock landscape – a household name, but one still keenly relevant and critically lauded. What’s more, Bell X1 remain restless and fidgety at a point in their career when most acts, should they dream of even hanging in that long, tend to narrow their field-of-vision and consolidate their legacy.
Time has also brought Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Phillips their fair share of dead ends and false scents because that is what living entails. It has resulted in a supporting cast of all-sorts, friends and bandmates and fellow travellers on the same road. Some have stayed the course, some peeled off down their own pathways and some were taken away far too early.
Conquering radio waves and arenas is all very well but more salient destinations have been arrived at. Music that threads itself through lifetimes like punctuation marks. A first dance at a wedding or a song of remembrance at a funeral. A tender scene in a hit US TV series and scores of babies named “Eve” because a few descending piano chords and a warm bassline can seem so beautiful on the right night they transcend mere sonic vibration. National-treasure status has been awarded for less.
They have amassed 4 album nominations at the Choice awards, 6 meteor nominations and 3 number 1 albums in the Irish Charts, and a total of 5 in the top 3.
Catch them Live at Stendhal on Saturday July 8th.
Newton Faulkner
FRIDAY
Newton Faulkner burst onto the scene with his massive hit album ‘Hand built by robots’ which skyrocketed him to instant chart success. The album included a number of hit singles including ‘Dream Catch me’ and a stunning cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Gone in the Morning’.
His inimitable style makes him a consummate performer and his character both on and off stage is truly one and the same. Often spending a good while chatting to the audience between songs and always happy to meet and greet the fans after the show in his trademark relaxed and down to earth fashion. He truly is a musician for the people and of the people.
See him live at Stendhal on Friday July 7th.
The Scratch
SATURDAY
The Scratch are a 4-piece acoustic act from Dublin, but don’t let the acoustic format fool you, these guys get raucous and they get there in a hurry.
Born from a shared love of acoustic guitar, metal and traditional Irish music, The Scratch have moulded triumphant melodies with the groove and intensity of metal.
Debut album “Couldn’t Give A Rats” received critical acclaim, landing in the top 10 album charts in Ireland, gained a 4-star review from The Irish Times, while Hot Press described it as one of the “boldest Irish debuts in recent memory”.
It is impossible to fully understand this band without seeing them in the live environment, where they challenge anybody to come to a show and not leave with a smile on their face. We think you’ll certainly have a ball when they play Stendhal on Saturday July 8th.
Turin Brakes
FRIDAY
A very warm and overdue welcome back to our first ever headline act back in 2011. We had hoped that we could bring the mighty Turin Brakes back to celebrate our 10th anniversary but a certain pandemic put paid to that. Happily the band are back this summer and we can’t wait to show them how far we have come since that first event 13 years ago.
This Mercury nominated folk rock act have numerous hit singles and albums and having just released their latest album “Wide-Eyed Nowhere,” expect a big old blast of Stendhal nostalgia mixed in with some amazing new music on Friday, July 7th.
Cara Dillon
SATURDAY
The Roe Valley’s own Cara Dillon finally makes her Stendhal debut this summer on Saturday July 8th and for us, not a moment too soon.
Cara has risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world. Possessing a rare and unique voice that has been lauded since winning the All Ireland singing trophy aged only 14.
Cara occupies an enviable position at the very top of her genre and has been captivating audiences and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. She has (according to Mojo magazine) “Quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice”.
Celebrated for entwining traditional and contemporary elements, she has earned both commercial success and astonishing critical acclaim.
YAZZ AHMED
THURSDAY
One of the most compelling and innovating acts in modern Jazz Music, Yazz Ahmed seeks to blur the lines between Jazz and electronic sound design, bringing together the sounds of her British-Bahraini heritage which have been described as “psychedelic Arabic Jazz that intoxicates and compels.
Yazz won the The Ivor Novello Award for Innovation in 2020, an award that represents peer recognition for achievement, and an innovative approach to composition. The Novello Academy recognised Yazz for “her unique creative voice that smashes the boundaries between jazz and electronic sound design by drawing on her heritage to create intoxicating musical worlds.”
Yazz performs at Stendhal on Thursday, July 6th.
Sprints
FRIDAY
Poignant and political, embittered and abrasive, Sprints are a band right at the heart of Dublin’s ever-growing punk and post-punk scene, a gloriously stark evisceration of politics and exploration of the personal.
Everything that goes into the band’s cathartic punk battle-cries can be seen as something of a call-to-arms: an attempt to silence the internal doubting voices and to fight against the outdated social tropes that box in individuality. Now, more confident in their opinions and identities than ever the band is set to take these ideas – that the personal is innately political, and that expression and using your voice is fundamentally crucial – and solidify them even further.
Crow Black Chicken
MUSIC ACTS
Crow Black Chicken have earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s top blues acts. Their sound combines elements of folk and hard rock with the blues rock of bands like Gov’t Mule, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Led Zeppelin. An extremely hard-working band, they have built up a strong underground following throughout Ireland, the US, and Europe with multiple well received tours and one off gigs, including a slot at Glastonbury.
Overhead, The Albatross
MUSIC ACTS
Overhead, The Albatross are a five piece instrumental outfit from Dublin known for their intricate yet powerful melodies and energetic stage presence. Their sound combines a multitude of instruments which go beyond the normal boundaries of post-rock and delve into the realm of the cinematic. Layered strings, electronics and spacious synths combined with soaring guitars and powerful drums are used to create their unique sound. Their music journeys from delicate intimacy to epic triumphancy touching everything in between.
Huey Morgan (DJ Set)
MUSIC ACTS
DJ, raconteur, author, producer, broadcaster and Fun Lovin’ Criminal, Huey Morgan – a modern day rock’n’roll Renaissance man – is many things to many people.
In addition to being the decade-long host of one of the only specialist music shows on BBC Radio 2, Huey is the Lower East Side voice of Saturdays on 6 Music with his critically acclaimed, award winning show featuring music, new and old, from all four corners of the globe. He’s the man who joins the dots between funk, soul, disco, classic hip hop and rock’n’roll. And the man who is known for telling laugh-out-loud stories and talking to the listener as if pulled up on a bar stool next to them.
Huey’s past is not any less significant either; as the former frontman of legendary 90s outfit ‘Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ which is soon approaching its 30th anniversary, he is the man who played a huge part in this funk-fried indie bands journey in breaking big worldwide and selling over 10 million records.
Now after countless DJ gigs across the globe, he’s focused his talent on his NYC Block Party; imagine Huey soundtracking cult Netflix show ‘The Get Down’ and you’re close as funk, soul, disco and hip hop jams get thrown into the mix battle style.
Andy Smith (DJ Set)
MUSIC ACTS
Ex-Portishead DJ Andy Smith was the first DJ to release a multi-genre mix album on a major label. When his mix-CD ‘The Document’ hit the streets back in 1998, it became the soundtrack for a generation who had heard Coldcut’s Journeys By DJs but needed to hear more – The Document filled the void.
It segued tracks from artists such as Tom Jones (way before he came back in vogue with Reload and newer tracks such as recent top ten hit Stoned in Love); Peggy Lee (sample source for the Beastie Boys single Ch-Check It Out); The Jungle Brothers and even The Spencer Davis Group. This was new to record buyers but for Smith a mixed bag of treasures
has always formed the typical contents of his DJ set.
This appreciation of different genres made Smith the ideal person to provide sample material for Portishead on their first two albums. He went on to make his name as the band’s international tour DJ – reflecting their respect for both the art of digging for breaks and hip-hop scratch DJ-ing. Hip-hop elements formed the basis of the unique Portishead sound.
The Courettes
MUSIC ACTS
The Courettes is an explosive rock duo from Denmark and Brazil who found the perfect blend between garage rock, 60s Girl Group, Wall of Sound, surf music and doo wop.
Like The Ronettes meet The Ramones at a wild party at Gold Star Studios echo chamber. Praised by the biggest music magazines around the world, in 2020 the band signed with legendary British label Damaged Goods, putting them on the same roster as top international rock icons like Buzzcocks, Manic Street Preachers, Atari Teenage Riot, New Bomb Turks, Amyl and the Sniffers, Billy Childish, Captain Sensible and many others. Their last and third album, “Back in Mono” was released in the Fall 2021 and is a truly milestone in their career.
Manukahunney
Manukahunney was formed in 2012 by soul singer Siobhan Brown and with a growing following, Manukahunney have become one of Northern Ireland’s best live soul bands with a reputation for creating that authentic and irresistible live soul vibes that has become synonymous with every performance. Siobhan’s vision is to share soul in its various forms (funk, jazz, gospel ,blues, contemporary etc) that inspire and flow freely as an expression of oneself and connect to the listener at an emotional level. The Manukahunney experience is all about those rhythms and melodic notations and irresistible vibes presented through the unique collaboration and vision of this band. So get on board this soul train and journey with us into the Manukahunney world of Soul.
Clare Sands
Channelling the music of her ancestors, Clare Sands is a unique force in Irish music. Weaving traditional roots with Contemporary sounds and influences, Sands sings for the young and the old, brave and the bold.
With a ground-breaking Fearless Folk style and infinite warrior energy Sands’ electrifying live performances see her utilise fiddle, guitar, percussion, vocals & cassette recordings.
An unmissable, raw live performer, she brings her audience on an exhilarating journey of celebration, resilience and hope.
Fya Fox
Fya Fox is a singer-songwriter spinning tightly wound yarns of brooding and emotive alt-pop. A classically trained vocalist straying beyond Ireland’s traditional country/folk scene, FYA’s influences span from Banks, Lana Del Rey and London Grammar.
The Cellists
The Cellists are one of Northern Ireland’s leading professional string groups who perform high quality, genre spanning string music. They weave between Classical, Indie, R&B, Rock, Pop, Film and Dance music, so no matter your taste, the Cellists will put a classy spin on contemporary favourites.
No Oil Paintings
No Oil Paintings are a raucous alternative guitar & banjo-driven folk band with an edge of darkness. The band strives to use typical folk instrumentation to create something a little more wild than the music often associated with the genre today.
With their new album “Rain Season “ recently released to critical acclaim, this is a band that just keeps getting better and better and there is no better way to experience them than live on stage.
Red Eye Pariah
From Locked-down to Sold-Out, Red Eye Pariah are one of the most prominent emerging artists in Northern Ireland. In just one year the band have played 3 Sold-Out Headline Shows, received over 10,000 Spotify streams and cemented their place among those to watch on the Irish Music Scene.
Boy M5
Introducing Boy M5 – the powerhouse trio at the forefront of a new sonic pop revolution in Northern Ireland. Comprised of Kyle, Aaron, and Paul, their music is a modern take on the powerful performers we’ve grown to love from Ireland, as they infuse their own unique sound with themes of love, loss, and lust.
With musical influences ranging from the expressive soul of Dermot Kennedy to the raw power and grit of Glen Hansard. Meeting together in an explosive, emotive cacophony, Boy M5 is known for their energetic performances and catchy, infectious tunes.
Katharine Timoney
Katharine Timoney is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. Her lead single ‘Don’t Fret’ from her 2022 EP, produced by Ben Castle, featured on JazzFM’s A List for four consecutive weeks and quickly gained Spotify’s editorial support on playlists ‘Cosy Jazz’, ‘Fresh Finds Jazz’ and ‘Best Vocal Jazz of 2022’. The EP’s title track ‘Life Came into Colour’ won the 2022 UK Songwriting Contest Jazz Category and she was also winner of the 2018 BBC NI Platform Award sponsored by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. As part of the award, she performed her songs with The Ulster Orchestra at a BBC concert in The Ulster Hall, Belfast in May 2019 and also at the BBC NI Proms in 2020.
Edgy V and GG Carma
Edgy V & GG Carma are an Independent Twin Sister Hip Hop act, Influenced strongly by old school Hip Hop and RnB.
They create and perform music that gives you a sense of the past but with a modern taste of the present.
With their conscious lyrics and catchy hooks, they are on many people’s radar as an upcoming act to catch.
Sasha Samara
Sasha Samara is an exciting, new voice in indie pop music. Coating her music in an endearing honesty, she threads together observations and exclamations that are underlined by a thrilling specificity. All of this is achieved through open and soaring vocals reminiscent of Hayley Williams and writing with the characteristic clarity of Maggie Rogers.
Search Party
For the last decade Search Party have been regulars in the local scene, developing their craft and building a loyal following. The past year has seen the band complete a UK & Ireland tour that has brought their brand of Indie pop to new found fans in new cities in England and Scotland.
Their latest EP ‘Liminality’ and new single ‘Visceral Thoughts’ have received high acclaim being added to high profile playlists and ‘Echo Park’ winning Best Music Video at the Berlin Indie Film Festival. A Search Party set is going to promise to give you lots of catchy tunes, plenty of energy and stacks of craic.
Baroda
Baroda are a 3 piece band from Belfast, who write songs with a mix of blues, indie and alternative rock influence.
BRØR
The Whittington Brothers return to Stendhal with their stylish and catchy pop-rock stylings. There will be soaring choruses, foot-stomping melodies and good times abound.
Roe
Roe’s long awaited debut album ‘When The Panic Sets In’ finally arrived in early 2023 and having watched this incredibly talented Derry Songstress move up the stages at Stendhal over the past few years, we may be a bit biased, but it is incredible.
Watching Roe’s Journey from solo act on small stages to performing with a full band on much larger stages, has been a joy to behold and we are delighted to be able to allow Roe to showcase her hard work once again this year.
Emily McCormick
Emily McCormick is a soulful R&B influenced singer-songwriter based in Derry. Previously releasing music under the moniker of Bairie, her style floats between different worlds and when paired with her introspective songwriting, combine to produce something quite beautiful.
Winnie Ama
Winnie Ama is a Northern-Irish-Ghanaian RnB, Soul and Jazz singer and songwriter who really burst onto the NI music Scene in 2021, in part due to her stunning debut Stendhal Performance at the BBC NI Introducing Stage.
So far in her fledgling career she has been nominated for the 2022 NI Music Prize and the 2023 RTE2fm Rising Artist award. We imagine that there are many more nominations to come for Winnie and we’d be shocked if she wasn’t the award-winning Winnie Ama in the not too distant future.
Joshua Burnside
One of the best singer songwriters Northern Ireland has produced in the past decade, Joshua has been a mainstay at Stendhal through those years and having recently performed to a sold out Ulster Hall, perhaps the general public is starting to catch on to just how special a talent Joshua is.
Invaderband
As one of Ireland’s most singular propositions, Invaderband have spent the last ten years crafting endlessly inspired sounds that strike a rare midpoint between art-rock and post-punk. Formed in Derry by Mancunian singer, guitarist and songwriter Adam Leonard, Invaderband boasts three of the city’s finest musicians; Chris McConaghy (aka Our Krypton Son) on lead guitar, James Cunningham (ex-Schtum) on bass and Tom Doherty (ex-Bam Bam & The Calling) on drums.Both their albums to date; the self-titled debut (2017) and the follow-up record ‘Peter Gabriel’ (2021) received widespread critical acclaim and extensive radio play on both Irish and UK National stations (RTE2, Today FM, BBC Radio 6Music and Radio X).
Polar bolero
Polar Bolero is a new Alt Folk songwriting duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Cahir McLaughlin and Pearse Donaghy. Starting in early 2022 the band embarked on an ambitious plan of self-recording their debut album ‘A Conversation’. ‘A Conversation,’ conceptually deals with issues of disillusionment and melancholy whilst living in post-pandemic, post-Troubles NI. The band tethers their original songs together with snippets of candid interviews with members of the NI public, varying in age, gender, race and public influence to provide a level of necessary reality and diversity in perspective while dealing with this subject matter.
Tramp
Alt-indie rock straight from Donegal and Derry, Tramp are turning plenty of heads thanks to their stellar tunes and powerful live performances. We expect to be hearing a lot more from Tramp through 2023 and beyond.
Cora Kelly
Cora Kelly is a singer-songwriter from Killough Co. Down who draws on Americana and Country music to produce and perform beautiful material.
The three EP’s she has released to date are a testament to her talents and they played a large part in her selection by the Belfast Nashville Festival to travel to Nashville to showcase her music in notable venues such as The BlueBird Café and Roots Radio
Cora is joined by Conor McCaffrey on guitar and Colm Meir on percussion.
Modernlove
With larger than life indie-pop anthems born of small town boredom, coming of age, big nights out and young love gone wrong, Modernlove are a new generation’s brightest hope – already racking up streams in their millions and selling out shows, simply by singing about what they know and having a good time doing it. From playing dingey rural pubs to working with super-producer Luca (of Arlo Parks and Lana Del Rey fame), this Irish band of young 20-somethings are about to show the world the true heights of their ambition.
Watching Roe’s Journey from solo act on small stages to performing with a full band on much larger stages, has been a joy to behold and we are delighted to be able to allow Roe to showcase her hard work once again this year.
Lauren Ann
Alt-indie rock straight from Donegal and Derry, Tramp are turning plenty of heads thanks to their stellar tunes and powerful live performances. We expect to be hearing a lot more from Tramp through 2023 and beyond.
Pinkslips
PiNKSLiPS are a hard rock band based in Belfast.
Formed amidst the musical drought of the pandemic, songwriter Gerry Norman began working with guitarist David McGaughey on a collection of rock songs in the bowels of Vault Artist Studios.
Those songs took on a life of their own with the addition of the ‘Deadly Rhythm’ of Shane Watters on drums and Carl Gilmore on bass early 2021. With a focus on high energy, riff based guitars, rhythmic groove and anthemic choruses, the band’s shared love of live music, heavy rock, and energetic performance soon set about shaping their own rock sound.
ReHarvest - The Music of Neil Young
ReHarvest was created in 2022 to recreate two classic Neil Young albums, Harvest & Harvest Moon in their 50th and 30th anniversary years. The band featured Cormac Neeson (The Answer), No Oil Paintings, Junior Johnson, Suzy Coyle, Conor McAuley (New Pagans) and Donal Scullion. The show was performed a number of times last year, most notably a two night run in The MAC Theatre, Belfast. For Stendhal Festival they will be joined by Dolbro Dan (Cormac Neeson will be in Sweden With The Answer) and will perform a selection of songs from both albums including songs like Heart of Gold, Alabama and Harvest Moon.
ACROSS THE WEEKEND
Modernlove . Crow Black Chicken . Manukahunney . The Courettes . Claire Sands . Overhead, The Albatross
No Oil Paintings . ROE . FYA FOX . Winnie Ama . Sasha Samara . Lauren Ann . Pinkslips . BRØR
Re-Harvest . Red Eye Pariah . Invaderband . Katharine Timoney . The Cellists . Polar Bolero
Search Party . Tramp . Boy M5 . Emily McCormick . Cora Kelly . Edgy C & GG Carma . Baroda
AND MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
