TradFest has announced their first 30 concerts for 2024 - with another 70 to come!

Ireland’s largest gathering of trad and folk music is back bigger and better than ever, with 30 of 100 acts announced for their January 2024 festival.

Tickets for TradFest 2024 are on sale now, and only available at www.tradfest.com.

The festival’s strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity will bring forth, once again, a strong showing of female headlining artists.

A key highlight of the 2024 lineup includes Janis Ian - A Life Between the Lines, an evening honoring the life and works of legendary singer/songwriter Janis Ian. The event features a discussion of Janis' life and career as well as performances of her work by friends and colleagues.

Written at only 14, Ian's breakthrough hit, 'Society’s Child', was released in 1965, becoming the first charted song to speak about interracial romance and marked both her first Top 20 hit and first gold record. In 1966, Ian paved the way again by becoming the first female artist to write every track on her debut album (self titled), long before Joni Mitchell or Carole King did. She continued her fearless journey by becoming one of the first gay pop stars to come out in the early '90s and by championing free downloads of her music back when the industry fought hard against it.

TradFest will honour another folk devotee, Ralph McTell, with a very special 80th birthday celebration concert. McTell will be accompanied on the night by a number of well-known Irish folk artists.

The festival's Saturday night will see an all-women gala concert, hosted by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (of Altan fame) titled Transatlantic Women. An evening of music celebrating women from both sides of the Atlantic, the line-up will include US grammy award winners Aoife O’ Donovan and Alison Brown, as well as legendary US fiddle player Eileen Ivers, The Friel Sisters, Edwina Guckian and more.

Dublin's TradFest will host ever-popular festival regulars Kíla and Aoife Scott (Women of Note) and new acts, including Afro beat band Yankari and folk punk band The Deadlians.

St Patrick’s Cathedral welcomes back Galician piper, Carlos Núñez, and Scottish singer Julie Fowlis. Singer-songwriter-musician, Steo Wall, curates two days of concerts and talks at Dublin Castle highlighting the role traveller musicians have played in the development of Irish traditional music. Concerts will include The Bothy Band’s Paddy Keenan, Beoga’s Niamh Dunne and singer Sharyn Ward.

Venues for the iconic Tradfest include; Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Stadium, The Pepper Canister Church, The National Museum of Ireland, The GPO, The Button Factory, The Grand Social and a host of other heritage and contemporary music venues across Dublin.

Another 70 concerts including the hugely popular Smithwicks Sessions and a new partnership with Fingal County Council will be announced later in September.

The festival organisers encourage fans to keep an eye on social media and the Tradfest website for more announcements.

Tickets for the festival start from €14.99, with family tickets (admit 2 adults and up to 4 children under 16) available for the National Stadium shows. Go to www.tradfest.com for full details.