Feakle Folk Club: Four great traditional concerts in the heart of east Clare

Music
08 Sep 21

Ruth Smith and Paula Carroll, with Garry Pepper of the renowned Pepper's Pub in Feakle

The Feakle Folk club is a new series of folk and traditional music concerts that will take place from September to October this year.

This September will see the beginning of the Feakle Folk club, a new series of folk and traditional music concerts based in Peppers Bar and Restaurant in the East Clare village of Feakle.

Established by Ruth Smith of RTE Radio One's 'Simply Folk' programme and Paula Carroll, presenter of 'The West Wind' on Clare FM, their primary aim is to showcase all that's great in Irish folk music, and to create something special in Feakle County Clare, where both women live and take inspiration as traditional music broadcasters.

The series of concerts will run from September 15th to October 22nd, and will feature performances from the likes of Ger Wolfe, John Francis Flynn, Pauline Scanlon and Síle Denvir. See below for the full line up.

A frequent passing thought in conversation between the two East Clare residents back in 2018 was: “what about running a Folk Club in Peppers of Feakle?" Now, in 2021 after a tumultuous year for live music, Paula and Ruth were delighted to be in receipt of a grant from the Live Performance Support Scheme and putting plans in place for the Feakle Folk Club this autumn.

Speaking to Hot Press, Ruth Smith said: "This folk music haven will run through the Autumn / Winter on our own doorstep."

"Paula and I were anxious to connect the exciting resurgence of folk music in Ireland today with the Folk Revival world that existed in this area 50 years ago. Building on that legacy and creating a platform for the music of present day performers and music lovers alike"

Paula Carroll added: "We were keen to create an atmosphere where artists love to perform because they feel cherished, a venue where music-lovers know they will hear great music, and an environment that’s a welcoming mix of locals and visitors who have travelled to hear the music".

"The original proposal was to use the parlour at Peppers to create an intimate acoustic space. That can’t happen anymore. Concerts everywhere have to be re-imagined now, so we propose moving the event to Peppers Marquee, where social distancing will be possible if needed, with drapes and lighting to create intimacy and some fresh East Clare air circulating!"

The concerts will be live-streamed, with a multi-camera set-up creating an intimate viewing experience for those who can’t make it live.

Tickets for the Feakle Folk Club are available now on eventbrite.ie