IMRO Munster Venue of the Year 2018 Live at St Luke’s have an exciting summer programme coming up, featuring big names like John Cooper Clarke, Mick Flannery, Fairport Convention, SOAK, Joan as Police Woman, Huun Huur Tu, and Richard Thompson. The Good Room, the promoters who run the concert series, have announced two more fantastic acts to their summer billing, as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival 2019: Ireland’s new wave mods, The Blades, on Friday 14th June, and ‘atmosfolk’ duo Saint Sister, on Saturday 15th June.

The Blades, fronted by Paul Cleary, make a welcome return to Cork, for their first show there in 33 years. The group formed in the summer of 1977 when five friends got together to play a gig in Ringsend. The band’s unashamed working-class origins and integrity marked them out from their contemporaries U2 and The Atrix. Since reforming in 2013, they have played sold-out gigs in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and performed their classic single ‘Downmarket’ on The Late Late Show.

The Blades bring their seven-piece band to Live at St Luke’s, Friday 14th June, as part of Cork Midsummer Festival and guarantee a night of raw energy in the former church, coupled with soulful renditions of their back catalogue. Get your tickets early as the band expect a very large turnout for an action-packed night of Blades classics such as: 'Downmarket', 'Ghost of a Chance', and 'Revelations of Heartbreak', plus material from their critically acclaimed 2016 album 'Modernised'.

The following night, Saturday 15th June, Saint Sister, Gemma Doherty and Morgan MacIntyre from the North of Ireland, return to Live at St Luke’s following their sold-out show there last October. Fusing a unique blend of electronic pop, Celtic harp, and soulful vocal harmonies, the pair formed in November 2014, releasing their debut EP ‘Madrid’ the following year. Produced by Hozier bassist Alex Ryan, the EP was championed by Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart on BBC Radio 1, and further afield on Australian national radio, ABC.  Since then, Saint Sister have been touring extensively, turning heads at SXSW, Reeperbahn, and Glastonbury festival.

Their debut album Shape of Silence was released last October to rave reviews and they embarked on a 50 date world tour, across the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe to promote it. The band were nominated again for the 2018 Choice Music Prize, both for Song of the Year and Album of the Year. They return to the USA this May for a month-long tour with Henry Jamison.

Tickets for The Blades (€30 + booking fee), and Saint Sister (€23.50 + booking fee), go on sale 9 am Thursday 4^th April from www.liveatstlukes.com and www.corkmidsummer.com

Cork Midsummer Festival will run from 13 – 23 June with full programme announced and on sale from May 2^nd.