Arts Festival releases list of music acts for Big Top

Irish acts such as The Coronas, James Vincent McMorrow, Lisa Hannigan, Bressie, The Kanyu Tree and Elaine Mai will perform at the Galway Arts Festival Big Top for this year’s Arts Festival.  

James Vincent McMorrow will perform as part of a double bill with Lisa Hannigan with support from Elaine Mai on Thursday, July 26. The Coronas will play the Festival Big Top the following evening, July 27, as part of a triple-bill with Bressie and The Kanyu Tree. Both shows are being co-presented by the Arts Festival and the Róisín Dubh.

James Vincent McMorrow’s musical career has been in the ascendant he released his debut album, Early in the Morning, in Ireland in February 2010.

Q Magazine described the songs on his that album as, “both fresh and as if they’ve been in your head forever”. His current single, the exquisite version of the Steve Winwood song, Higher Love is currently receiving rave reviews.

For the Big Top show, he is joined by Lisa Hannigan, who first came to prominence when she shared a stage with Damien Rice. The release of her double platinum, Choice Music Prize and Mercury Prize nominated album, See Sew in 2009 cemented her arrival. It was followed by the widely praised Passenger in 2011, which features the enchanting duet, O Sleep with Ray LaMontagne.

Galway based Elaine Mai is a relative newcomer to the solo live circuit. Her powerful lyrics and vocals are layered over harmonies, beats and guitar, which are looped to create melodies that belie the fact she’s alone on stage. Her debut EP, Dots comes out on April 5 on Strange Brew Rekkids. She also plays with Go Panda Go and Laurie Leech and The Words.

The second ‘Irish night’ at the Big Top features The Coronas, Bressie and The Kanyu Tree on Friday, July 27.

Double platinum selling act The Coronas released their third album, Closer to You last November. This indie rock four-piece are now the biggest-selling independent group in Ireland. They won the Meteor Best Album Award in 2010, beating fellow nominees U2 and Snow Patrol. The band were listed in the Top 10 Bands to Watch by The New York Post last year, when they completed a North American tour that included sold-out shows in New York, Vancouver and San Francisco.

Salthill trio The Kanyu Tree, who have been nominated for Irish Song of the Year at the 2012 Meteor Choice Awards, released their debut album, People Street last October. Featuring hits like Radio, Shelf Life and Congratulation, it entered the Irish charts at number four.

Former guitarist with The Blizzards, and now solo artist, Bressie has combined musical genres to glorious effect on his debut single, Can’t Stay Young Forever and on his first solo album, Colourblind Stereo. He is now a judge on the hit TV series, The Voice of Ireland.

Tickets for both Festival Big Top gigs are available from this Friday, March 9 from galwayartsfestival.com and roisindubh.netThe James Vincent McMorrow and Lisa Hannigan double bill will cost €33.50 and tickets for the Coronas, The Kanyu Tree and Bressie are €30.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available for both shows (The Coronas €27 and James Vincent McMorrow/Lisa Hannigan €30) through galwayartsfestival.com