Returning for its fifteenth year of award-winning celebrations of all things guitar, Clonakilty International Guitar Festival will run from September 16-22.

This year’s highlights will include Irish hero Blindboy Boatclub, who has become the voice of our nation through his internationally recognised podcast and South Korean post-rock band Jambinai, who incorporate traditional Korean instruments into their heavy sound.

George Lowden, who recently teamed up with Ed Sheeran to launch a signature line of acoustic guitars, will be returning to the festival to host the Acoustic Forum, as well as playing a special show with Pierre Bensusan. Tuva’s musical ambassador Alash Ensemble will bring their traditional throat singing to the festival and American power duo Hymn For Her will be playing an exclusive Irish date.

CIGF intend to maintain the strong participatory element to the festival through their educational programme and the return of the spectacular Singalong Social. Of course, no CIGF lineup would be complete without the musical stylings of John Spillane and Bill Shanley.

The festival has recently been awarded the esteemed European Festival Association Label for ‘19-‘20 for the second time. This association consists of festivals that stand for artistic quality, having a significant impact on the local, national and international level. CIGF have also been invited to the Folk Alliance International Conference for being “the international leaders and tastemakers on the folk music scene”.

Following in the footsteps of previous years, the majority of the festival’s shows are free. Their goal is to make live music accessible to all, so the festival itself remains a proud not-for-profit voluntary organisation.

The full lineup is listed below…

BLINDBOY BOATCLUB  - JAMBINAI - PIERRE BENSUSAN - GEORGE LOWDEN - ALASH ENSEMBLE - HAWKSLEY WORKMAN - HYMN FOR HER - JOHN SPILLANE - ADAM MCGRATH - BILL SHANLEY - QADASI & MAQHINGA - EMILY WURRAMARRA - SÍOMHA - ELAINE MALONE - KALYNA RAKEL - AARON O’SULLIVAN - THE KATES - CRYWANK - SING ALONG SOCIAL - FUSION - MOORS & MCCUMBER - GOD ALONE - PAULA K O BRIEN - EADAOIN COSTLEY - DAVE LORDAN - KING PALLAS - BANDJAXD - LOWmountain - THE CLAQUE  

For more information, visit the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival website.