Quiet Lights returns to Cork this winter

Cork winter festival, Quiet Lights is set to return in November for it’s fourth instalment.

Words by Jack Squibb

Quiet Lights returns to Cork this November, taking over the city for three nights.

The folk festival returns on November 18th and runs until the 21st, bringing a host of Irish and international talent to the heart of Cork. Quiet Lights will have gigs across the city with artists playing in The Everyman, Triskel Christchurch, Coughlan’s Live, Crane Lane, Live at St Luke’s, and Winthrop Avenue.

Organisers, music company Islander have booked in some of the best Irish folk acts currently on the scene. Limerick singer-songwriter, Emma Langford opens the festival in Winthrop Lane on the 18th. While Dublin fiddler, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh will perform in Triskel Christchurch, along with Kate Ellis and Caimin Gilmore on the Friday.

A stunning line-up, also performing at Quiet Lights are Ailbhe Reddy, Joshua Burnside and Anna Meike, to name a few. The festival will draw to a close on Sunday 21st November with Kerryman, Junior Brother and Trá Pháidín in Crane Lane.

With travel restrictions still in place, the festival features an Irish-dominant line up. However, organisers have managed to bring Ichiko Aoba from Chiba, Japan to Leeside. The folk musician will be taking to the stage at Coughlan’s Live on the Friday night. A beautiful voice backed with hypnotic melodies, it will be a moment not to be miss at this year’s festival.

One of the many events that were lost in 2020, Festival Director, Jonathon Pearson spoke of his excitement for the return of Quiet Lights:

”After losing out on hosting Quiet Lights by mere days due to renewed restrictions last year, we are excited (and a little nervous) to be bringing our little festival back to Cork this year. We’re very proud of our line-up of almost exclusively Irish-based talent as travel restrictions continue, but we do have Ichiko Aoba coming on tour from Japan.

“We have a first for Quiet Lights – a new commission – with Cormac McCarthy writing for Nell Ní Chróinín and strings. We think there’s something for everyone and looking forward to seeing you at a show”.

Check out the full line-up below.