Gold dust in your pocket - Tour
IRISH FOLK FESTIVAL 2026
With four authentic Irish folk formations
Through the annual Irish Folk Festival, hundreds of thousands of visitors have come to know and appreciate Ireland and its culture over the past decades. The audience not only comes to the Irish Folk Festival to be carried away by Ireland's lively melodies. They also come because they meet like-minded people.
The motto of the Irish Folk Festival 2026 is "Gold dust in your pocket". The Irish tradition, which has been recharging itself like a battery for centuries, will be celebrated. The festival is also a kaleidoscope of sounds that reflects the many facets of Irish Folk. Whether soulful ballads, rousing jigs & reels or interpretations of old melodies - the four authentic formations guarantee a varied musical journey, as diverse as the shades of green in Ireland. With traditional instruments, unique voices and a fresh Irish sound, the artists ensure a wonderful Irish evening to remember. The crowning festival highlight is the festival session with all formations on stage.
The program of the Irish Folk Festival:
- Brian Leach - Master of the hammered dulcimer
- Brian Haitz & Brendan Mulholland - A duo of many sounds
- Astro Bloc - A dynamic new folk band
- The Outcast Crew - The godfathers of punky folk
- Last but not least - Festival Session with all artists on stage
Brian Leach - Master of the hammered dulcimer
His music is a spherical universe of sound - traditional, progressive folk on the hammered dulcimer, full of depth and magic. Traditional melodies merge with wide, freely improvised arcs of sound and pulsating rhythms. The hammered dulcimer is a hammered dulcimer and is rarely found in the Irish tradition, but is ideally suited to Irish melodies. Brian's music opens doors between worlds: ancient Celtic tradition is combined with a fresh visionary energy. His hammered dulcimer casts a magical spell over the audience.
Brian Haitz & Brendan Mulholland - A duo of many sounds
Brendan Mulholland and Brian Haitz show how intensely two musicians can captivate an audience. Wooden flute and filigree guitar merge into virtuoso instrumentals, complemented by selected songs. Brian Haitz, multi-instrumentalist and singer, was awarded Young Musician of the Year at the Sidmouth Folk Festival. He has already played with Irish folk greats such as Paddy Keenan and Alan Doherty and world musicians such as Rüdiger Oppermann. Brendan Mulholland comes from County Antrim in Northern Ireland and is internationally regarded as one of the outstanding flautists of his generation. His expressive style, characterized by distinctive "blue notes" and unmistakable vibrato, can be heard on many recordings. Renowned acts such as Mary Dillon, Tempest, Grainne Holland and John Carty have invited him on tours and CD productions.
Astro Bloc - A dynamic new folk band
The band is a creative unit with cosmic breadth. On board: fiddler Eryn Rae (BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year), internationally acclaimed percussion virtuoso and drummer Paul Jennings, the exceptional musician Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, who has won the "All Ireland Champion Title" no less than 11 times on several instruments, and the innovative guitarist Gillie O'Flaherty. At the heart of the spaceship are the two fiddles, which pass the balls to each other - sometimes in counter-rhythm, then in sweet harmony or in breathtakingly fast unison. The young, powerful folk band combines tradition with unbridled creativity and sets the sparks flying with their infectious sound.
The Outcast Crew - The godfathers of punky folk
The Outcast Crew give Celtic music a good dose of fire. Their Irish trad-punk is raw, wild and infectious. Known as the "Godfathers of Punky Folk", they ignite music instead of just playing it. The rhythm section of drums and electric bass stoke a pulsating ember onto which a beguilingly fragrant Irish folk essence is poured - a one hundred percent distillate of fiddle, guitar and vocals. The grating voice of singer and guitarist Brian O'Mahoney is that of a roughneck and he looks the part. Beard, slouch hat and a driving guitar.
