The soaring arches and resonant acoustics of Carlisle Memorial Church create an atmosphere perfectly suited to unaccompanied song. It is an ideal setting to experience the powerful four-part singing of Landless.

Landless — Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir, Sinéad Lynch and Lily Power — perform unaccompanied traditional songs from Irish, Scottish, English and American traditions. Singing in close harmony, their repertoire spans songs of love, death and lamentation, alongside work songs, shape-note hymns and contemporary folk compositions.

Deeply embedded in the traditional singing communities of Dublin and Belfast, Landless have performed widely in Ireland and internationally, earning a reputation for intense, immersive live performances.

Their second album, Lúireach (2024), produced once again by John ‘Spud’ Murphy (Lankum/Katie Kim), has received widespread critical acclaim. The record features their signature unaccompanied singing alongside subtle, carefully placed instrumentation. Their debut album, Bleaching Bones, was released in March 2018.

Press for Lúireach

“Four female singers whose voices seem to rise from the sacra of their spines… Long-term Celtic music fans should flock to them — they’re a deliciously doomier Clannad.” — The Guardian (Folk Album of the Month *****)

“Instrumentals are sparse… The focus is on the band’s extraordinary voices, placed front and centre, weaving together to create a shapeshifting whole.” — The Quietus

“On their second LP they come across like Macbeth’s Weird Sisters crashing a Sandy Denny séance… Unearthly.” — MOJO (****)

Alternative folk six-piece Madra Salach release debut EP, It’s a Hell of an Age (26.1.26) featuring recent singles “I Was Just A Boy” and “Blue & Gold” which have received high praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, So Young, The Independent and BBC Radio 6.

The group took the Irish circuit by storm in 2025 with rammed festival sets across the country, a sold-out debut London show at The George, supporting Gurriers in The Button Factory, and their standout set at Other Voices in Dingle, highlighting that word of mouth can still result in feverish crowds showing up both here and across the pond.

Snapped up by Erin Barker from T-Time for management and having recently impressed at Left of the Dial, the band are one of the must-see acts at Live At Leeds, The Great Escape: First 50 and Eurosonic.

Introducing the band: Paul Banks (vocals), Adam Cullen (guitar), Jack Martin (mandolin/tin whistle/synth), Maxime Arnold (harmonium), Dara Duffy (drums), and Jack Lawlor (bass).

Madra Salach is the culmination of various influences (Lankum, The Pogues, Lisa O’Neill). The band members are also part of multiple alternative acts who are currently extremely active on the Irish emerging circuit (Fizzy Orange, Ten Hail Mary’s, Sultan Leroy, Softdrink Millionaire).

This event takes place in a licensed venue; therefore, admission to the performance is limited to guests aged 18+.

Belle Chen is an Australian-Taiwanese pianist and composer whose unique approach in blurring the lines between classical and electronic music has earned her an Australian Music Prize nomination as well as Top 20 positions on both the UK and Australian classical charts.

Notes fall like raindrops, quickening pace as the clouds gather. The piano melody splish sploshes into the electronic soundscape. Belle Chen‘s album Ravel in the Forest, released on the Platoon label, leads the listener through the wonder of the natural world is imbued into this imaginary space.

With the unmistakable influences of Maurice Ravel, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Joe Hisaishi, Belle blends sonic synth explorations, classical virtuosity, and free flowing improvisations that feel equally at home on jazz or experimental stages. This unmissable solo performance will include tunes from her Ravel in the Forest album and new material.

As part of CQAF 26, join us as we celebrate 30 years of The Fugees’ iconic album The Score with Blackjack + Jai Sian offering their take on this classic.

From São Paulo to Belfast via Bangkok, Blackjack + Jai Sian serve up jazz, funk, soul, and serious groove with zero apologies. Led by award-winning Brazilian drummer/producer Henrique ‘Blackjack’ Franco and fronted by smoky-voiced powerhouse Jai Sian (yes, the one who had all four chairs spinning on The Voice UK), they will be joined by a collective of the most exciting performers in Hip Hop  and Soul that this island has to offer.

Ani Glass is Cardiff-based electronic-synth-pop musician, producer and artist who sings in her native languages, Welsh and Cornish. In March 2020 she released her self-produced debut album ‘Mirores’ which was awarded Welsh Album of the Year and shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize. Citing influences such as Giorgio Moroder, Vengalis, and Arthur Russell, her much-anticipated ‘sumptuous synth-pop’ follow-up album ‘Phantasmagoria’ was released in September 2025.

Is ealaíontóir, léiritheoir agus ceoltóir popcheol-sintéiseoir-leictreonach í Ani Glass atá lonnaithe i gCaerdydd agus a chanann ina teangacha dúchais féín, mar atá Breatnais agus Coirnis. D’eisigh sí a halbam féinléirithe Mirores i mí an Mhárta in 2020, albam a bronnadh Albam Breatnach na Bliana air agus a bhí ar ghearrliosta do Duais Cheoil na Breataine Bige. Agus tionchar leithéidí Giorgio Moroder, Vengalis, agus Arthur Russell ar a cuid ceoil, eisíodh ina dhiaidh sin a halbam ‘popcheol galánta sintéiseora’ a raibh súil mhór leis, ‘Phantasmagoria’ i mí Mheán an Fhómhair in 2025.

IMLÉ are a collective of musicians under stewardship of Dublin based musician and producer Cian MacCárthaigh. IMLÉ mix different musical styles and artforms together in a way that has never been seen or heard before in the Irish language musical sphere. So far they have released two albums and one EP. IMLÉ (2015), Fáilte Isteach (2022) and Taoille (2025), all of which were produced by Karl Odlum. Music from their albums has been used on popular Netflix series such as BODKIN and HOUSE OF GUINNESS.

Is buíon cheoltóirí faoi stiúir an cheoltóra agus léiritheora Cian MacCárthaigh IMLÉ agus bíonn ceoltóirí éagsúla ag casadh agus ag taifeadadh leo an t-am ar fad. Bíonn sé i gcónaí de rún acu stíleanna éagsúla ceoil a mheascadh lena chéile agus rudaí éagsúla nuálacha a léiriú trí Ghaeilge. Tá dhá albam agus EP eisithe acu, IMLÉ (2016), Fáilte Isteach (2022) agus Taoille (2025) ar fad déanta leis an léiritheoir Karl Odlum. Bhí ceol de chuid IMLÉ le cloisteáil ar chláracha ar Netflix ar nós BODKIN agus HOUSE OF GUINNESS.

Tá an halla ceolchoirmeacha suite ar an 2ú hurlár. Tabhair faoi deara nach bhfuil aon ardaitheoir ná beár ann. Beir buidéal leat.

Gig taking place in 2nd floor concert hall. *No lift access. No bar. Bring your own.