…Music – Spraoi Rhythm Route 2025
Thanks to outstanding Spraoi supporters Rockshore a feast of music features during this year’s festival. All music gigs are FREE and festival visitors will find Rockshore Stages at The Apple Market, Bailey’s New Street, Bank Lane, Mall Lane, O’Connell Street, and pop-up pavement sessions. Music fans will sample a menu of national and international musicians with styles crossing from Salsa to Metal. Spraoi’s Rockshore Rhythm Route programme will be announced in full during June, but here are some samples from a jam-packed August Bank Holiday Weekend street music party.
Tan and Sober Gentlemen (U.S.A.)
Born and raised in North Carolina, the Tan and Sober Gentlemen marry Irish fiddle and African banjo to play Irish tunes, ballads, pub songs right next to the Appalachian fiddle tunes of their youth, melding styles into what they call “Irish-American Hillbilly music”. Tan and Sober Gentlemen have stormed worldwide festivals and venues with their high energy intoxicating musical mix and you can see them twice at Spraoi this year.
Dr. Bluegrass and The Illbilly 8 (England)
Just the band to create your own hoedown, shindig, hootenanny or barn dances at Spraoi 2025. Dr. Bluegrass and The Illbilly 8 return to this year’s Spraoi after their fantastic performances in 2023. They play foot stompin’, thigh slappin’ bluegrass. Formed in the winter of 2009, Dr Bluegrass and the Illbilly 8 draw inspiration from a wide range of unusual sources for their unique choice of songs. Everything from traditional bluegrass and gospel, to Irish folk, pop and rock ensures that there is something for all ages, played with an energy and virtuosity that belies their young age.
Monroe (Ireland)
Monroe features four exceptional musicians playing rock, pop, and blues from artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Alanis Morrissette, Pretenders, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Queen, Doobie Brothers, AC/DC, Guns ‘n’ Roses. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Ciara McCormack, with Ger Egerton on lead guitar and vocals, Eric Coates on bass and vocals, and Paul Flynn on drums. The band has featured at major Irish festivals.
Two Time Polka (Ireland)
Firm Spraoi Festival favourites Two Time Polka seamlessly blend electric and acoustic musical strands to create toe-tapping moments of sheer joy. Interweaving bluegrass, Cajun, and country influences with rock n roll riffs the band is an ideal companion for an afternoon spent in sunshine with friends and a cold beer.
Omega 5 Ireland)
Omega 3’s line-up is a movable feast with numbers growing from three to four and more. At the band’s musical heart are distinctive vocals layered with guitar, bass, and additional tuneful additions. For lovers of Americana in all its styles Omega 3 are for you. The band has a devoted Waterford following and if you’re in town for Spraoi add Omega 3 to your to-see list, simply a class act.
