Fiárock

Fiárock is a four-piece Irish traditional band that tells a story steeped in sound. Hailing from both sides of the Atlantic, the quartet masterfully treads the line of staying true to the tradition while embracing the diversity of influences from each member’s personal background, enriching their sound with jazz harmonies, American old-time melodies, and Mexican folk song. Concertina, banjo, piano, bodhrán, and vocals join together in powerful arrangements, from rip-roaring polkas to mesmerizing slow airs, in ways that will enchant and enrapture both trad-heads and newcomers alike.

Fiárock (pronounced Fee-AH-rock) is a combination of two Irish words: Feabhra, meaning February, which marks the month of the band’s founding, and Airneánach, which translates as “Night-visiting”, a long-standing Irish tradition of night-time social house visits where tunes, songs, and stories were shared. Having come together in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic, the group was determined to carry on the spirit of airneánach and celebrate human connections through music despite physical isolation. Since then, they have garnered a host of noteworthy live performances to captive audiences across Ireland, including a night at Dublin’s legendary trad pub The Cobblestone, multiple radio spots on RTE’s Raidió na Gaeltachta, and a debut on Irish national television with a live performance for Fleadh TV. They were also recently a finalist of the Robinson Emerging Artist Showcasefor Canada’s premiere Celtic festival – Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, and were the only Irish finalist among over 70 entries from around the world.

Fiárock’s members, Clíona Halley, Darragh Carey-Kennedy, Evan Powell, and Nicolle Fig, each bring a wealth of individual acclaim with them as well, with a handful of university music degrees between them, instructor and performer positions at various fleadhs (Irish trad music competitions for youth and adults alike), festivals, spots on TG4 (Ireland’s national Irish-language broadcaster), and performances at the World Expo in Dubai. With their powers combined, they make for an unforgettable experience both dazzling and deep, engaging meaningfully with their audience no matter the setting, from intimate house concerts to festival workshops to stage performances with massive audiences.

With the band’s first album currently in the works, Fiárock is going full speed ahead. Fiarock’s plans for this year include European and North American tours, forging their way into the future with plenty of craic!