Rufous Nightjar is a three-part harmony trio consisting of Branwen Kavanagh, Anna Mieke and Zoe Basha.
The friendship of Branwen Kavanagh, Anna-Mieke Bishop and Zoé Basha came alive in a golden wave of underground traditional and folk music in Dublin. The three were performers and musicians in their own right and took part in one anothers’ creative projects over the years. In the summer of 2018, their shared interest in traditional singing led the three to travel across Eastern Europe learning folk songs. During this trip they developed an intricate and harmonious dynamic which has led them to working together on a collaborative project. Having spent the lockdown composing a number of a cappella songs around the themes of mythology, folklore, landscape, loss and the otherworld, Branwen invited Anna-Mieke and Zoé to collaborate on arranging the songs for an upcoming album for three voices. After a two months of development residencies in Ireland; County Clare, Killyon Manor (Meath) and Killruddery House (Wicklow) in 2021, they recorded an album together, to be released in 2022.
Mama’s Broke is a powerful folk duo that delivers a compelling performance with heart and raw energy. Although highly influenced by their Canadian roots, Lisa and Amy are based out of nowhere and everywhere.
Their two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion into their performance. Their original – and often dark – compositions push the boundaries of tradition and the constraints of genre. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan, and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new.