In the organizer's words:

Advance ticket sales for this event start on Thursday, December 11 at Capitol Vorverkauf on 0621- 40 17 14 20 or karten@capitol-mannheim.de and of course online and at all known advance booking offices.

Irish tradition is like a battery that has been recharging itself for centuries. The energy and joie de vivre that you get from it flows back into it with every session, with every concert and keeps the circulation going. Those who take part give a lot and receive a lot in return. Happiness that you can share with others is always stronger than that which you experience alone. Collective memory and collective remembrance connect. It's fascinating that tradition is simply there and that you can participate in it so easily, even though everything is only getting more expensive in our world. It is "gold dust in your pocket", which you find again and again when you slip into the suit of tradition.

So let's see what gold nuggets tradition has conjured up in our pockets in the 53rd year of the Irish Folk Festival Tour.

We look forward to seeing you! At the IFF, of course, with four program items that couldn't be more different, but which combine to form a dazzling rainbow during the session as the highlight of the evening. An Irish myth says that a treasure is hidden at the end of the rainbow. To this day, this treasure is a symbol of longing, happiness and the dream of the unattainable. And perhaps that is precisely what has always fascinated us: That we set out on a quest - knowing full well that the end of the rainbow can never be found.

Come with us on the search!

BRIAN LEACH - Master of the hammered dulcimer

Brian Leach's 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 - a dulcimer found in many cultures - is rare in the Irish tradition, but is ideally suited for this, as the instrument combines both melody and accompaniment. Brian says: "When I compose in the idiom of traditional music, I immerse myself in places and ideas, letting myself be carried away by encounters with people and the landscape. Irish music, I believe, comes from the land, the sea, the earth, the cliffs and the wind that surround us. It is a living tradition because these elements still have something to tell us. It's the composer's job to listen and pass on that message." Brian's cosmic sound opens doors between worlds: ancient layers of Celtic tradition combine with a fresh, visionary energy. His home-made hammered dulcimer sounds like no other - new, surprising, unmistakable - and captivates the audience. He has also incorporated dulcimer techniques from other cultures, from the Balkans to India, into his music. His compositions have been performed at the National Concert Hall Dublin and he is a regular guest on BBC Radio and RTÉ television.

BRIAN HAITZ & BRENDAN MULHOLLAND - A duo of many sounds

Musically, the Irish Folk Festival is like a tasting menu: fine, hand-picked morsels that whet the appetite for the Emerald Isle and its music. With their performance, Brendan Mulholland and Brian Haitz show how intensely just two musicians can captivate an audience. Wooden flute and delicate guitar merge into virtuoso instrumentals, complemented by selected songs. Their music leaves a feeling of lightness and inspiration - real food for the soul.
Brian Haitz, multi-instrumentalist and singer, was awarded Young Musician of the Year at the Sidmouth Folk Festival. His career has taken him into the studio and on stage with Irish folk greats such as Paddy Keenan and Alan Doherty as well as 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 numerous recordings. Renowned artists and bands 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

They met at a session in a pub called "Bloc". But the band name "Astro" refers to outer space, stars, something cosmic - an image for vastness, vision or creativity that transcends borders. In combination with "Bloc", the strong bonds of the collective are evoked. Together, "Astro Bloc" is a symbol of creative unity with cosmic expanse. 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 with his cross-genre accompaniment. The heart of the spaceship are the two fiddles of the young ladies, who throw the balls to each other. Sometimes in counter-rhythm, sometimes in sweet harmony and sometimes in breathtakingly fast unison. They are shot into their cosmic orbit by the powerful propulsion system of drums and guitar. Together they let the sparks fly and give the folk scene a fresh, lively energy. Inspired by the soundscapes of Scotland and Ireland. A young, powerful folk band that fuses tradition with unbridled creativity and creates an exciting sound that redefines the genre.

THE OUTCAST CREW - The godfathers of punky folk

The Outcast Crew tear the rule book to shreds and give Celtic music a good dose of fire. Their sound is raw, wild and infectious - Irish trad-punk like you haven't heard it for a long time. Whether on the stages of Europe or directly from the loudspeakers at home: nobody can ignore this band. Known as the "Godfathers of Punky Folk", they ignite music instead of just playing it. Their song "Bound for Hell" not only made it onto international stages, but also into a BBC documentary about the Kinahans - Ireland's most notorious crime family - a clear sign of their energy and power. The rhythm section of drums and electric bass stoke a pulsating ember onto which a beguiling Irish folk-scented essence is poured. This is 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. Visually, they are already legendary - slouch hats, tousled beards and looks like they've seen every dive bar from Cork to Boston. Now they are finally a band of real grit and grist. With the "Godfathers of punky folk", this style of music has just the right godfathers to continue to thrive.

Organizer: Capitol Betriebs GmbH

*VRN combination ticket valid for this event:
Period of validity
2 journeys, one there and one back, for one person on the day of the event until 3 a.m. on the following day (please note the information on the combined ticket)

Area of validity
valid in the entire VRN network area in all buses and trains (DB: RE, RB and S-Bahn) in 2nd class and in the transition areas to the neighboring KVV and HNV networks