Tipperary band The Cedartowns will be a major attraction at Clonmel venue

A local band who have already released three singles this year, and will release a fourth next month, are playing a gig in Clonmel the weekend after next.

The Cedartowns will appear at The Coachman at 9pm on Friday week, May 12, when they will perform some of their new releases and favourite live tracks.

The band have hit the ground running since the start of the year, releasing the singles ‘Let the Water Run’ and ‘Not the Romantic Kind’.

Their latest single, the soulful and tuneful ‘Soul Sister’ was released across all streaming platforms last week and they’re already gearing up for the follow-up ‘Don’t ask, Don’t tell’, which is due for release, also across all streaming platforms, on June 9.

The band, who were recent local finalists in The Hot Press/IBI/Tipp FM Local Hero competition, have been categorised as Alternative Folk/Alt Folk, with influences ranging from First Aid Kit and Brandi Carlile to Guy Clark.

Their influences of blues, folk and pop help form a distinct, solid sound.

The Cedartowns line-up includes Mary Nugent, Seamus Hayes, Tom Kenna, Michele Nugent, Brendan Hunter and Andrew Kennedy.

Mary Nugent, whose powerful vocals are a great asset in forming the band’s identity, has grown into her singer/songwriter shoes after many years singing in folk settings with her sisters and later with her husband Seamus, and she writes and co-writes much of the band’s repertoire.

Her sister Michele Nugent is the group’s vocal harmonist. Having previously sung competitively with her family, she returned to the stage with Mary in 2013 for the formation of The Cedartowns.

Vocalist and cittern/guitar player Tom Kenna has played with the National Folk Orchestra and made numerous appearances on TV and radio.

He was featured on the ‘Geantraí 10 Year Best Of’ compilation DVD and is currently involved with the In Tune For Life Orchestra, along with his time playing, singing and co-writing songs as part of The Cedartowns.

Brendan Hunter started drumming for the band in 2021.

He brings experience from an array of genres, having played with various blues, rock and folk bands since the early 2000s, including the Mary Nugent Band, where he first teamed up with Mary and Seamus.

Andrew Kennedy, meanwhile, has a wealth of musical experience, having written and recorded with the hugely successful Royseven and Blancatransfer.

He has played bass on the ‘Salt Water Joys’ album for Dunaill, and recently on the Cadhla album ‘When Birds Are Sleeping’.
During his music career he has shared stages with Sinead O’Connor, The Frames, Aslan, The Stunning, Bell X1, Paddy Casey, Sack and The Devlins.

Seamus Hayes brings a rich guitar knowledge to the table with years of performing and playing in rock and blues bands.
He has played with the Scottish band Seannacie, with The Mary Nugent Band and also performs with blues band Mojod.

A popular band on the festival scene, The Cedartowns have brought live performances of their dynamic songwriting to The Gravity Festival, The Junction Festival, Clonacody House (between Clonmel and Fethard), Clonmel Busking Festival, Clonmel Applefest and the Cashel Arts Festival.

They have played sell-out gigs at the Clonmel and Portlaw Folk Clubs and Bunmahon Geopark. In 2017 they played support to Anuna and Jack Lukeman at the Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre.

In 2018 the band released their debut EP ‘Shelter’, followed by single releases ‘Appletown’ in 2019 and ‘Cold Feet’ in 2021.

Doors for their highly-anticipated gig at The Coachman on Friday night May 12 open at 8pm, with the band due on stage an hour later.