WATCH: IMBOLC 2024 to be celebrated by Derry's Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin

IMBOLC International Music Festival is now firmly embedded in Derry’s cultural calendar.

One of Ireland’s leading folk, trad and roots music festivals, IMBOLC is organised by Derry's Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin and offers high quality blended concert experiences, with a mixture of favourite international artists, alongside new and emerging talent.  

Just as the traditional Gaelic festival welcomes new life as a marker of spring, IMBOLC  2024 will once again be bringing in the brighter months ahead with a stellar line up that celebrates all iterations of folk, roots, and traditional Irish music.

Based in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin between January 28 and February 4, it includes more than 25 artists from as far afield as Canada, India, and South-Korea, will be performing amongst our island’s own outstanding musical stock.

Now in its ninth year, the IMBOLC programming has truly found its stride as “a boutique festival for a boutique city - eclectically curated and refreshingly analogue”, according to the Guardian.

Eibhlín Ní Dhochartaigh, Artistic Director of An Cultúrlann said: "IMBOLC includes everything from the epic collaboration of Michael Rooney and the Music Generation Cavan / Monaghan Cross Border Youth Orchestra, to the tribal Tradtronica of Huartan; family favourites Kíla, to an evening dedicated to burgeoning young acts from the vibrant local scene.

"We will have workshops and masterclasses for dancers and musicians and session trails snaking their way through the city’s renowned pubs and cafes (as well as its hidden gems).

"The festival combines the grassroots with the international, family-friendly festivities with their ever popular late night 'Club Trad' and most importantly, provides a platform for artists to experiment.

“In the spirit of IMBOLC - a celebration of the energy and excitement of the changing seasons - IMBOLC International Music festival brings its own energy, inspiration and creativity to Derry," said Eibhlín.

She added: "This year’s festival provides the opportunity to showcase the international quality of this work. This work throughout the year has enabled the IMBOLC Festival to become the unique folk, trad and roots music festival that it is.

"With previous years bringing together over 3,000 attendees and 1,200 participants from near and far to celebrate our shared and extensive cultural heritage, Derry will once again brim with lively music, and livelier times.

"If you aren’t too busy enjoying the music, exploring the city, or sleeping off the previous night’s festivities, you can also bring your instrument to join in on their daily sessions, and at the weekend’s Big IMBOLC Trad Brunch.

"While a festival in its own right, IMBOLC pays tribute to its pagan roots on the 1st of February with 'Brigid 1500' celebrating the 1,500th anniversary of Brigid, and her importance in Celtic Culture. This will include an exciting mixture of music, song, poetry, storytelling and drama for the whole family, the Armagh rhymers will be taking to the stage to share the story of Brigid to audiences new and old. For the evening, a female-led concert featuring Megan Nic Ruairí, Inni-K, and guests."

IMBOLC 2024 will be partnering with Irish Artists for Palestine for the festival’s opening evening concert on Sunday, January 28 and all proceeds will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestine.

For further info on tickets and the full line up, visit the website here: http://www.imbolcfestival.com.

Keep up to date by following the festival on social media at @imbolcfest on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.