ERNEST AINES & LORRAINE NASH
Little Whelan’s • Thur 8th Feb 2024
Join Australia’s Ernest Aines and Ireland’s Lorraine Nash as they join forces for an unforgettable double-bill tour across Ireland in February 2024.
Australian Folk Artist of the Year Award 2023 nominee, Ernest Aines, enchants audiences with his soulful voice, masterful guitar skills and stomp box have drawn comparisons to the work of Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver, Jeff Buckley and on more recent releases, Nick Drake. He has been praised by the best! After Ernest’s performance at the 2023 FAI official showcase, American Folk legend and Grammy lifetime achievement award recipient, Tom Paxton went backstage, shook Ernest by the shoulders and said, “Where have you been!! Keep doing this, keep doing this!”.
Lorraine Nash, a rising star from County Kerry, brings a blend of trad, folk and blues that captivates audiences with her unique lilt and hauntingly beautiful songs. Taking inspiration from songwriting legends Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Carole King – fused with contemporary influences like Norah Jones, Gillian Welsh, Billie Marten, Lucy Rose, Gabrielle Aplin and Laura Marling – Lorraine creates stunning, image-laden songs. Lorraine heads to Australia to play the prestigious Nannup Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Folk Festival and Yackandandah Folk Festival in March 2024.
Don’t miss out! Book Now!
LORRAINE NASH
Instagram | Linktree
“Quietly establishing herself as a serious one-to-watch over the last few years, the Kerry singer- songwriter finally releases her long-awaited debut album, All That I Can Be, this month. Combining classic songwriting influences and a deeply authentic approach to her craft, it features the radio ready closing track ‘I Don’t Care’ among its stand-outs.” – Hotpress magazine
“Irish folk is in ruddy good health thanks to the likes of Lankum, Ye Vagabonds and John Francis Flynn. Kerry’s Lorraine Nash will likely soon join their ranks. The young folk singer does a fine line in robustly penned compositions that are beautifully sung and sensitively arranged” – John Meagher, Irish Independent
At the core of Lorraine’s songwriting is a blend of trad, folk and blues traditions. Drawing on a background of traditional singing, the multi-instrumentalist incorporates the traditional lilt into her live show.
Lorraine has performed alongside David Keenan, Stephanie Rainey, John Spillane, Jack O’Rourke, Paddy Dennehy, The Lost Brothers and most recently was Mary Black’s special guest. She has wowed audiences at Cork Opera House, Ruby Sessions, Live at St. Luke’s, Irish music industry events, Music Cork, Autumn Air festival and Your Roots Are Showing, as well as Tradfest and Galway Folk Festival.
Lorraine has made several TV appearances since impressing on national Irish TV’s Today Show, with her breakout single ‘Winter Sun’.
ERNEST AINES
Website | Instagram | Linktree
Ernest Aines is an Australian Folk Artist of the Year 2023 Nominee, and an award-winning alt folk/Americana Australian singer-songwriter from Naarm/Melbourne.
His soulful voice brings songs that belie his age with lyrical expressionism that draw comparisons to the work of Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver, Jeff Buckley and on more recent releases, Nick Drake.
AMERICANA UK: ALBUM REVIEWS
Ernest Aines “Spiral Bound” INDEPENDENT, 2023 November 10, 2023 Helen Jones Album Reviews, “While it’s a smooth, intoxicating voice that draws you in, Eines’s excellent lyrics and skilful musicianship only draw you deeper.” “If my words aren’t enough to convince you that Aines’s music is worth your time, instead listen to what the venerable Tom Paxton exclaimed in joyous excitement to him after witnessing the performance he gave at the 2023 Folk Alliance International showcase: “Where have you been! Keep doing this, keep doing this!” Wise words indeed that hopefully mean there are many more albums of this calibre and above to come from Aines.”
“Aines is a true contemporary master of the folk music form… In terms of genres, across the ten songs on this remarkable debut album Aines has managed to weave elements of everyone from Peter Gabriel to Donovan to Art Garfunkel in a sonic tapestry that is just breathtaking. ‘Lady In Waiting’ is folk/madrigal/Gabriel-era Genesis/Fortheringay/Fairport/Steeleye all wrapped up in wonderfulness. From spare to sumptuous, delicate to anthemic, Spiral Bound deserves to be heard. Aines may be Australian but he has created something universal, borderless and timeless” MICHAEL GEORGE SMITH, RHYTHMS MAGAZINE
“You’re rarely ever going to find an artist or band cracking the bat as hard as Ernest Aines has throughout Spiral Bound. I’m endlessly impressed, truly. I’ve spun this record inside and out since I got it last week, and I’ve got every plan to continue that habit over here in Canada. If there was anything at all that he could have done any better, I didn’t hear it. I never doubted the man for a second, but it sure was awesome to hear him exceed even my wildest hopes and expectations – you can consider me a sincere fan of Ernest Aines, and I’m absolutely certain that you’ll feel the same.” JER@SBS SLEEPINGBAGSTUDIOS
The new album has amassed thousands of streams online, has earned high-rotation on Australia’s Public Broadcaster ABC Country and ABCDoubleJ, TripleR and 3PBS iconic Independent Melbourne Radio stations and internationally on BBC Sounds, BBC Wales, Brum Radio Birmingham, Deal Radio UK, and Canadian and USA stations.
“Ernest Aines is a dexterous guitarist and brilliant vocalist” ABC Radio Australia, Henry Wagons, Tower of Song.
“he is a brilliant vocalist and guitarist” Celtic Heartbeat. BBC Wales PERFORMANCES –
2023 Folk Alliance International – Official Showcase, Sounds Australia – Kansas City, Missouri.USA.
2023 Folk Alliance International – Library of Congress Archive tribute show – representing Sounds Australia.
2021 Folk Alliance International – Global Music Match – Sounds Australia 2023 St Kilda Music Festival
2022 The Port Fairy Folk Festival
Rockhampton Riverfest The Australian Open
The Melbourne Grand Prix
Ernest has taken home multiple awards and nominations for songwriting over the years:
2020 City of Melbourne Song Competition [Awarded] 2021 Australian Songwriting Awards [Finalist]
2020 Cygnet Folk Festival Song Awards [Runner up]
TICKETS
€20 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar.