Emerging Act for Kildare Jazz Festival Announced!
Riverbank Arts Centre is thrilled to announce that Tadhg Leahy has been selected as the Emerging Act for this year’s Kildare Jazz Festival. Following a highly competitive open call, Tadhg stood out as an exceptional talent, securing his place in the festival’s line-up.
Tadhg will take to the stage at Riverbank Arts Centre on Friday, 4th April at 7pm, delivering an exciting and dynamic performance that showcases his distinctive style and musical artistry. As part of the festival’s commitment to supporting rising talent, this performance will provide a platform for Tadhg to engage with new audiences and share his passion for music.
Speaking about the announcement festival curator Kasia Eliasz states: “We received a large number of applications for emerging acts, all of which showcased exceptional artistic quality. However, Tadhg’s work truly stood out. His innovative approach and musical talent made him the perfect fit to perform as an emerging act at the Kildare Jazz Festival 2025. I’m excited to have him on board and look forward to the incredible energy he’ll bring to the festival.”
Tadhg is an Irish composer, instrumentalist, bandleader and one of the foremost session guitarists in Ireland. Performing and recording for multiple different Irish artists while also performing and recording music under his own name, writing instrumental and vocal music in a variety of genres. In his role as an instrumentalist and session guitarist he has toured internationally and nationwide performing in all of Ireland’s major venues. His influences are varied and include artists from the modern jazz guitar idiom such as Julian Lage and Wayne Krantz, as well as 20th century composers such as Frank Zappa and Claude Debussy.
Reflecting on his successful application Tadhg says: “I’m absolutely honoured to be selected for the Emerging Act for Kildare Jazz Festival 2025. I am always searching for any outlet to explore my own music in a live setting, and I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to opening a festival that features a great line up of artists.”
Tadhg Leahy’s selection follows a rigorous open call process, where numerous talented artists showcased their skills and potential. His performance at Riverbank Arts Centre promises to be a highlight of the festival, offering audiences an intimate and inspiring musical experience.