Ríoghnach Connolly

Still residing as BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, Ríoghnach Connolly’s taste for musical adventure is eclectic. Along with her companion players, Honeyfeet, they collectively drive a broad terrain of musical textures, from esoteric protest songs to foot-tapping and floor-thumping dance rhythms. Ríoghnach (pronounced ree-oh-nah) and the Honeyfeet ensemble are equally proficient in headlining festival stages as they are stripping back to sublime obscure jazz on theatre stages – always bringing an energetic performance packed with creative joy. Traditional and folk are fundamental in Connolly’s musical canon. Coming from a long line of singers on both sides of her family, she channels the music of her grandparents and can draw from a breadth of styles and folk traditions across the world. An eclectic troupe based in Manchester, Honeyfeet (Lorien Garth Edwards, bass; Ellis Davies, guitar; John Ellis, keyboards; Biff Roxby, brass; and Phil Howley, drums) bring a sound spanning from the bountiful to the subtle, with everything from big-band swing to Alabama blues-tinged folk, all held together by powerful vocals and flute from Ríoghnach. For over a decade, Honeyfeet have been festival regulars and even re-opened Manchester’s Albert Hall back in 2021.