IMRO supported The Acoustic Yard on Tuesday November 25th will feature three different eclectic styles from traditional folk to Contemporary pop. Briege Murphy, Niall Teague and Joanna Marie will grace the stage in Matt Molloy’s, Westport for the last session of the year which in the past has featured acts from Ireland like Charlie McGettigan and Andrea Begley to Kelley McRae and Gary Ferguson from the USA. The event will return in February 2015 with a special anniversary party and news of The Acoustic Yard singer/songwriter festival which is in it’s early planning stages.

Briege Murphy from Co.Armagh writes contemporary folk songs, many with traditional roots. Her songs have been recorded Niamh Parsons, Frances Black, Rig the Jig, Don Stiffe, Anthony John Clarke, The Border Collies, Scold’s Bridle and The Once to name but a few. She has recorded 4 albums to date of her own songs and one of Irish traditional and American folk covers.
Briege has received a” keeper of the tradition” award for her contribution to the culture of her county and country, and recently won “Best female Bard”, at the Bard of Armagh, humorous poetry competition. She has performed at festivals all over the world including the Westport Arts and Clifden festivals and recently one of her songs was included on an acclaimed compilation album, called ” The Ultimate guide to Irish Folk “.

Niall Teague is a singer/songwriter from Belfast city but has been firmly routed in the Galway music scene for the last number of years. Niall has gained respect as a performer, singer and a songwriter in both Galway and further afield through groups 4 men and a Bass and The Fast Company as well the Sharon Shannon band. His style reflects his broad musical influences which include both Irish and American folk music leading to song and melody which is both rich and diverse. Multi-instrumentalist Niall brought out his debut CD with his band The Fast Company in 2010 with a high quality assortment of original folk ballads, and bluegrass songs.

Joanna Marie is a new singer/songwriter from Dublin whose writing is very much influenced by Joni Mitchell. She spent some time studying songwriting in BIMM Dublin and working on her performance where she met Ola Ersfjord, a producer who encouraged her to record an EP. Following a successful fundit campaign Joanna recorded her debut EP with Ola in Temple Lane Studios, ‘Cold on the Coast’ which was launched to a packed out crowd in Whelans in Dublin in July 2014 . Joanna continues to work on new material and is due to release her new single ‘ Finding our Feet’ in this December 2014.