17 acts that stood out at SXSW 2018Dermot Kennedy: Angels, demons, ghosts, memories and all the dimensions of love haunt Irish songwriter Dermot Kennedy. Onstage at SXSW, his songs revealed their folky structures, built on guitar or piano. Other Irish acts that performed included Le Galaxie, Joshua Burnside, Saint Sister, The Lost Brothers, The Strypes, Touts, The Academic and Talos. In frisky cumbias and high-velocity polkas with very brief swerves into rock riffing or rapped vocals, the band sang about food, love, drinking and dancing – especially food. No, I’m just joking – we’re a guitar band in 2018.” The way he ricocheted around the stage – along with forays on to the shoulders of audience members – Steen should have sported a Stooges T-shirt.

Source: The Irish Times March 19, 2018 13:52 UTC