Paul Kelly, Leah Flanagan & More Named For Shane Howard's Celebration Of Irish Australia

Veteran Aussie troubadour Shane Howard is gathering a crop of Australia and Ireland's best-loved musicians for a celebratory run of shows early next year in honour of the antipodes' long-standing connection with the land o' the leprechauns in EXILE: Songs & Tales Of Irish Australia.

To help bring his vision to life, the Goanna mainstay has conscripted an A-list cabal of artists and musos to lend their talents, with the way led by local living legend Paul Kelly. Howard, who will serve as the project's artistic director, will also perform.

Also joining the Merri Soul Sessions mastermind will be the esteemed likes of Irish stars such as Declan O'Rourke, Pauline Scanlon, Sean Tyrrell, John Spillane and Steve Cooney, with local talent on-board including Leah Flanagan and Lynnelle Moran, with Aussie-Irish muso Aine Tyrell straddling the cultural divide for good measure.

EXILE is billed as "a tribute to the influence Irish exiles and descendants have had on Australian life", with a particular focus on "historical and culturally significant material, songs, still and moving images, poetry and spoken word, as well as the creation of new works".

The travelling show will be held thrice in February, in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane; it hits Hamer Hall on Saturday 20 February, Festival Theatre on Sunday 21 February, and QPAC Concert Hall on Monday February 29.

Tickets for all three performances are available now (Melbourne/Adelaide/Brisbane). 

See below for a full list of performers. For more information, see EXILE's website.

exile — featured players

Feature Artists: 
 
Australian: 
Paul Kelly – Vocal/Guitar
Shane Howard  - Vocal/Guitar
Leah Flanagan – Vocal
Lynelle Moran – Flute/Vocal
 
Irish: 
Declan O’Rourke  -Vocal/Guitar
John Spillane - Vocal/Guitar
Sean Tyrrell – Vocal/Mandocello
Pauline Scanlon – Vocal
Steve Cooney  - Vocal/Guitar/Bass
Aine Tyrrell – Vocal

Musicians
Ewen Baker - (Music Director) -Fiddle/Mandolin
Paddy Fitzgerald - Button Accordion (Traditional Tunes Advisor)
Greg Sheehan - Percussion
Michelle Burton - Harp