Cua

Event information

We are delighted to welcome the outstanding Irish trio Cua to 50rpm for the first time.

** Please note we operate a no talking policy when the acts are performing. If you can't manage that, don't buy a ticket. Be a considerate gig goer and show the artists and your fellow gig goers the proper respect **

** Please not our venue is located up stairs and is not suitable for wheelchair user and may not be suitable for those with walking difficulties **

John Davidson, Shane Booth & Ros O'Meara bring together dynamic and contrasting instrumentation and voices. The group have an expansive acoustic soundscape blending guitars, fiddle, bouzouki, percussion and three part harmony arrangements (that often sounds like more) to create a folk styling that incorporates elements of music from the plains of Ireland to the mountains of Scotland and much farther a field both east and west. Soaring melody lines, dirgy, intense a capella vocals and complex rhythmic structures will have the blood pumping through even the coldest of auditoriums. The cua live experience has been compared to contemporaries such as Lau and Lankum as well as to such greats as Planxty and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, to name a few. Described as folk, world, roots, psychedelic-folk, heartfelt, transcendent, americana or trad the band ticks all of these boxes and more while maintaining a powerful through-line.

In the last few years cua have played countless shows in Ireland, toured to Holland and France and completed seven UK tours all to critical acclaim. Adding to this two sold out shows at Celtic Connections and a sold out show at Temple Bar Tradfest.

Releases to date include but are not limited to their debut album 'The Winter Tapes' 2012, the first EP (self titled) as a three piece in 2014 followed by two 15 track albums 'Songs of The Hollow' 2017 and 'In Flight off the Islands' 2019. cua spent the time of lock-down continuing to record remotely which resulted in their latest album release 'Oh Sun Shine Down' in 2022.

Cua truly pride themselves on their diversity, with subtle nods to many genres, whilst keeping a folk, world, roots and traditional line throughout. All members are multi-instrumentalists and are inspired by many aspects of the musical spectrum including roots, blues, gospel, jazz fusion, traditional, bluegrass and more. Their approach to music is inspired by the history, landscape and peoples of the Atlantic areas.

Cua have been recognised on a european and national level following their first two successful studio releases and are receiving national and local radio airplay in Scotland, England, Ireland, America, France, Holland, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and the US. The group have shared the bill with Andy Irvine, The Furey’s, Hazel O’Connor, Paddy Casey and The 4 Of Us to name but a few.

'An unclassifiable band that weave together different musics into something that is their own, crackling with life, energy and spark.' - Marc Higgins - Fatea Records