Ríoghnach Connolly grew up surrounded by a rich musical familial heritage and through Armagh Pipers’ Club in Armagh City, in the northeast of Ireland. Now based in Manchester, she is a professional vocalist, flautist, lyricist, workshop facilitator and musical activist. She has toured internationally and extensively, performing and recording in bands The Breath (Real World Records), HoneyFeet (Wah Wah 45’s) Band of Burns (Órd Bán) and Afro Celt Sound System (ECC). Ríoghnach has a worldwide publishing deal with Real World Records as a writer and currently holds the title of BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year.
Ríoghnach Connolly has graced stages as far away as Brazil and Singapore, and recorded under Ríoghnach’s name, as festival favourites Honeyfeet and as Beware Soul Brother, along with Mendi Singh.
She is unencumbered with the need to stick to one stylistic path and instead weaves influences from folk, soul, hiphop, jazz and blues together to create an eclectic and intricate sound.
“(Connolly is) A remarkable singer and flautist...who can ease from Irish traditional influences to soul.” - The Guardian
“Delightfully undefinable...irrepressible, inimitable,” - Folk Radio
“A voice that echoes back through the ages of jazz and soul, resonant and resplendent in glorious, exploding power and control.” - Manchester Music
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“Connolly is a free spirit and strikingly self-assured...seldom has conspicuous greatness been more accessible.” - Mike Butler, CityLife / Dyverse Music
