John Spillane in Concert

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter and storyteller whose work is deeply rooted in people, place and story.

A captivating live performer, he moves effortlessly from lyrical, melancholic beauty to roguish humour, his distinctive vocal style carrying an almost sean-nós quality.

His music, inspired by the landscapes and traditions of his native Cork — “the centre of the universe,” as he calls it — reflects Irish traditional music in a contemporary voice.A two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad Act, Spillane is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters.

Since his 1997 debut The Wells of the World, his songs have been recorded by artists including Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon and Seán Keane.

His recent releases include 100 Snow White Horses (2021), his first independent album in two decades, and Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough (2024), an ambitious collaborative project that was named Album of the Year at the RTÉ Folk Awards.We are delighted to welcome John back to the Helicon during this, our tenth anniversary year.