FOR trad innovators Kila, Limerick is their second most visited city. The band have played here many times in a 30 year career that has seen the group travel the world. Kíla have created their own distinctive style of world music, which has won over audiences of all ages around the world through their nine albums and spectacular live shows.
Their most recent show was in Dolan’s at Christmas and now they return to the city for an intriguing show with a difference but with all the usual hip-shaking, smile-making and groovy brand of Limerick city loves.
Kila are here for a special family show as part of The Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival. In these special family gigs the band will play some of their best-loved tunes as well as music written for Cartoon Saloon’s award winning animated films Song of the Sea (which features Lisa Hannigan) and The Secret of Kells.
Colm O’Snodaigh from the band explained that the family show came about by accident while playing a gig in the afternoon where there were a lot of families.
“We did it by default as these things happen. We played gig as usual and during one tune all the kids lay down on the ground spontaneously during a jig and we were stunned by this reaction, so we knew we didn’t have to dumb down our music for a kids show.
“We have realised over time our mandolin player Rossa Ó Snodaigh was an absolute natural with the kids gigs so we put him central stage so he does the jokes and tells stories.”
And the band have fun with the kids playing tin whistles and fiddles in pairs swapping hands over. Kila have hit a run of form and are playing very strongly these days colm adds.
The group will again provide music for the new Cartoon Saloon project ‘Wolfwakers’ again directed by Tomm Moore which will get a release in 2018.
Kila will have a live album ready for Christmas (recorded at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght last May. Kila will record a new album early 2017.
The Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival runs from October 11 to 21 in both Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable. Visit the website www.limetreetheatre.ie for a full list of festival events. Kila play the Lime Tree Theatre on Sunday October 16, 2pm.
