Praised for writing “bone breakingly beautiful” music. Kenan Flannery is a 24-year-old IYMA’s award winning folk songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. Kenan at his core is a storyteller for the damned and broken, writing heart-wrenching songs and stories with a voice “that hits you with the intensity of a hundred Irish poets and musicians”. He mixes his upbringing of Irish folk/ballad music from the likes of The Dubliners with his love of American folk music and has been compared to the likes of John Prine, Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley.
In 2022 Kenan set out on his debut US tour playing venues and festivals throughout the USA including the renowned Red Ants Pants Festival and the Crabtree Sessions on North Haven Island, Maine. He’s also graced the stages of some of the biggest venues in Ireland including The National Stadium and the famous Ruby Sessions, which has seen artists like Frank Turner, Damien Rice, Ed Sheeran, amongst many more. In addition Kenan got to support The Wolfe Tones in front of 2000 people and Gravedancer on his debut tour of Ireland.
For 2023, Kenan has been announced for two big festivals in Ireland and is also heading out to the USA for another tour in the summer. His live shows are filled with stories, laughs and tears and his performances are always wild and truly one of a kind, as they display his writing and showmanship in the most unique way. Kenan Flannery is one of Ireland’s gems in the rough, and definitely one to watch for the future.
