What’s On This Week: The Anam Sessions

Other Voices: The Anam Sessions continues this Thursday at 11pm on RTÉ2 and worldwide on the RTÉ Player.

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The second episode takes us to Emo Court House in County Laois, where four acts come together for some special performances and chats, all captured in one of Ireland’s most remarkable historic settings.

Presented bilingually by MayKay and new presenter Cóilí Collins, also known as Shampain, The Anam Sessions brings contemporary and traditional Irish music into some of the country’s most significant heritage sites.

Kean Kavanagh

It only feels right to kick off this episode with the Portlaoise prince himself - Kean Kavanagh. Co-founder of Soft Boy records, Kean wears many different hats as both producer and A&R, but is now becoming one of the most exciting names on the Irish music scene himself. Kean’s music has been resonating far and wide since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album ’The County Star’ which was released last year. With a lot of new music to come, it's an exciting new era for Kean in 2026.

SOAK

SOAK, the moniker of Irish singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson, is no stranger to Other Voices. They first performed at Other Voices as a teenager in 2012, and since then have gone on to become a powerful voice in contemporary indie music, blending raw emotion with ethereal soundscapes. SOAK continues to inspire with their authenticity and artistry, making a significant impact on the landscape of modern music.

Sárán Mulligan & Muirine Nic Róibín

Sárán Mulligan and Muirine Nic Róibín are a folk duo based in Dublin whose music is characterised by its innovation and energy. Blending concertina with fiddle and clarinet, they create a smooth sound with rich textures and considered harmonic choices. Over the years, the duo has earned prestigious accolades within the traditional music scene, combining multiple All-Ireland titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann with competitive Arts Council awards for their independent artistic endeavors, all setting the stage for the highly anticipated release of their debut album this October.

Ellie O’Neill

Ellie O’Neill is a folk artist from County Meath, Ireland, whose music weaves a tender, expansive landscape exploring intimacy, loss, friendship, and queer identity. Working primarily with voice and acoustic guitar, her songs move between meditative minimalism and raw, grungy confession. She has toured widely across Ireland and the UK, supporting Adrianne Lenker and John Francis Flynn, performing at festivals including Pitchfork London and Green Man. Now based in Dublin, her tender debut album Time of Fallow is out now.

Watch Episode 2 this Thursday, 17 September, at 11pm on RTÉ2 or catch up wherever you are in the world on the RTÉ Player.

Catch up on episode one now with performances from Joshua Burnside, Cliffords, Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Girl in the Year Above now on the RTÉ Player.

Coming up in this series:

• Episode 2: Thursday 17 September: (Emo Court House) Ellie O’Neill, Kean Kavanagh, Sárán Mulligan & Muirine Nic Róibín, SOAK
• Episode 3: Thursday 24 September: (The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle) Aby Coulibaly, Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy, Curtisy, Jacob Alon 
• Episode 4: Thursday 1 October: (Áras an Uachtaráin) Aibhse, CUAS, Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Damien Dempsey, Huartan, Pauline Scanlon, Ruth McGinley

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The Anam Sessions is produced by Other Voices in partnership with the Office of Public Works.

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