Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet

Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet are playing at Alphabet on Friday, 4 December 2026. It’s a chance to see a band that defines itself as a fearless, fluid musical unit, moving with ease between swampy jazz, strident brass, fractured funk, blues ballads, and folk textures. They’ve spent the last eighteen months on the road with their 'They Want What Youve Got' tour, playing notable shows at The Glasshouse in Gateshead, the Albert Hall in Manchester as part of WOMEX 24, and the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.

The band is built around a core of musicians including Lorien Garth Edwards on bass, Ellis Davies on guitar, John Ellis on keyboards, Biff Roxby on brass, and Phill Howley on drums. At the centre is Ríoghnach Connolly, whose vocals are described as fierce, tender, and brave. Her approach is rooted in connecting ancestral traditions with contemporary storytelling, a style that has earned her significant recognition. She is a recipient of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year award and the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award for best folk singer. Beyond her work with the band, she has been active in other projects, including a performance at the 'Sisters: Annie Lennox and Friends' concert at the Royal Albert Hall in early 2025.

The group’s sound is distinct for how it balances these different textures. By blending the raw energy of brass and funk with the more introspective nature of folk and blues, they create a performance that relies on the interplay between the musicians. It is this specific combination of instrumentation and vocal delivery that has defined their recent touring schedule.

The gig takes place at Alphabet, located at 11 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3FE. The music starts at 20:00. Tickets for the evening are priced at £22.25.