Barry Kerr
Barry Kerr at St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
About the show
SoundBox is proud to present Barry Kerr, who is touring an intimate solo show to a select number of venues in England.
An acclaimed composer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist originally from the southern shores of Lough Neagh, and now living in Connemara, Barry has built a distinguished career as a touring musician sharing stages with some of Ireland’s most renowned performers over the past two decades.
Since recording his debut album at the tender age of 17, Barry has toured internationally as a solo artist, and collaborated with celebrated musicians, such as Steve Cooney, Cara Dillon, Julie Fowlis, Lumiere, and Dervish. His compositions have been performed and recorded by acclaimed artists Karan Casey, Flook, Jiggy, Beoga, Brian Finnegan, Damian O’Kane, and Kate Rusby, among others.
An award-winning musician, Barry received the prestigious inaugural Liam O’Flynn Award from the National Concert Hall and the Arts Council in 2020. In 2023, he served as the Traditional Musician in Residence at University College Cork. His work explores the intersection of visual art and music, exemplified in his film, Fuascail (aired on TG4, December 2022).
At the heart of Barry’s recent work lies Curlew’s Cry: a haunting, luminous collection of original and traditional songs inspired by folklore, memory, and the natural world. It was this deeply authentic voice of the album that won him the inaugural Folk Album of the Year award in 2025.
Featuring - Barry Kerr
Barry Kerr is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and visual artist whose creative work expresses the very heart of Irish life. Originally from the southern shores of Lough Neaghin County Armagh, Barry now lives in Connemara, he has enjoyed a long and successful career as a touring artist and has shared a stage with some of the greatest performers in Irish music.
Barry is an acclaimed composer and was awarded the prestigious Liam O’Flynn award from the National Concert Hall and the Arts Council in 2020. He subsequently released ‘Cairn’, an album of original compositions.
One of Ireland’s most distinctive musical voices, Barry’s work is deeply rooted in place - shaped by the lough he grew up beside, the communities that raised him, and the stories he feels compelled to pass on.