Saltaire EPK
This fresh contemporary folk outfit brings together three distinct musical voices, shaped by years of performing in acclaimed Irish traditional and folk bands and as sought-after session musicians. Comprised of singer/cellist Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz, guitarist Ian Kinsella and bodhrán/bouzouki player Conor Lyons, Saltaire creates a rich tapestry of sound, fusing Irish and American folk and trad styles.
Kaitlin, a performer with 2025 RTÉ Folk Award winners Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, also tours with the esteemed Frankie Gavin & De Dannan band alongside fellow Saltaire member Ian Kinsella. Conor Lyons, founding member of The Bonny Men, performs with both Cullen-Verhauz and Kinsella in Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin's live band, with all members featuring on his debut solo album The Deepest Breath (awarded 4 stars by The Irish Times).
Their combined experience fueling a bold and dynamic sound, the band weave haunting, ethereal folk styles with rich storytelling to create original songs and reimagined folk ballads and traditional tunes. With the deep resonance of cello, the rhythmic pulse of bodhrán, and the melodic interplay of guitar and bouzouki, they craft a fresh yet dense folk sound that feels both timeless and nostalgic.
Saltaire can perform as a 3-6 piece, depending on venue, preference, fee, etc.
Sample tech spec -
For all enquiries please contact:
sheena@amplifyagency.ie // rhi@amplifyagency.ie // saltairemusic@gmail.com
Following their haunting debut original single ‘The Axe’, which earned RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends inclusion, and their compelling rendition of ‘Matty Groves’, new single ‘Slip Jigs & Jenny’s’ continues to frame Saltaire’s ascent as compelling new players in the contemporary Irish folk and trad scene. Their highly anticipated debut EP, Only Moonlight, is out on February 27th.
The Axe
‘The Axe’ is an enthralling contemporary take on the ancient ‘murder ballad’ sub-genre of folk music. The song is inspired by the true story of the infamous Axeman of New Orleans, a serial killer who terrorised the city between 1918 and 1919. A bizarre and unsettling story, Saltaire explores the incident through music steeped in the macabre, navigating themes of fear, bigotry, the sensationalising of tragedy in pop culture/media, and the ways in which collective terror can either splinter or bind a community of people together.
Matty Groves
On the inspiration behind the single, Saltaire vocalist and cellist Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz shares: “We draw a lot of inspiration from boundary pushing folk bands of the 60s and 70s like Pentangle and Fairport Convention. The Fairport version of ‘Matty Groves’ has always riled me up - it's mischievous and dark, and sexy in a folky sort of way, so we used that as the springboard foundation for our own interpretation. This particular melody, commonly used in different adaptations of ‘Matty Groves’, shares its tune with the traditional Appalachian folk song ‘Shady Grove’, so we were really fortunate to have our friend and master 5-string banjo player Ryan McAuley bring that old-time character to the track.”
Slip Jigs & Jenny’s
With ‘The Axe’ and ‘Matty Groves’ introducing Saltaire as songwriters and folk collectors, ‘Slip Jigs & Jenny’s’ establishes the traditional instrumental dimension of what Saltaire has to offer. The track introduces Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz’s cello not only as an atmospheric and textural foundation to the Saltaire sound, but as a leading melody player in its own right. The entrance of other instruments taking over the melody (flute by Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, banjo by Ryan McAuley, piano by Catherine McHugh) atop a powerful and lush accompaniment foundation by Ian Kinsella and Conor Lyons on guitar/bouzouki/bodhran, opens up a mesmeric and multi-dimensional space for harmony and countermelody amongst all the players.
EP - Only Moonlight
The title ‘Only Moonlight’ directly references one of the lyrics from track 4, a cover of Lungs by Townes Van Zandt. The line: ‘Gather up the gold you’ve found, you fool its only moonlight’, suggests something transient, something illusory or unreliable - sometimes being a musician feels something like that; we try to gather gold in what we create and navigate the shifting shadows of doubt. This feels like a fitting and symbolic title for a debut EP.
All the tracks on the EP (including singles) were engineered, co-produced, and mixed by Alex Borwick. They were recorded at Black Mountain Studios and mastered by Seán Mac Erlaine. Artwork was done by Rachel Kenny.
Private soundcloud link to forthcoming EP -
“Listening to Dublin-based folk trio Saltaire feels like being told a scary story from which you can’t tear yourself away, and they’ve done it again with Matty Groves”
“Saltaire has a unique fusion of a medieval/Celtic sound mixed with country music. The results are really mesmerising and at times haunting. There is a lot of storytelling in their songwriting and this adds a wonderful history and rich tapestry to their connection to the audience.”
- World Unplugged
Upcoming Gigs ~
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YRAS Official Showcase 2026 - Belfast
Wednesday January 14 11:30PM-12:00
Saltaire are delighted to be an Official Showcase Artist for Your Roots are Showing 2026 at The Waterfront/ICC Belfast
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TradFest 2026 Culture Ireland Showcase - Dublin
Friday January 23rd 1:00-3:00PM
Saltaire are excited to announce that they will be showcasing at TradFest Dublin 2026 (supported by Culture Ireland) on Friday, the 23rd of January at the Grand Social
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Trad Folkin' Rocks at the Sugar Club
Saturday January 24th 8:00PM (doors 7:30)
Saltaire will be joining a killer lineup of trad and folk rabble rousers - don’t miss it
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