The Sofa Sessions at Billy Byrnes

Billy Byrnes is delighted to host this series of concerts, The Sofa Sessions, bringing the sort of instrumental music rarely heard in Kilkenny
to the relaxed surroundings of the Billy Byrnes’ intimate back room. Musician, Irish Times jazz critic and Kilkenny resident Cormac Larkin
Has curated the series since 2015, embracing a wide range of music, from jazz and blues to folk, funk, hip hop and beyond.

The common denominator, says Larkin, is that the level of instrumental skill will be high. "This is music for people who like to see good musicians
play, up close and in person.”

“I didn’t want it to be just jazz” says Cormac Larkin. “Music for me is not about boundaries. But whatever kind of music it is, I want to hear it live, in a setting that is conducive, both for the musicians and the listener.
I wanted to create a concert series that I would like to go to myself, music for grown-ups, where you can sit down and listen intently, but you’re not in a theatre or a church. Somewhere where you can have a drink and a chat, but you’re not surrounded by noisy patrons who don’t care
about the music. And crucially, somewhere where you can get close enough to really experience the act of creating music."

“Its the sort of experience you get in a downtown Manhattan jazz club - and I wanted to bring that kind of energy and intimacy to Kilkenny."