Athlone's Eva Coyle to bring immersive 'Folk & Harvest' concert to local church

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Athlone singer-songwriter Eva Coyle is set to bring her immersive Folk & Harvest concert to St Mary's Church of Ireland this month.

Following the release of her acclaimed second album, A Gentle Turning, earlier this year, Eva is inviting audiences into a different kind of live performance with Folk & Harvest, a specially curated evening of music, poetry and storytelling in the atmospheric surroundings of St Mary's Church of Ireland.

The concert, which was originally scheduled earlier in the summer before being postponed, has now been rescheduled for Monday, August 17, with doors opening at 7.30pm and the performance beginning at 8pm.

Rather than a traditional concert, Folk & Harvest has been conceived as an immersive celebration of folk traditions, combining ambient instrumental music, spoken word and song in one intimate performance.

The event continues the artistic direction Eva explored on A Gentle Turning, an album she previously described as "an exploration of the quieter moments in life," adding that she wanted listeners to "slow down and sit with the music".

That same reflective atmosphere will shape the live performance, as audiences are invited into an evening centred on connection, tradition and shared experience.

Joining Eva on the night is Belgian accordionist and composer Hartwin Hoore, whose atmospheric accordion playing has become a regular feature of her recent collaborations.

The evening will also be hosted by Athlone spoken word poet Sinéad Byrne Canning, whose storytelling and poetry will weave through the musical performances to create a seamless blend of words and music.

Speaking earlier this year following the release of A Gentle Turning, Eva said she had become increasingly interested in presenting music in intimate settings outside the traditional concert format.

She said the new material "really lends itself to non-traditional performance spaces" where audiences can become fully immersed in the experience, making St Mary's Church an ideal venue for Folk & Harvest.

Described as "a night of ambient folk and storytelling," the concert will feature original songs, instrumental music and poetry that explore themes of connection, nature and tradition, all set against the historic backdrop of one of Athlone's most distinctive buildings.

Tickets priced at €12 plus booking fee are available on Eventbrite, and will also be available on the door.