Irish Singer-Songwriter Niall Connolly to Perform at Mountain City Traditional Arts

Oct 6, 2026 9:00 AM

Irish singer-songwriter Niall Connolly will bring his acclaimed blend of indie folk, storytelling and infectious melodies to Mountain City Traditional Arts (MCTA) at Frostburg State University on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.

A respected figure in New York’s indie folk scene, Connolly is known as a “songwriter’s songwriter” whose music combines emotional honesty, dark humor and memorable melodies. He is also the founder of Big City Folk, a collective that has curated hundreds of musical events throughout New York City and New York state. Artists who have appeared at Big City Folk events over the years include Anaïs Mitchell, Mick Flannery, Lucius, Susan O’Neill, Mundy and Lana Del Rey, before she became known by that name.

Connolly will perform songs from his 10th studio album, There’s So Much More to See, which has been described as a balm for troubled times. The 11-song album, clocking in at less than 37 minutes, explores themes of division, love, death, grief, gratitude and resistance. Throughout, Connolly wrestles with the complexities of modern life while searching for a path beyond fruitless anger toward what Nick Lowe famously called “peace, love and understanding.”

A master storyteller, Connolly has consistently captured the emotional zeitgeist through his distinctive combination of soul-punching honesty, dark humor and infectious melodies.

His journey as an independent musician began in an unconventional way. In the spring of 2001, inspired by a small advertisement in the Irish Examiner, Connolly signed up as a paid subject for a medical research trial at Shandon Clinic in Cork. He then took his earnings to a local credit union and explained, “I have 500 pounds and a plan. Can I have 3,000 pounds?”

That plan resulted in his debut album, Songs from a Corner. The album sold well enough to inspire further plans, followed by As Tomorrow Creeps from the East in 2003 and The Future Tense in 2007. Connolly later relocated to the United States, where his talent earned him the unusual designation of “Alien of Extraordinary Ability” from the U.S. government.

Nearly two decades later, Connolly has released seven additional studio albums and established a career as an independent musician in one of the world’s most vibrant musical cities. His latest work continues his tradition of pairing thoughtful songwriting with a keen sense of humor and an unflinching look at the world around him.

Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University and the Maryland Traditions Program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

For more information or to reserve seats in advance, call 301-687-8040 or 301-687-3124.