Emily Cavanagh, Niall Connolly

A regular here at Rockwood Music Hall, Emily Cavanagh has been playing shows with us for nearly 10 years now to many sold out performances.

In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Emily launched a music initiative called "A Song for You".... writing, recording & sending original personalized songs to patients & families hit hardest by the pandemic, primarily those at the end of life. This project has grown into its own non-profit here in NYC & is launched in hospices across the country & features songs of local, touring, & grammy award winning songwriters.

Emily's own music reflects a throwback sound of the 30's, 40's,& 50's while maintaining a great folk & pop sensibility. Her work can be found in various commercial placements & the instrumental of her song "Treehouse" was featured in the 2017 trailer for Woody Harrelson's film "Wilson." Emily is a touring artist, performing mainly in cities like her original hometown Chicago, Dublin, & NYC--(venues of note in New York include Blue Note, City Winery, Highline Ballroom, Living Room, Irish Arts Center and Rockwood Music Hall-stages 2 &3.) In the states, she often writes with & alongside other bands. Abroad in Ireland, she plays in various venues such as Whelans & Sugar Club, often as a support act for Irish artists such as Mundy, Paddy Casey, and others. Here in NYC, Emily remains passionate about causes close to her heart & advocacy. Her original song "Dark Was the Night" written on behalf of Genocide Survivors, has played at numerous events at the United Nations, and she has performed it live for the UN at the Commemoration for Rwanda.

Her music can be found on all major streaming sites. Her "A Song for You" music initiative can be found at https://hereisasongforyou.org. She is happy to return to Stage 2 with her full band alongside the great Niall Connolly.

Photo credit Shannen Bamford

1977. The year that punk was born.With only hours left to spare it also produced a baby boy in the suburbs of Cork, Ireland, born with his ears piqued to the murmurs and clatter around him.As he grew the soundtrack changed. Nirvana on the Walkman. Leonard Cohen on his sister’s stereo. The surge of bands and songwriters emerging from the 1990’s Cork music scene. Later it became snippets of eavesdropped New York conversation. Tales of woe on the radio. The sights and sounds of tours across Europe.All of it gets woven into a tapestry of words. Then melody. Harmonies added in the studio. Electricity, sincerity, and humor on the stage. At the core of every Niall Connolly song is the story, one that unfolds a layer with each listen.