Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill / Jeffrey Martin – live gallery and review from Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Kilkenny 27.06.2026

American Singer/Songwriter Jeffrey Martin’s opening set at Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre was a masterclass in acoustic storytelling. Serving as the perfect prelude to Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill’s sold-out show, the Portland, Oregon-based troubadour completely captivated the Kilkenny audience from the moment he walked out.

Martin took the stage armed with just an acoustic guitar and a gritty, deeply weathered voice that feels tailor-made for the intimate setting of the natural quarry amphitheatre. Drawing heavily from his recent records like Thank God We Left the Garden and Alive 2025, his performance stripped away all pretense. Songs like “Sculptor” and “Quiet Made a Little Room” sounded remarkably delicate but carried immense emotional weight.

What makes Martin a truly exceptional live performer is his background as a high school English teacher. His lyricism is poetic, biting, and intensely human. Beneath his gentle finger-picking, there was a simmering, restless tension that kept the crowd hanging on every single word. His set unfolded at an easy deliberate pace that felt beautifully lived-in rather than rigidly performed.

Playing an early slot at an outdoor venue before a headliner can sometimes be a thankless task, but Martin managed the space perfectly. Rather than trying to compete with the evening light or the bustling atmosphere of the O’Hara’s Brewery bar, he pulled the entire audience inward. By the time he closed his set, the amphitheatre wasn’t just warmed up the crowd was totally mesmerized. It was a raw, captivating performance that proved exactly why he is one of the finest songwriters in modern folk.

Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill at Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre was a masterclass in atmospheric, emotionally charged performing. Their signature gravel-and-grace vocal blend resonated beautifully across the natural limestone walls of the Kilmanagh venue, turning their acclaimed collaborative work into an unforgettable, intimate open-air experience.

The backbone of their set relied on the beloved, critically acclaimed record In the Game. Acting as dual protagonists, Flannery’s weathered, smoky baritone and O’Neill’s husky, soulful delivery map out the complexities of a tense relationship. (For the event of the Ballykeeffe performance, this couple were christened Rosie & Jim by the audience!) In the open-air acoustics of Ballykeeffe, these character-driven songs transformed the outdoor space into a deeply intimate, confessional setting.

While the duet material formed the core of the show, the gig allowed both artists to shine on their own. O’Neill’s commanding stage presence and brass flourishes, alongside her reimagined solo work, gave the set a welcome dynamic shift. Flannery also leant into his darker, blues-infused solo catalog. Together with their backing band, they created a sweeping arc of music that effortlessly shifted from quiet, devastating minimalism to surges of joyful catharsis.

The setting of the Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre was arguably the secret star of the night. The sunken quarry provides near-flawless natural acoustics that allow every lyric and acoustic note to cut through the open air. As the evening set and the natural lighting faded, the venue created a magical connection between the performers and the spellbound audience, that not even the brief presence of rain could dampen!

By the time the encore rolled around, the crowd would not have left even if a deluge of rain decided to return! Support act for the night, the amazing Jeffery Martin, joined them onstage for a cover of “Billy Burroughs”, before Mick and Susan treated us to their beloved renditions of classics like John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”, Fleetwood Macs “Silver Springs” and Bob Dylans “Oh Sister”. It was a simply delicious way to finish what was a sublime evening of music! It was a sorrowful, ragged, and achingly beautiful night of storytelling that proves exactly why this duo’s musical empathy is so highly regarded.

Jeffrey Martin photos:

Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill photos & set-list:

Set-list:
These Are The Days
Trouble
Chain Reaction
Baby Talk
In The Game
Love You Like I Love You
Freedom (Dedicated to 7 yr old audience member Fia for her amazing handmade poster!)
Star To Star (Mick Flannery Cover)
Play With The Mind
Everyone’s Blind (Susan O’Neill)
Are We Free?
Lonely Wins
Miss Me When I’m Gone
You Don’t Know Me
Ghost
Billy Burroughs (Jeffrey Martin Cover)
Oh Sister (Bob Dylan Cover)
The Small Fire
Silver Springs (Fleetwood Mac Cover)
Angel From Montgomery (John Prine Cover)