Kíla are an Irish folk music/world music group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish language secondary school, Coláiste Eoin in County Dublin.
The band’s first gig was upstairs in the Baggott Inn, Dublin, a gig that was attended by three people.
Kíla have played at many festivals around the world, including Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, Electric Picnic, Womadelaide, Glastonbury, Féile an Dóilín, St. Chartier and the Stockholm Water Festival. All members of the group participate in composing and arranging Kíla’s songs. they have also performed at student events such as the NUIG Arts Ball in 2010, the biggest event of its kind in Ireland.
In late 2011, Kíla published their long awaited Book of Tunes. Comprising over 100 of their compositions and lavishly decorated with photos, poems & prose, the book was a huge success, being described as ‘a masterpiece’ by Seán Laffey from Irish Music Magazine.
Every year Kíla produce something magical, something memorable, something special and this year (even though it is barely out of the traps) they haven t let us down. Suas Síos (Up Down) is their new album – it is a work of beauty, a work of maturity; a work that encapsulates their exuberance, their quietness and their sheer talent. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the ubiquitous Mr Karl Odlum (Ham Sandwich, Lisa O’Neill, Mic Christopher) the album is bristling with energy, passion and incisive musical intelligence. The last couple of years have seen Kíla return to their globetrotting exploits (Croatia, Malaysia, France, Spain, Switzerland) and it was during these gigs abroad that these songs and tunes were given an opportunity to breath and gain nuances that might not have emerged ensconced in the studio environment.