BRENDAN FORREST & FRIENDS: AMERICANA MEETS CELTIC with special guest Aodán Coyne

//---no times on events--- Fresh off winning the 2026 Telluride Blues Challenge, Colorado-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brendan Forrest returns to Madison for a special night bringing together the American and Celtic sides of the roots-music family. Forrest will be joined by friends and collaborators including Madison local Grant Ziolkowski on mandolin and Sean Carolan on bass, with original songs, bluegrass, Americana, folk and plenty of room for the kind of spontaneous musical interplay that happens when great players get together. Opening the evening is Irish guitarist, songwriter and traditional musician Aodán Coyne, now based in Madison. Aodán has toured and taught internationally with the award-winning Irish band Socks in the Frying Pan and is known for his command of DADGAD guitar and traditional Irish accompaniment. And this won’t simply be two separate sets — expect some crossover between the musicians, with Aodán and Brendan & Friends joining one another for a few tunes and bringing the Americana and Celtic sides of the evening together. BRENDAN FORREST & FRIENDS Brendan Forrest is an award-winning songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist and producer based in the mountains of southwest Colorado. A winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and the 2026 Telluride Blues Challenge, his music lives somewhere between Americana, bluegrass, blues and folk, with original songwriting and improvisation at the center. His recordings and performances have featured musicians including Michael Cleveland, Dominick Leslie, George Jackson, Duncan Wickel, Allie Kral and Woody Goss. Madison audiences may also know Brendan from his performances at Fête de Marquette, where he’s developed a growing connection with the city’s roots-music community. Aodán Coyne is an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter and traditional musician now based in Madison. A longtime member of the award-winning Irish band Socks in the Frying Pan, Aodán has performed and taught guitar internationally and developed a reputation for his distinctive approach to DADGAD guitar. His music encompasses traditional Irish tunes and songs alongside folk and original songwriting. Lineup: Brendan Forrest — guitar, mandolin & vocals Grant Ziolkowski — mandolin Sean Carolan — bass Live Recording Notice: By entering the venue, you acknowledge that photography, video, and audio recording will take place and that you may appear or be heard in recordings from the event. Attendance constitutes consent to the use of your image, likeness, and/or voice in connection with the recording and promotion of this performance.