DUG

There’s a natural magnetism to DUG’s folk brew. Formed in 2023 by Conor (Lorkin) O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett, the duo are already gearing up for their debut album, with a chemistry that feels decades in the making. Their music draws from traditions on both sides of the Atlantic, blending echoes of American folk troubadours with the spirit of Irish folk greats.

This transatlantic identity reflects their own backgrounds—born in America and Scotland before settling in Ireland. O’Reilly himself spent nearly a decade making music in upstate New York before moving from Edinburgh to Ireland in 2022 to begin a new chapter.

That lived experience resonates in tracks like ‘Big Sundown’, ‘Jubilee’ (shortlisted for two Grammy nominations), and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, where resonator guitar and banjo intertwine through intricate finger-picking. Their songwriting balances humour and warmth with moments of melancholy, crafting an infectious, foot-tapping contemporary folk sound that feels both playful and deeply honest.

Signed to Claddagh Records in 2024 (home to artists like Niamh Bury, Lemoncello and ØXN), DUG stand out as a modern voice in Irish folk—rooted in tradition but never bound by it. With a growing fanbase, a debut album on the way, and an extensive international tour planned for 2025 (including the US, Australia and major Irish festivals), the duo are fast establishing themselves as one of the most distinctive acts on the contemporary folk scene.