Music fans, theatre-goers and families planning autumn nights out in Armagh have a packed September programme to consider, with the Market Place Theatre announcing shows ranging from internationally touring performers to a showcase of the city’s own young musicians.
The line-up includes acclaimed folk singer Lisa O’Neill, country star Susan McCann, The Kilkennys, jazz quartet The Viper Club and tribute productions celebrating Elvis Presley and ABBA. There will also be a National Theatre screening and a concert featuring music students from Armagh.
Lisa O’Neill opens the programme
Lisa O’Neill is scheduled to appear on September 15. The singer is recognised for her distinctive voice, socially engaged songwriting and intense live performances, with songs drawing on history, politics, compassion and myth.
Her recent work includes the six-track EP The Wind Doesn’t Blow This Far Right, released in late 2025. The record includes her version of Bob Dylan’s All The Tired Horses, which was used during the closing scene of the final episode of Peaky Blinders, as well as Homeless In The Thousands (Dublin in the Digital Age), featuring Peter Doherty.
The programme also highlights Mother Jones, a newer live favourite about activist and union organiser Mary G. Harris Jones, alongside The Bleak Midwinter and a reading of James Stevens’ poem Autumn 1915. Audiences can expect material from across O’Neill’s catalogue as well as newer songs.
The Armagh appearance follows extensive touring across Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia and New Zealand, including performances celebrating the legacy of The Pogues and Shane MacGowan. The source material also says O’Neill is due to rejoin The Pogues and other special guests for further European dates later in the year.
Country, local talent and classic tributes
Susan McCann will bring her A Life in Music – Celebrating 50 Years tour to the theatre on Thursday, September 17, at 8pm. Tickets are listed at £28.
Described in the programme as Ireland’s First Lady of Country Music, McCann’s show will celebrate a career spanning five decades. The performance is expected to include classic hits, fan favourites and stories from a recording career that has produced close to 700 songs, numerous number one hits and performances around the world.
“Music has given me a lifetime of wonderful memories, and I’m so looking forward to celebrating these 50 years with the fans who have been there from the very beginning.”
On Friday, September 18, ABC Sharp Music will present The Stage Is Yours at 7pm. The £15 event, with tickets priced at £12.50 for under-10s, will feature Armagh music students performing in full bands. The set is due to include songs associated with Coldplay, Bon Jovi, The Beatles and Britney Spears.
The Elvis Spectacular follows on Saturday, September 19, at 8pm, with tickets listed at £25. The show stars multi-award-winning Ciaran Houlihan, backed by his TCB Band and The Sweet Sensations. The production marks 29 years on the road and promises a nine-piece live band, replica costumes and instruments, and songs from across Elvis Presley’s career.
Jazz, folk, film and ABBA in the final week
The theatre will screen The Misanthrope on September 22. The 2-hour-30-minute National Theatre Live presentation stars Sandra Oh as Alice, a novelist confronting the consequences of challenging the carefully constructed lies of modern society. The production is directed by Indhu Rubasingham and is based on Martin Crimp’s reworking of Molière’s classic.
On September 25, The Viper Club will perform in the studio theatre in an unreserved, cabaret-style layout. The quartet explores music linked to New York’s Onyx Club and the recordings of jazz violinist Stuff Smith. The line-up includes Tcha Limberger, trumpeter Jerome Etcheberry, drummer Dave Kelbie and bassist Sébastien Girardot.
The same date brings The Kilkennys to the theatre at 8pm, with tickets listed at £22. The Irish folk group will perform well-known ballads and newer material shaped by the country’s folk and ballad tradition, following tours in Europe, the United States and Asia.
The September programme concludes on September 26 with The Bjorn Identity, a tribute to ABBA celebrating 50 years of Dancing Queen. The production promises a two-hour concert featuring ABBA hits, replica costumes and Benny’s iconic spinning white Yamaha piano.
Ticket information and booking links are provided with each event listing by the Market Place Theatre. Residents should check the theatre’s current booking information for availability and any late programme changes.