7-time All-Ireland champion on harp and banjo, Mayo-born and bred Lisa Canny began her career touring the U.S., Canada, Russia and Europe extensively as lead singer and music with groups Celtic Crossroads and The Young Irelanders, playing to live crowds of over 50k and appearing on 2x PBS specials.    Lisa holds a BA in Irish Music and Dance and a MA in Ethnomusicology.

“Discovered” by Miles Copeland (The Police, CIA Records) at a gig in LA Lisa was soon after invited to ASCAPs Annual Songwriters Retreat and introduced to Jodi Marr, who signed her to her first publishing deal with AbFab Artists.

As she began to write her own material Lisa found that she was inspired as much by contemporary music genres like pop and electronica as she was the Irish traditional and folk music she was brought up on.  Combining these elements, Lisa’s original music is unlike anything else. 

"Best of 2021" Sofar Sounds

"One to Watch" SPIN Radio

“A Masterpiece” Timeout Magazine

"The most exciting act to come out of Ireland in years" Barry Devlin

Her debut single “Lifeline” was released June 2015 and went in at number 9 in the Irish charts.  Her debut EP “Freedom” was released May 2018 and reached number 5 in the Irish charts.   She is the “Future Music” Songwriter of the Year 2016 and was nominated for the same by UMA in 2018.  BBC America named her within the "Top Ten Irish acts you don't want to miss". 

 

In 2021 Canny sold out The Jazz Cafe London, sold out 27 dates on her European tour, played at Six Nations and Buckingham Palace, was playlisted on 2fm and RTE Radio 1 and was BBC Introducing supported.  In 2022 Canny released her visual E.P. FOLK+, which has already received 2x nominees at Exeter International Film Festival, performed a TedX, collaborated with Rolex, and made the cover of LIFE magazine.