Kerrin Connolly headlines The Burren. February 21, 2026. Photo by Greg Wong

On Saturday February 21st, Boston’s own Kerrin Connolly performed at The Burren’s back room. The release show for Connolly’s brand new album Simpleton saw the live debut of the songs to a highly receptive audience.

The evening began with an opening performance from Celtic folk artist Madóc, who had attracted a sizable audience of her own to the concert. She rounded out her set with a duet cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams” with her mother.

Madóc performs a duet with her mother at The Burren. February 21, 2026. Photo by Greg Wong

During her headline set, Kerrin Connolly noted that her last time playing The Burren’s back room stage was 6 years ago. She later added that she doesn’t perform very often at all, joking “it’s kind of like a once in a year thing because… I don’t do it for fun. I hate it!” Yet despite such claims, she delivered an incredible show that won the crowd over handily. The evening’s performance also featured a brief accompaniment from Ellis Piper, who brought the flair of her viola to the show.

Kerrin Connolly accompanied by Ellis Piper at The Burren. February 21, 2026. Photo by Greg Wong

Connolly charmed the crowd with her dry banter, and concluded the show with theatre-kid energy during the unrepentantly 80s-inspired power ballad “Simple,” a counter to her self-consciousness about being alone on stage. That song choice epitomized an admirable trend to Kerrin Connolly’s artistry: identify an insecurity and lean into it like nobody’s watching. The whoops and hollers that came in reply suggested otherwise, but in the best possible way.

Check out the photos from the show: