Eclectic mix on new Black album

ON October 1 Mary Black will come to Ennis to perform at the West County Hotel.
Mary has been a household name for well over 20 years, has won IRMA awards as the country’s best female artist, best female folk artist and best Irish solo artist and was national entertainment personality of the year as far back as 1993.
Three years ago, she marked the 25th anniversary of her first solo album by releasing a special compilation double album, 25 Years/25 Songs, which stayed at number one for five weeks and stayed for more than seven months in the top 40.
It has been six years since her last album of new music but she is now on the cusp of a new release. When she spoke to The Clare Champion last Friday, she said it is at a very advanced stage.
“We were supposed to play earlier in the year but we couldn’t and we said we’d do it when it suited. I’m very busy at the moment doing a new album. In fact, the last recording is going to be on Saturday, with Imelda May singing a duet. That’ll be the very last thing. I think it’ll be out on October 21.”
She said there will be a mix of music on it, with a selection of different genres.
“It’s quite an eclectic mix of songs, as usual. It’s quite varied. I hope it’s different. I don’t want to be repeating myself all the time but there are going to be elements of the Mary Black songs and sounds that people are familiar with. I think we’ve managed to bring something fresh and new to it as well. The Gambler and Marguerite has been released and it’s one of the songs on it that’s kind of a bit different. There are some folkier songs, some moodier songs and some upbeat songs, which is great because it’s not always possible to get up-tempo songs that are worth singing.”
She said fans have been on to her for some time looking for a new release and she is delighted to be complying at last.
“The main thing is that there’s an album out there for the die-hard fans who’ve been asking me for so long about when the next album is coming. It’s out there and I enjoyed doing it.”
Mary said whenever she’s touring the country she always makes a point of making a stop in Ennis. She is also adamant that fans going to the concert will hear some of the songs she’s best known for.
“I wouldn’t do that to people who come to see me. I’ve been to concerts where people sang all new stuff and it used to drive me crazy. All the big songs will be in there. It’ll be a fun night, definitely.”
There are a few songs that she has been singing for decades that everyone associates with her but she says she doesn’t get sick of them.
“The fact is there are so many songs and you can pick one. I might do No Frontiers and then give it up for a while and it’ll be fresh again. When you get a response when you start up Katie or Bright Blue Rose or whatever and you feel that rush of excitement, that’s what keeps you going. It’s not a chore,” she concluded.