Tag Archives: singer

COUNTY Clare has provided the inspiration for the latest single by singer songwriter Aoife Doyle. Aoife has released Clare Sky, the second single from her upcoming album Infinitely Clear. The song is a folk infused lament set in the beautiful west coast of Clare. Originally from Bray, County Wicklow she moved to Liscannor in 2014. “I wrote Clare Sky after a tragic incident that happened in the community. It’s a lament and a tribute to this magical place and the warmth of the people here. I have found great solace and peace on the West Coast of Ireland. With Clare Sky I’ve tried to paint a picture of the places I love the most.” While she has been performing for many years, it was upon moving to the West Coast of Ireland that she found her songwriting voice. “In Clare I had more quiet time to reflect. The lack of billboards, traffic and other superficial stimulation makes life a lot simpler. I think nature is the most primal form …

ENNIS singer and guitarist Síomha has released her new single ‘Spéir Rua’ (Red Sky) ahead of this weekend’s performance in glór. The single gives a first glimpse of what to expect from her upcoming album ‘Infinite Space’ which is due for release in 2022. Speaking of the track, Síomha says, “Spéir Rua is a love song for the landscape of the West of Ireland. It was inspired by many late night drives after gigs when I lived right on the West Coast at the edge of The Burren. “As I got closer to home, I was lucky to witness the beautiful red blaze of the morning sky. Nature was giving her best performance and in those moments it felt as though I was the only spectator. I would stop and sit alone and watch the night sky light up and become a new day.” She continues, “Spéir Rua is one of my favourite tracks from my upcoming album. It’s exciting, …

LOCAL woman Lou McMahon will be singing at Sixmilebridge’s Winter Music Weekend. “I’m playing on January 18 in the Mill Bar for the grand finale concert. Before that, during the day, I’m at singers’ session,” she said last week. Regarding her music, she said, “I’m a singer/songwriter and I’d consider myself to be in the contemporary folk genre. I’ve been playing for a number of years and I’m just off tour with Jack L. I was support act. “Musically, my influences are mostly American folk songwriters; people like Joni Mitchell and I always liked PJ Harvey. Also, country singers like Alison Krauss, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, all the old songwriters. Then the newer ones like Bill Callahan on Anna Calvi or Maggie Bjorklund, that kind of thing.” The tour with Jack L saw her visiting many parts of the country. “I was doing that for most of 2012 and ’13. I was gigging with him in arts …

Luka Bloom could be sinn ing to you in your local café next month, as the North Clare resident embarks on his second Clare Café Tour. As someone who thoroughly enjoys the café atmosphere, Luka Bloom decided last year to bring the music to the wonderful cafes around the county. The atmosphere they have for an intimate gig was one reason for bringing his folk song repertoire to the café stage but, he also said, he finds the proprietors are genuinely enthusiastic about creating a warm and homely atmosphere for the guests. Speaking about last year’s café tour, Luka said it went beyond all his expectations. “I was a little bit nervous about whether people would be open to it, and I was completely blown away. The interesting thing about the tour we did last year was that every single one of the café’s I played in last September, I don’t think one of them existed 10 years ago. They …

RENOWNED Irish singer Mary Coughlan will visit Ennis this month where she will officially launch the Ennis Women’s Shed, the first such organisation in Europe. The launch will take place as part of Ennis Men’s Shed’s first national conference to be held in the county capital. The conference, titled ‘No Man is an Island’ will take place on April 25 and 26 in the West County Hotel. Frank McNamara, facilitator, Ennis Men’s Shed explained, “As the Men’s Sheds were set up to enhance or maintain the wellbeing of the participating men, this conference entitled “No man is an island”, will explore how this objective can be attained using the concept of men’s sheds.” It is hoped that the “No man is an island” conference will show how the men’s shed can be used as a tool to enhance the men’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically.” This conference will be opened by Councillor Mary Coote Ryan, Mayor of Ennis and will …

By CAROL BYRNE GLASWEGIAN singer-songwriter Eddi Reader released her 10th solo album on February 7. For many this would be a milestone but for Eddi, she admits she’s not keeping count. Asked if this is, in fact, her 10th solo album, she says, “Oh Jeez I don’t know. I don’t really count”. She acknowledges that such was the extent of the material created for Vagabond that there was enough to create an 11th album. Naming a collection is always a bit difficult for Eddi and she says she typically goes for a song title. “This calls to attention one of the songs but also I try to find the most apt expression of what I think the album is. Vagabond is about travel and I think that’s what we all are as human beings. We get up walking and start experiencing life until the end of it. Within that we have all our adventures and hopefully it turns us into …

By Nicola Corless BALLYVAUGHAN-born singer Peter O’Donohue will be appearing at Belfast’s Grand Opera House next weekend, alongside some of the best opera singers in Europe, in  NI Opera’s new production of Verdi’s masterpiece, Macbeth. Peter will be singing in the 40-strong chorus, one of the most geographically-representative opera choruses ever assembled in Ireland, with members drawn from Derry  in the north, Wexford in the south, Ballyvaughan in the west, and Newtownards in the east, plus many places in between. “Macbeth is an opera that has it all – a well-known story, drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and incredibly beautiful music. The chorus is sounding amazing and it’s great fun to be singing with people from all over Ireland,” he acknowledged. Shakespeare’s tale of murder, madness and all-consuming lust for power, which is well known to generations of English students, inspired Verdi to write some of his finest, most gripping music. In this new production, director Oliver …