Wednesday 29 April 2015

FIACH MORIARTY - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday, May 25, 2015


Website: http://www.fiachmusic.com
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Fiach2008

Following on from his enthusiastically received debut BAG show last year, Fiach Moriarty returns to Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Monday, May 25. Doors open at 8:30pm; shot: 9:15pm. Admission is €12 on the door.

Touring in support of his fine new record, 'Revolution', (Title track video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgcTzGE3N_Y ) Fiach Moriarty is one of the finest young emerging Irish singer/songwriters around. Paul Brady says: 'Fiach Moriarty is one of Ireland's most talented singer-songwriters with a musical sophistication rare in the genre'. High praise, indeed, but so well deserved.

Since the release of his debut record, Fiach Moriarty has toiled and torn his way through countless venues in his home country of Ireland, as well as Europe, Australia and North America.

This heavy duty work ethic has paid off, garnering praise from from a host of musical heroes of his such as Paul Brady and Chris White of British invasion legends The Zombies and sharing the stage with Ray Davies of The Kinks and Fairground Attraction chanteuse Eddi Reader.

Fiach's second record, 'The Revolution' tackles subjects such as The 1916 Easter Rising, World
War 1 and Los San Patricios (the Irish brigade in the 19th century Mexican Army) and is set for release in April 2015.

The record was produced by former Edwyn Collins collaborators Simon Quigley and Peter Meighan and features a guest appearance from Meteor award winner Wallis Bird.


MARK GEARY - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday, May 18, 2015

Website: http://www.markgeary.com/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/markgearymusic

After his packed-out BAG show last year, Mark Geary returns to the intimate surroundings of Mick Murphy's in Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, on Monday, May 18th. Doors open 8:30pm; Gig 9:15pm. Admission is €12 at the door - please note there are no advance tickets, so early arrival is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Kildare native, Ciaran Dwyer supports.

Dublin-native Mark Geary is a celebrated musician who began his career more than 20 years ago. In 1992, Mark bought a one-way ticket to New York City and spent several years honing his craft playing the local circuit in the East Village which included numerous appearances at the acclaimed Sin-é cafe with other upcoming artists including friend Jeff Buckley.

During that time, Mark’s songwriting skills and engaging live performances garnered him a dedicated audience, the respect and esteem of his peers and a reputation as one of the finest song-smiths of his generation.

Mark is described as a “quintessential singer-songwriter” and his records have been hailed as encapsulating both boisterous joy and gentle, delicate moments that endear themselves to the listener and evoke comparisons to artists such as Van Morrison, John Lennon, Elliot Smith and Richard Thompson.

His body of work includes 4 studio albums, 2 live recordings and collaborations with a number of artists including the release in 2013 of a charity version of his song ‘Christmas Biscuits’ with friend Glen Hansard in aid of St Vincent De Paul. Mark has also lent his talents to the visual arts scoring several films including Loggerheads (2005), Steel City (2006) and TriBeCa Film Festival favourite, Sons of Perdition (2010). Geary's fifth studio record is due out later this year.

Tuesday 21 April 2015

SARAH McQUAID - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday, April 27, 2015


Touring her critically acclaimed fourth solo album, 'Walking Into White', Sarah McQuaid returns to Mick Murphy's in Ballymore Eustace, for her third BAG appearance, on Monday, April 27th. Doors open at 8:30pm; showtime is 9:15pm. Admission is €12 at the door.
Check out Sarah's website here: http://www.sarahmcquaid.com/
and her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/SarahMcQuaid

Sarah McQuaid's voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and "honey poured into wine" (Minor 7th).
Her new album "Walking Into White"(2015) is her most honest and adventurous work to date, with a depth and texture of soundscape that are reflected in her beautifully crafted live shows.
A captivating performer, she seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes much more than merely an accompanying instrument.

Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, and now living in rural England, Sarah refuses to be pigeonholed, segueing easily from one of her emotive originals into a 1930s Cuban Jazz number, a 16th Century lute piece, or an unexpected contemporary cover.
Her third solo album, 'The Plum Tree and The Rose'(2012) drew critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic - "Impeccable", wrote fRoots (UK), while Midwest Record (USA) called it "low key, but glorious and incendiary" and Hot Pres (Ireland) said it "should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs"
  

Wednesday 15 April 2015

KELLEY McRAE DUO - Monday, April 20, 2015


http://kelleymcrae.com/

Kelley McRae and Matt Castelein return to BAG @ Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, on Monday, April 20. Doors: 8:30pm; Gig 9:15pm sharp. Admission: €12 at the door. These guys have a sweet, sweet sound; don't miss 'em!

Kelley McRae has played over 400 shows in the past 4 years, toured coast to coast in the US, played to packed rooms across Europe, sold-out the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and continues to build a passionate and dedicated following on the strength of their live performances.  Paste Magazine's 4 Star review raves “Kelley moves effortlessly from the mournful tones of the plantation to the celebratory swing of the saloon, from songs of loss and decay to hymns of love and grace.”  BBC Radio host Bob Harris calls the songs ‘brilliant', and acclaimed film maker Wim Wenders told the San Francisco Chronicle that Kelley's songs move him to tears.

A review of the new album - 'Easy On My Mind':
“With a couple of guitars and a seemingly bottomless supply of effortlessly gorgeous harmonies, McRae and Castlelein have taken their tranquil, often mesmerizing style of Americana and modern folk across the U.S. and Europe…The duo’s mix of heartland acoustic country and contemporary songwriter folk is present again on McRae’s fine new Easy On My Mind. Written in a Carolina Smoky Mountains cabin and recorded in Austin, Texas, the EP’s six songs display few theatrics and little angst but a lot of coolly measured Americana, every note, every line a marvel of down-to-the-bone minimalism and quiet, soulful pondering.”  – Direct Current

Videos can be viewed here: http://kelleymcrae.com/videos/

Friday 3 April 2015

MELISSA GREENER (USA) - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday April 13, 2015


http://www.melissagreener.com

Melissa Greener's last visit with us was (would you believe) three and a half years ago! So I'm particularly delighted to welcome her back to BAG on Monday, April 13th.
Doors open at 8:30pm, with showtime being 9:15pm. Admission is €12 at the door. Never was it truer than to say that this show is most highly recommended.

For a sample, here's a link to Melissa's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MelissaGreenerTube

Nashville based Americana artist Melissa Greener is a singer, songwriter and guitarist of the finest order.  Her songs are summoned from mountain ranges, holy places, deserts, oceans and forests, or the lonely stretch of blacktop from Detroit to Austin.  Greener collects truth as much from the feathers she finds as from the potholes she dodges.  Impressive vocal chops wrap narrative that “paints superb portraits of the human condition" (Maverick Music Magazine -UK).  Quirkily crafted lyrics are skipped like stones across the surface of the deep-pocket groove on her raucous electric tremolo guitar.

Greener grew up in Detroit with an alluring cacophony of Mo-town, standard torch ballads, and 1960’s Laurel Canyon records.  She also savored the irreverent lyrical stylings of modernist poets whose books she stole from the junior high school library.  Years of living in Austin left a distinct Texas-roots feel to much of her current work.  So much so that Guy Clark could relate and he has become a regular song-writing partner with Greener.

Raucous. Poetic.  Groove.  Such is the paradox of Greener’s dynamic muse.

Transistor Corazón, Greener's third studio release, explores complexities of the heart - the circuitry versus the soul, the mana versus the machine. The songs transport the listener to the far-reaching landscapes where they were born.  Greener has won songwriting awards and teaches songwriting workshops.  She is a relentless road-dog, casting her spell across international audiences.