Tuesday 18 November 2014

BAG Gig - Casey Black (USA) - with Support from John Blek, and Mick Flannery - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday Dec 8th, 2014

http://www.caseyblackmusic.com/

Casey Black makes his BAG debut in Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare on Monday, December 8, 2014. 

Support on the night will be from John O'Connor - frontman with John Blek and The Rats, promoting his debut solo record 'Cutting Room Floor'.
http://johnblekandtherats.com/

Special guest appearance from Mick Flannery, fresh from a successful tour of Australia and New Zealand promoting his current record, 'By The Rule' http://www.mickflannery.com/

Casey Black is the Nashville-born, Columbia-University-educated, gravel-voiced, literary singer-songwriting son of Charlie Black, NSAI Hall of Fame songwriter of more than a dozen #1 country hits. Casey wrote his first song at twelve years old, released his first "record" three years later (a cassette of songs he recorded in his basement on his father's hand-me-down equipment), and signed with EMI Music Publishing Nashville at nineteen, making him one of the youngest staff songwriters on Music Row. 


Moving to Los Angeles, to find his own way, he released two records in the following five years. He then moved again - to New York, this time, where he hooked up with Niall Connolly, the Irish-born figurehead of Brooklyn's Big City Folk scene. Inspired by the literary and honest approach to songwriting of the scene's players, he threw himself back into music and made his third record, 'It Shapes Me As It Goes'.

Drawing a close to a circular decade, Casey returned to Tennessee last year, where he lives with his wife in a small country house outside of Nashville. His new record, 'Lay You In The Loam' was released earlier this year. Casey, who owns more books than he does records, writes a literary lyric in the conversational, storytelling style–songs about optimistic pessimists, about the battles between the brain and the guts–and his deep singing voice is tumbled with gravel. It's a unique and compelling combination, one which may, as KCRW's Tricia Halloran put it, restore one's "faith in the lost art of damn fine songwriting." 
In the past year Casey completed two successful tours in Ireland, the first with Mick Flannery; the second with Niall Connolly. This time he'll be headlining, and building on a growing following, this tour promises to raise his profile to where it deserves to be, and beyond.

Videos: 'The Sarge': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm5sex9ryfs
 'I've Spent My Whole Life': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWTPZK4f-WI
'Flowers': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgwry105uA

PLEASE NOTE: This gig will certainly sell out on the night; capacity is 55, so do please come early. As the venue is an old building, there are sight line issues from some positions in the bar - from some positions you cannot see the performance area. Its not a problem with normal sized attendances, but on busy nights, it comes into play. Just letting you know!


Mary Coughlan with James Delaney - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday Nov. 24, 2014

http://www.marycoughlanmusic.com

It's been some years since Mary Coughlan played Ballymore Eustace, but that's about to be put to rights. Mary makes her triumphant return to Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace on Monday, November 24th. Doors open, 8:30pm; Gig 9:30pm sharp. Admission: €15 at the door.

A lot has been written and a lot has been said, whispered, recounted, alleged, supposed and presumed. It’s all quite forgotten now and the songs remain the same, they remain a testament to Mary Coughlan’s seemingly timeless and endless talent. Her smoky, bluesy, boozy drawl has always been a seduction, no matter what the subject. The vocal marrying of sardonic wit, visceral rage, orgiastic between the sheets passion, the tenderest of sorrowful regrets; this is Mary’s talent. Regardless of the elements she chooses to manipulate with flawless ease, Mary’s voice has always been an unforeseen, sudden seduction. This is why she is so loved. Throughout the over 25 years of her quite extraordinary recording career Mary has drawn heavily from her legendary heroes; Billie Holiday’s grievous, teary outpourings, the husky flirtations of Peggy Lee, Van Morrison’s soulful wails, the defiant chanteusery of Edith Piaf. All are present and correct in her delivery. Even so, Mary, with her naked honesty makes every song her own; they belong to her and nobody else.

Mary will be joined, on piano, by James Delaney. Put simply, James is perhaps the finest keysman on the Irish music scene, and the perfect sideman for Mary Couglan's Jazz/Blues/Soul set list.

This will be a memorable show in the intimate surroundings of Mick Murphy's, so come early, bring a friend, and enjoy one of the greatest female singers that Ireland has to offer.

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x972cJY9I-c&list=RDHC6afAiWsWa-k












Saturday 8 November 2014

Cam Penner & Jon Wood - LIVE in Mick Murphy's, Monday Nov 17, 2014

http://www.campenner.com/

Making his BAG debut, accompanied on electric guitars by guitarist/producer Jon Wood, Canadian, Cam Penner plays Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare on Monday, November 17. Doors 8:30pm; Gig 9:15pm. Admission: €12 at the door.

Most highly recommended.

Listen to this great singer/songwriter here:
http://www.campenner.com/listen.html

Also, check out a video of 'Driftwood' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXa_V_0fcIQ

Americana UK writer Mike Ritchie awarded Cam & Jon his Gig of The Year accolade last time they were over - ahead of Neil Young, Sam Baker, Steve Earle, etc. In his review of the show, he said it "never dipped below magical". That's a pretty serious endorsement.

'To Build a Fire' is an album of leaving and new beginnings- not because anything is so bad perhaps but because things can always be better. If there is a chance, you have to look. Cam had recently escaped the city to live in his new dwelling in the mountains with his sweetheart and new daughter- new start, new challenges. Ideas were trusted and built upon quickly, the unfamiliar was used as confidently as the familiar, pushing the conventions of what can still be called folk music back to where it should be- immediate and honest.
Cam Penner has carved his own path. Music born from the soil and sin of this world. His last album, WCMA Nominated "Gypsy Summer" debuted at number 16 on the FOLK BILLBOARD Charts. It was featured along with a full interview on NPR's 'All Music Considered' and toured the album through both Eastern & Western Canada, UK, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France.

"It’s Captain Beefheart experimenting with folk, David Crosby unleashed, Woody Guthrie reincarnated"
- Folk Words

"If music had a quota system, then the category of singer-songwriter would be closed due to overcrowding. Thankfully there isn't, because Cam Penner and his emotional songs of lives lived and experiences endured and enjoyed deserve to be heard in all their stoical splendour."
- Irish Times