Round-up of March/April tour with Brigid Power Ryce

Hello,

Declan here. Below follows an account in text, photograph, video, sound and hyperlink of the mini-tour Aaron and I embarked upon with Brigid Power Ryce and saw us play in Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Galway in March and April.

Every show took place in a shop of some sort, which was for the most part a coincidence but a completely welcome one. No PAs, no soundcheck, no fuss. It’s a little bit scary to perform not three or four feet from the front row, with no monitors or reverb to help hide your mistakes, no bright house lights to make it possible to pretend there’s no-one out there but that intensity can lift a gig beyond the normal expectations. The lack of a bar noisily selling overpriced alcohol helps focus the performers’ and audiences’ attentions on the whole reason they’re all there: the music, of course. The unfamiliar event in a familiar setting jolts the senses, makes you aware of your surroundings and there’s a warmth that is often lacking, I think, at bigger, more traditional venues.

We enjoyed these shows hugely, and are so grateful to the organisers of each one for all their work - Vicky Langan (and Albert Twomey of Plugd) in Cork; Peter Delaney (and Séan Kelly of Séan’s Bookshop) in Limerick; Gavin Prior (and Jennie Flynn of Designist) in Dublin and Annemarie Deacy (and Paul Deacy of the Bell, Book and Candle) in Galway.

Black Sun at Plugd, Cork, 8th of March

with Mike Gangloff, Raising Holy Sparks and Sacred Harp Shape Note Singers of Cork

All videos above were shot and edited by Maximilian Le Cain

Wireless Folk at Séan’s Bookshop, Limerick, 9th of March

Before the gig Peter drove us to a cemetery just outside Limerick to record a song each in a belltower there.

Photo by Sinéad Cogar

Designist, Dublin, 11th of March

The above photo was taken by Kate Nolan, as were the following:

Brigid done the videos

Aoife Barry took this creepy/cool double exposed instant photo after the pub after:

The Bell, Book and Candle, Galway, 4th of April

We set up a projector (courtesy of Michelle) and displayed some photos by Jimmy, paintings by Brigid and photos by Aaron.

Above photo by Jimmy Monaghan

Photo by Aisling Walsh

Photo by Michelle Gavin

…and a grand time was had by all.

Some recommended links:

Right now we’re working on recording another three EPs, to be released over the next few months, and an album of new stuff will hopefully be ready for an autumn release.

That is all, thank you for your time!

Declan