David Dee Moore Introduces Us To Five Artists
From Ireland You Should Get To Know
Singer/songwriter David Dee Moore celebrates 40 years of music-making having spent the last 20 years playing in the West of Ireland especially in Matt Molloy’s bar (The Chieftains) to packed audiences with his rhythmic foot stomping set and he recently played at the Westport Arts Festival, the Belfast/Nashville festival and a series of select Irish venues.
Dee is a selfless promoter of Irish based singer, songwriters, he presents two radio shows on Blues & Roots Radio ( The Acoustic Yard and Celtic Starfish ), he is a music reviewer and founder of The Acoustic Yard Festival and Events in Westport, County Mayo.
We asked Dee who we should look out for in Ireland.
Websites: www.theacousticyard.com www.daviddeemoore.com/about
Jane Willow is a Dutch-turned-Irish folk musician who moved to Dublin, Ireland at age twenty-one to pursue music. She experiments with folk and country elements, whilst keeping her rich, soft and velvet-like voice at center stage.
In recent years Jane’s performed at Vicar Street, Whelan’s, Temple Bar Tradfest and Electric Picnic. She’s supported the likes of Glen Hansard, The Unthanks, Andy Irvine, Paddy Casey, Kíla, David Kitt and Mark Geary.
On her debut EP ‘Onward Still’ (Nov ‘18) she collaborated with musicians Dave Hingerty (drums: Glen Hansard, Josh Ritter), Vyvienne Long (cello: Damien Rice).
In 2019 her single ‘The Fool’ reached the finals of Radio Nova Discovered with radio DJ Colm Hayes picking it as his favourite song.
In 2020 Jane plans to release a few singles and will be posting regular covers and original songs on her YouTube page.
Peco hails from Kildare, before going solo he was the singer-songwriter behind folk-rock act Valentine Black. The band enjoyed critical acclaim for their album ‘Desire Lines’ and the three singles lifted from it. They toured around Ireland, the UK, America and Canada. Previous to that he played in a number of bands over the years including, prog-rock outfit Bright Light Fiasco, and folk-pop band Pedestrienne, both of whom enjoyed local success with singles and high profile Irish gigs.
Peco's songs have received airplay on regional and national stations in Ireland and abroad. His song, 'Retrospect' debuted on US TV last year. 'Safe Haven' was a Finalist in both The USA Songwriting Competition and The International Acoustic Music Awards. 'Self Help - A Beginner's Guide' was recently placed as a semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition and a finalist in the International Acoustic Music Awards. He has also twice reached the semi-finals of the UK Songwriting Contest with his songs 'Retrospect' and 'Love Oceans'.
His music is a blend of folk, indie-rock and pop. His songs combine strong melodies with insightful and imaginative lyrics. Peco has something to say but likes to do so with a hook or two!
He is signed to Irish independent label Live Loud Music.
Faraway Martin is from County Mayo, since the release of his debut single ‘Intoxicated‘ last October, his presence in the music scene has grown internationally.
The Irishman has established himself as a live act in his adopted home, recently playing support to international pop sensation Bazzi and Boyce Avenue, of YouTube fame. He has opened shows for Mick Flannery, Hermitage Green, played main stage in Whelan’s with the Galway Street Club and filled the Roisin Dubh for his first headline gig.
His tracks are honest telling’s of love, emotional turmoil and coming of age.
Emma Langford hails from Limerick in the South-West of Ireland.
Since first bursting onto the scene in 2016 she’s hardly taken her foot off the pedal, with an eye-watering ever-growing tour schedule and frequent collaborations up her sleeve.
She has received consistent praise from national and international media and audiences alike, with The Irish Times describing her debut album Quiet Giant (2017) as ‘music that weaves a spell as you listen to it ... An enduring piece of work’.
Ireland’s state broadcaster RTÉ Radio 1 presented Emma with the Best Emerging Artist award at their inaugural Folk Awards in October 2018.
Emma’s “spell-binding” Quiet Giant features stunning full-band arrangements for 10 self-penned songs, and was released to great critical acclaim in late 2017. Following the album’s Irish release, she was invited to launch it internationally with Germany’s Irish Folk Festival tour.
Langford’s sound is made to be heard live, be it solo or with a full complement of musicians. She possesses a distinct natural tone and resonance that is truly breath-taking – and a razor-sharp tongue to boot. Her home-grown brazen wit and piercingly insightful lyrics have fused to produce the on-stage energy for which the young artist has become so well known at home and abroad.
The Darkling Air is Rachel McCarthy and Michael Keeney. They are based in Bangor, County Down on the southern edge of Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland. The music involves voice, piano and guitar and is often wreathed in string arrangements featuring Arco String Quartet. Their work is a channel for melody, song, classical and traditional forms plus a questing, modern aspect.
Rachel is an illustrator and she creates arts events. She’s ensuring that the new live shows will include bespoke visuals and film projections. Michael is a composer/orchestral arranger and music producer who has worked with the likes of Foy Vance, Duke Special, and Luke Sital-Singh.
The duo had met when Michael arranged for Rachel’s previous band, Farriers. So The Darkling Air became the project that has compelled and inspired them both.
The Acoustic Yard will be releasing a compilation CD on Bandcamp with all proceeds going to Pieta House, Preventing Suicide and Self Awareness on Friday June 5th 2020.
20 tracks of some of the best original songs that have been aired on The Acoustic Yard Radio Show in the last year including The Darkling Air, John Blek, Laura Elizabeth Hughes and many more….
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