James Vincent McMorrow is to showcase some of Ireland’s most exciting young musicians for an evening of the vibrant sounds of modern Ireland on Thursday 26 May 2022 at London’s Barbican.
Alongside McMorrow’s own folk-tinged music, Imagining Ireland will also feature The Scratch, Sorcha Richardson; Aby Coulibaly and contemporary folk artist and Folk Radio favourite Niamh Regan.
‘I’m aware that I’m biased, but I think Irish music is the best music. After live music got taken away in this country for almost two years, I saw everyone respond by just getting down to work, relying on themselves more, building their musical worlds more vividly, more coherently, with more vision. Every artist on this bill is someone whose music I listen to, who I respect, someone who I think represents exactly what it means to be a modern Irish musician. I’m fiercely proud to be an Irish musician, and to hopefully embody what that means in the modern world, to not feel bound by any limitations or narrow thinking that might have been attached to those words historically’ (James Vincent McMorrow)
Born of a shared love of acoustic guitar, metal and traditional Irish music, Dublin 4-piece, The Scratch have been building a solid reputation back in Ireland with a growing base of fans here in the UK. They dropped a great single and video recently which was also our Song of the Day – ‘Another Round’.
Sorcha Richardson’s blend of punchy pop-emo-folk-rock and tender lyricism have gained her a cult following and RTÉ Choice Music nominations for her debut album First Prize Bravery and recent single ‘The Starlight Lounge’
Aby Coulibaly revives 90s R&B beats under soulful vocals whilst taking inspiration from her Senegalese heritage and day-to-day Dublin life. She performs at The Great Escape early next month before bringing her unique sound to Imagining Ireland.
Niamh Regan is no stranger to these pages, her debut album Hemet earned RTÉ Folk and Choice award nominations and she recently launched her new EP ‘In the Meantime’.
It’s impossible not to fall a little bit in love with Hemet. Beautifully listenable and rich in some rather gorgeous melodies and emotive arrangements, it is an adept and utterly mesmerizing debut. Niamh Regan’s deliciously languid voice is one to watch; warm and vulnerable in equal measures. Combined with her talent as a songwriter, Hemet presents the artist as a force to be reckoned with. A heartfelt, timeless, and captivating release. Billy Rough, Folk Radio.
Imagining Ireland 2022 is produced by National Concert Hall and Serious and supported by Culture Ireland with additional support by the Embassy of Ireland.
Thursday 26 May 2022 | LONDON Barbican
Tickets via https://serious.org.uk/events/james-vincent-mcmorrows-imagining-ireland