Ahead of a new album announcement, Lisa O’Neill plays three UK dates this month followed by a tour of Ireland in November.
The last tune we heard from Lisa O’Neill was her version of Bob Dylan’s, All the Tired Horses – (Portrait / 1970). It played out at the end of the final episode (season six) of Peaky Blinders during which we also heard Lisa’s ‘Blackbird’ (episode 4 of season 6). At the start of season six, 3.8 million viewers tuned in to discover the fate of Tommy Shelby; that’s some audience. Lisa said: “It is not an overstatement to say that it was beyond my wildest dreams to be ‘Ordered by the Peaky Fucking Blinders’ to cover this beautiful song from Bob Dylan”.
She added: “Go raibh míle maith agat Peaky Blinders. Go raibh míle maith agat Cormac Begley, Colm Mac Con Iomaire agus Ruth O’Mahony Brady, for whom without this track would not exist.
“We recorded this version of ‘All the tired horses’ in an old horse stable in Cabinteely, South Dublin, over the space of two days. We recorded by constant candlelight as a dear friend was dying at the time. This all contributed to the energy and the charge of the final track. That friend has since passed.
“I wish to dedicate this song to Mick O’Grady – The Long Distance Kid – 1943 – 2022.”
It’s hard to believe that Lisa’s album ‘Heard a Long Gone Song’ dropped in 2018. The following year, we were treated to her EP The Wren, The Wren, and towards the end of last year, ITMA took us behind the scenes of Lisa’s research into Arthur Griffith as she prepared for Treaty: Songs at the NCH in December – a Concert commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Over the years, Lisa O’Neill has quietly built a reputation on the Irish and international scenes. She now has a growing following with her unique folk sound, strong songwriting and distinctive voice. Her debut release ‘Has an Album’ was followed in 2013 by Choice-nominated ‘Same Cloth Or Not’. Her third album ‘Pothole in the Sky’, was released to critical acclaim and is filled with tension and emotion, contextualising themes of love, loss, heartache and sorrow today through referencing tales from the past with beauty, honesty and defiance.
Lisa’s last release on the Rough Trade imprint River Lea, ‘Heard A Long Gone Song’ was Choice Nominated, had a 5/5 star review from the Guardian on release and a coveted ‘Best Folk Album of 2019’ from the same publication. She was also nominated in four categories at the 2019 UK BBC Folk awards and five categories at the 2019 Irish Folk awards, winning one for best original folk song.
Late last year, Lisa signed a new album deal with Rough Trade and is currently working on new material for that album, news of which will be available soon.
In the meantime, I strongly suggest you make every effort to try and see Lisa O’Neill live; once seen, you just don’t forget. She has three UK dates followed by a November Tour of Ireland.
Lisa O’Neill UK & Ireland Tour Dates
Ticket Links: https://lisaoneill.ie/home/tour/
Fri 16/09 – Outlandish Nights, BRISTOL (trio)
Sat 17/09 – Junction 2, CAMBRIDGE (full band)
Sun 18/09 – QEH, South Bank Centre, LONDON (full band)
N. Ireland/Ireland Dates
Wed 2/11 Belfast – Empire Music Hall*
Thu 3/11 Dundalk – Spirit Store*
Fri 4/11 Derry – Sandinos*
Wed 9/11 Kilkenny – Cleeres*
Thu 10/11 Cork – Coughlans+
Fri 11/11 Cork – Coughlans+
Sun 13/11 Clonakilty – DeBarras+
Wed 16/11 Limerick – Dolans^
Thu 17/11 Galway – Roisin Dubh^
Sat 19/11 Listowel, Kerry – St John’s Theatre
Sun 27/11 Sligo – Hawk’s Well Theatre^
*Kú, +Brian Leach & ^The Silken Same
Website: https://lisaoneill.ie/