Cork Singer Songwriters To Watch This Summer

BY SEAN CREAGH

MAY 18TH 2018

(Archived from http://getcork.ie/the-word/, http://getcork.ie/cork-singer-songwriters-watch-summer/)

Ed Sheeran, Alanis Morissette, Don McLean; Cork is abuzz with singer-songwriters at the moment. And if you’re interested in catching some of those big names, check out Live at the Marquee at Ticketmaster here.

Some of us, though, will want a bit of variety (and, let’s be fair, some of us have spent half the summer budget already on Ed Sheeran). So, we’ve compiled a list of home-grown Corkonian singer-songwriters, ranging from newcomers to superstars in their own right, who we think are a great night out with a Leeside twist!

1. Jack O’ Rourke

Kicking off the list is pianist, singer and songwriter Jack O’ Rourke. His lyrics are honest, if a little tongue in cheek the odd time. His core is his words, but he’s backed up by an authentic, passionate voice and sweeping piano melodies.

This man’s accolades have exploded in the last three years. His debut album reached no. 5 on the Irish Album Pop Charts, he’s won the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, judged by Tom Waits and if you missed him performing live with John Sheehan on RTE’s New Year’s Eve show, you may have caught him playing Electric Picnic on Other Voices.

There are still some tickets left for his Cork Opera House gig on June 3rd!

You can find his music here.

2. Lynda Cullen

If you hear the stum of a guitar, and the unique, earthy voice of Lynda Cullen, then you know you are in for a treat. Her blend of folk music with a modern twist, and the timeless stories of everyday lives told through her songs, must been heard to be appreciated.

Lynda has been all over the world, with tremendous past success as a member of the band “Second Moon” in South Korea.

She’s currently gigging in The Black Forest in Germany. In fact, it’s a busy summer for her: she’ll be in the Czech Republic in July and is off to North Carolina to record her second album come October. But never fear: she can regularly be found performing in pubs around the city such as Gallagher’s, and plays Crane Lane once a month.

Her first album, Paper Boat, can be found here, on Spotify, or on iTunes.

3. John Ryan (a.k.a. Stuck On Repeat)

Stretching the definition of singer/songwriter a bit, but undeniably worth the inclusion, is Stuck On Repeat. This One Man Rave is a genre all to himself, and is definitely going places.

What he does is to create electronic music in real time without the use of computers, backing tracks, or other humans. It’s the sound of real instruments played live (all by him) and looped strategically.

By his own admission, lyrics are not the draw here. He frequently throws in “the odd non-sense lyric for good measure”. The thing that keeps you coming back to Stuck On Repeat gigs is gaping in awe at one man playing guitar, bass, percussion, beatbox and synthesized vocals, and melding them all into a soundtrack of electronic songs ranging from driving percussive tunes to the almost ethereal.

He’ll be part of Cork Loves Music in the Opera House on June 2nd, and has also been spotted at the Bru Bar and the Roundy.

His first EP can be found here, or you can see the music video for his first single here.

https://stuckonrepeat.bandcamp.com/album/i-will-be-a-tree

4. Podge Lane

Self-described as having a “happily morbid” streak, he has been referred to recently on radio as “a young, nerdy Neil Young”. With influences ranging from Johnny Cash to the Beach Boys and Weezer to Father John Misty, what holds his music together is a strong alt-folk style.

Podge will be spending the summer touring, but expect him back with a bang come September. He has headlined shows in the Friary, Bru Bar and Dan Murphy’s and supported Cry Before Dawn at the Rose of Tralee. His debut EP can be found on Spotify and Bandcamp.

As a final note, Echoing Stems named him Newcomer of the Year in 2017, so now is the time to catch this guy if you want to say “I liked him before it was cool!”

5. Ellis Grant

Another newcomer to the scene, who gets this spot for being a delightfully original mix of “folk meets nightmare jazz”, is Ellis Grant. What’s not to love? He was raised on diet of 1930’s big band music, grunge, and original soundtracks, and it shows!

His first EP is being recorded at the moment. Compiled over two years, it is the culmination of his growing experience gigging around the city, first as a member of Amsterdam Ashtray and later as a solo artist. Just for good measure, he has also just completed his studies in Cork School of Music, to further refine his craft.

He opened for Mountanis Riff Club in the Woodford. Watch out for him in the Friary for “No Covers” on 28th June, as well as appearances at the Bru Bar.

You can check out his music here.

6. Colm Fitzpatrick

And a bonus 6th singer in our list of 5: representing us out in the Costa del Sol, guitarist Colm Fitzpatrick is worth a mention, even if he’s too busy getting a tan to play for us right at the minute. It’ll be tough to see him regularly without catching a Ryanair flight, but on his return we can expect great things from his time in soulful Andalusia.

His music is an interesting mix of formal, classically trained guitar and expressive playing techniques, with lyrics which are often pensive and reflective (though sometimes just downright good fun). He’s been singing and playing professionally for the past year out there, and is a regular in Marbella’s biggest Irish pub. Not to mention, he’s won three consecutive prizes at the Cork Folk Festival song competition.

You can check for updates on his Spanish escapades and gigs here.

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