If Liam O’Maonlai, lead vocalist of Hothouse Flowers, is a mystical maestro – think open-shirted, hairy-chested, sock-less Jesus wearing rubber Crocs – singing his heart out and belting out tunes on keyboards to bring peace and goodwill to the world, then Shane Barr is a musical magician, attracting such national, nay international, entertainment to Derrybeg, northwest Donegal, a beautiful wee corner of Ireland known as the Forgotten Land.
Dublin-born singer-songwriter-musician O’Maonlai – who an acquaintance said must have been the model for ‘the Dude’ in the Coen brothers cult movie The Big Lebowski – rocked the house at Social Live Gaoth Dobhair last night with three hours of songs and music ranging from the Donegal traditional Irish-language ballad, ‘Báidín Fheilimí,’ to his creative version of classic hits such as ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash.
By night’s end, a packed hall was on its collective feet, clapping and swaying til the cows came home, boogying to the dynamic rhythms from the multi-talented five-member band.
And that’s just one part of this weekend. Shane, a gifted concert promoter, has also lined up Ryan McMullan and his band for tomorrow (Sunday) night, doors open 8.30 pm.
After selling out his intimate shows in Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and London, the Portaferry native is blessed with a voice that shifts effortlessly between the ethereal and the guttural, and a prodigious songwriting talent to match. Such is the acclaim he has attracted, Ed Sheeran called Ryan’s voice a ‘rare jewel.’
So if you missed last night’s helluva shindig, make sure you don’t miss Sunday night. After all the stress of Christmas, don’t you owe it to yourself to let it all hang out?
See details about ticket details here and an article I wrote about Shane and his many accomplishments serving up great music to people far and wide.
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