BIRMINGHAM: Kitchen Garden Cafe

Wednesday 5th June, 2024

7:30pm

Event information

“An immensely gifted story-teller whose songs soar to new heights in the live environment” (Hot Press).

Recent years have seen co. Down based Brigid O’Neill gaining a deserved reputation as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters and live performers. Reviews of her critically acclaimed latest releases, have reaffirmed that the gifted artist is one of the most versatile, unique and fearless storytellers on the island. From performing alongside musical legends such as Paul Brady, Mary Coughlan and Eddi Reader, her development as a much-loved and highly respected songwriter and live artist has been reflected in her burgeoning fan base and ever increasing number of headline sell-out shows at festivals and venues throughout the country..

Hailing from County Down, the artist’s carefully crafted songs marry country folk with a deft touch of blues and jazz. It’s an alchemy that shines bright on her acclaimed latest LP. Recorded at Skinny Elephant Studios in Nashville with Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, The Orphan Brigade) in the producer's chair.

Speaking about the album, Brigid said: “I was fascinated by the concept of ‘truth’ and intrigued everyone having a different version of 'their truth’ … a personal viewpoint, their own narrative, their own story.”

Following the release, Brigid hit the ground running with a string of sell out headline gigs right across Ireland and a UK tour, kicking off with a sell-out magnificent full-band show at the Black Box in Belfast. Reviews and a legion of new fans have followed in the wake of her shows, with radio stations including such as the BBC in NI, Scotland and England and RTE , picking up on brilliant singles such as like Live a Little Lie Oh, Prayers and Easy, which serve to showcase the chameleon nature of Brigid’s effortless gene-crossing songwriting.

Described by Fiachna O’Braonáin RTÉ, as a “beautiful songwriter with great empathy and sensitivity” and Ralph McLean of BBC Radio Ulster as “a great songwriter with a voice that can break your heart at 30 paces” Brigid’s music may have echoes of artists such as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Peters but the voice and sound is very much her own.

With 4 critically acclaimed previous album releases, including Touchstone and Intangible Heritage, she has performed worldwide, including the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

Her songwriting skills have been key in highly successful musical projects: curating and writing to commission for the Ulster Architectural Heritage Awards, Heritage in Song project; the Belfast City Council Frontline Workers project ‘We Are All in This’; and selected as featured artist for BBC’s award-winning and globally aired, Chronicles of Strangford. She has been most recently long-listed for the NI Music Prize and Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition and selected as a showcase artist at the recent Your Roots are Showing Conference, Ireland. .

Brigid’s has been a recipient of multiple music industry awards including PRS Foundation, Arts Council NI ACES Award, and HM’s Transmission Fund. Receiving the highly competitive UK-wide Help Musicians Touring and Live Award last year, will support her forthcoming 2024 UK tour.

Going from strength to strength in capturing and delivering the pure power of song, Brigid o’Neill is an artist set to fly in 2024.

“Brigid O’Neill is supremely confident both musically and lyrically.” (Glastonbury Festival).