ATMOSPHERIC INDIE-ROCK, blues with a touch of grunge, and passionate folk will be heard in the Róisín Dubh on Wednesdays in February during that month’s instalment of the Citóg nights.
The opening act is the acclaimed folk singer-songwriter Fia Rua, who plays on Wednesday February 4. His music has been called “folking brilliant” by Hotpress’ Olaf Tyaranson, while Britain's Motion Magazine described his music as “hauntingly beautiful” and “powerful, spell-binding”. At Citóg he will play songs from his most recent album, The Sky Went Low And The Sea Went High. Recorded in Galway with local producer/artist Willow Sea and released last summer, it deals with male identity, global warming, the artist’s adopted city of Galway, humour and darkness, and life and death.
Support is from local singer songwriters Pa Reidy and Sam Cahoon.
Next up is guitarist, singer, and songwriter Dylan Murphy, best known as a member of Steven Sharpe’s band The Broke Straight Boys. At Citóg on Wednesday February 11, Dylan, joined by his own backing band, will launch his debut solo EP, Tell No One Your Goals.
Blues has made a serious comeback as an influence for contemporary Irish musicians, as heard in acts as diverse as Kid Karate, The Hot Spockets, and The Riptide Movement. Dylan’s EP has a strong blues swing and strut, particularly on the EP’s opening track, ‘Midnight Sun Blues’. A rootsier, darker blues is heard on the very impressive ‘See My Strings’, with Dylan - bluesman growl unleashed - showing his dextrous abilities on acoustic guitar. Dylan is also a passionate grunge fan, with that music’s skuzzy, gritty, tone underpinning the riff to the EP’s closing ‘Nothing Left To Burn’. To get a taste of Dylan’s sound and style see https://soundcloud.com/dcmurphy/.
Also on the bill is Galway singer-songwriter Eoin Dolan, whose lyrical, intelligent songs combine the influence of the pop melodicism of The Beatles and the Beach Boys, with Irish folk. Eoin released the impressive debut solo EP Placid Ocean at the end of last year.
Support is from Little Change.
Rounding off Citóg for February is Galway/Dublin alternative rock band Pockets on Wednesday February 18. Despite their newness on the scene, the band - Faustina Finnerty (vocals ), Cian Hanley (drums ), Joe Padfield (bass ) and Sean (guitar ) - have an assurance and confidence beyond their years, as heard on their dark and impressive, nineties influenced, indie-rock. Check out the band’s debut EP Raison D’Être:
The band has also enjoyed critical acclaim. Nialler9 said: “Pockets are a new four-piece who describe themselves as ‘dark folk rock’...On evidence of the band’s debut EP Raison D’Être, their self-description is a good start.”
Stephen White of The Last Mixed Tape declared: “Raison D’Être is a slow-burning EP that fixates more on mood and atmosphere rather than impact. This way Pockets are allowed to create a defined soundscape for their songwriting to populate and leave a longer, more lasting, impression. In this context the record works as a mature debut from the four-piece.”
Doors for all gigs are at 9pm and admission is free. See also www.roisindubh.net
