Tonight`s special guest Ceitidh Mac usually plays with a band but she`s flying solo for the nine dates as support to Junior Brother on this trek of the UK. Ceitidh according to bandcamp, blends the warming tones of the cello and soaring vocals to create a transformative sound that puts a progressive twist on the alternative folk genre. Indeed, she does this and so much more as we enjoy a thirty minute run through of songs old and new.
`Scrapheap` is the opener as she takes us all on a dreamy journey before `Do Little, Know Little` and `Goldfinches` written about a time she house sat and the tenant feline did what came naturally and presented dead birds to her each day. `Dragons Out` was shared with a delightful lilt before numbers like the absorbing `Heliotrope` and picturesque `Birds` closed the set out. There was much to enjoy with this honorary Geordie and at times I felt the music shared veered from folk to a jazzy kind of vibe which was so compelling. Definitely on my list to see again.
I saw Junior Brother last April in this same room and he confirmed that he`d be back again and he`s as good as his word, as he takes to the stage this time as a trio with Dan Walsh on drums and flute, and Tony McLoughlin on mandolin and backing vocals. Keyboard player Phil Christie was unable to make the trip over this time. They also have an unsung member in Trevor who drives them from show to show, sorts the sound and sells the merch.
Ronan Kealy is an alternative folk singer from Kilcummin, Co. Kerry who is described as somebody who plays slightly unhinged, sometimes heady tunes and second number in, the title track of his last album `No Country For Young Men` a song that relates to the anxiety of modern living proves such. The deeply emotive `Lambs on the Green Hills` is shared before `Junior Brother`s Favourite` a wonderfully compelling and enthralling listen. This is played after the singer adds what he refers to as a spider capo to his guitar and shares the details and joys of such a tool.
I`m sure it was `The Men Who Eat Ringforts` which followed along with `The Back Of Her`. The amusing `This is My Body` a tale of self-image brings a cheer from this intimate audience as does the wonderfully titled `Hungover At Mass` a song about the fear of God from the 2016 `Fuck Off I Love You` EP, the sentiment of catholic guilt to which I can also personally attest.
We enjoy a couple of brand new songs before the eclectic `Full Of Wine` is given an airing and the wistful and dreamy `The Long Meadows` sends us all home.
Once again tonight was a really stunning performance from an artist that exudes so much passion and intensity into his eclectic idiosyncratic compositions along with an ironic sense of humour. The Irish Times has said of Junior Brother / Ronan Kealy that he “corrals the sweetness of Nick Drake and John Martyn and tethers them to the twin musical mysteries of Ivor Cutler and Captain Beefheart” and in essence that sums this enigma up.
Finally, Junior Brother confirmed that he`d be back again and i`m sure he will be and once more it`ll be another night not to be missed.
