The Acoustic Yard Presents Matt McGinn in Concert, Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar.

Matt McGinn heads west to Westport, Co.Mayo to play in the intimate surroundings of Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar. Presented by The Acoustic Yard with support by the fabulous songwriter Gillian Tuite.

Hailing from the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, this is Matt McGinn. You can tell by hearing by his warm, rasping and powerful voice, by listening to his worldly wise lyrics and by seeing his wide shoulders broadened from carrying coal almost thirty years, that by no means is this Matt’s first dance. Far from it, as 2022 saw the release of his 5th studio album Time Well Spent (RTE Album of the Week) with the title track featuring Aoife Scott.

His past singles ‘Annie (Many Moons Ago)’ and ‘Lighthouse Joe’ have been described as the best songs you will hear all year.

The previous album Lessons of War has had over 100,000 plays on Spotify. The lead single ‘Bubblegum’ written with Mick Flannery was one of the most played songs on BBC Radio Ulster. Tom Robinson of BBC 6 described it ‘extraordinary’ while RTE Radio 1’s Fiachna O Braonain labelled it as ‘a beauty’.

During lockdown in 2020, with an absence of live gigs due to Corona Virus, Matt and fellow troubadour Cormac Neeson created Coccons. It is a live ‘In the Round’ that goes out through the Cocoons Group Page on Facebook every Saturday. Cocoons has featured over 100 artists worldwide and raised over £10,000 for various charities. 

When Bob Harris played a track from Matt’s 2015 album ‘Latter Day Sinner’ on BBC Radio 2, he stated…

“Darkest Before the Day, what a truly beautiful track… Matt, your album is superb. I’ve seen Matt play live, he’s fantastic… and Latter Day Sinner is a beautiful album.” BOB HARRIS – RADIO 2

Cutting his teeth on the Belfast music scene from an early age, Matt opened for blues and folk legends; Peter Green, John Hammond Jnr, Chris Smither, John Renbourn to name a few, and survived a lengthy residency in Belfast’s now legendary Rotterdam Bar.

In July 2018, Matt joined Rodney Crowell as a special guest on his Irish Tour.

With his reputation as a multi-instrumental session musician also growing, Matt was choice player for many touring bands, who occasion shared the bill with the likes of Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Crosby Stills & Nash.

Matt’s perspective on music and the industry was changed forever with a trip to Nashville in 2014. After performing ‘In the Round’ with Nanci Griffith, he found himself playing the legendary Bluebird cafe. Only hours after sharing the stage with Chas Sandford, writer of Tina Turner’s ‘Missing You’, Matt would be penning his 2016 single ‘The Long Way’ with songwriter and Grammy Nominee, Kim Richey.

Americana UK give ‘The End of the Common Man’ a 4.5 out of 5 star review, stating “An outstanding blend of soulful passion and melody that will haunt and inspire.”

Recorded between Nashville, Tennessee, and a farmhouse in Co. Down, ‘The End of the Common Man is Matt’s third LP. In Janurary ’18 it was Album of the Week on BBC Radio Ulster with Late Show host, Anthony Toner describing it as,

“Just amazing…such a big sound. The End of the Common Man is worth a serious listen” ANTHONY TONER – BBC RADIO ULSTER 

Tickets are available in Link

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/matt-mcginn-in-concert-tickets-309435950257

 Lemonade Marinade are back with their third single during these uncertain times for the Irish mental health charity Pieta. Following on from their acclaimed singles ‘Good to See (That Some Things Still Shine So Bright)’ and ‘Venus and Me’, the Irish lockdown band release the joyeous indie pop song ‘Brilliant’ on Friday November 6th, 2020.

All the songs relate lyrically to the chosen charity and relay a message of encouragement and hope, with the risk of suicide spiralling since covid (especially in young men). ‘Brilliant’ offers lyrically an alternative to the darkness they feel with love and a wonderful future within their grasp.

With this new single Lemonade Marinade hope in some small way to help raise funds and ensure Pieta can continue their vital work.

‘Brilliant’ was written by songwriter, producer and organiser, broadcaster of The Acoustic Yard David Dee Moore. Vocals on this track come from legendary Nashville singer and Co.Down based Cathryn Craig (Righteous Brothers, Chet Atkins) 

The slick accompaniment comes from a band handpicked by David Dee Moore with years of musical experience and creativity. These include Nick Scott (Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mary Black) on bass, Colin and Janet Henry (Nancy Griffiths, Charlie McGettigan) on dobro and vocals respectively, Fintan Hanley(Vickers Vimy) on mandolin, Brian McAteer(Phil Coulter, Alisdair Frazer) on strings,  Brian Willoughby (Strawbs, Mary Hopkin) on nylon guitar and project producer, arranger David Dee Moore (Liam Clancy, Juliet Turner, Brian Kennedy) on guitars and keyboards.

The track was mixed by Grammy nominees Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy at The Production Suite Dublin and mastered by Richard Dowling at Wav Mastering Limerick.

Contact daviddeemoore@icloud.com or Tel: 086 8752070

Brilliant by Lemonade Marinade

Lemonade Marinade release their second single during these uncertain times, again it’s for the Irish mental health charity Pieta.

Following up from the acclaimed song ‘Venus and Me’ the Irish lockdown band release the joyful catchy pop infused ‘It’s Good To See (That Some Things Still Shine So Bright)’ on Friday September 25th 2020on all musical media platforms.

Both songs relate lyrically to the chosen charity and relay a message of encouragement and hope, showing there’s enough light in the world from its beauty and actions to keep hearts illuminated.

The risks of suicide has spiralled out of control and Pieta has an environment set up to help to reduce this and has given counsel to over 45,000 people. This May the charity had to cancel their ‘Darkness Into Light’ event losing much needed funds and so the band has reacted in a small way to help with ta collection of songs.

‘It’s Good To See (That Some Things Still Shine So Bright) was written by songwriter and producer David Dee Moore but this time he’s left the vocal duties to the beautiful voice of Belfast songstress Janet Henry. A smooth performance reminiscent of a Karen Carpenter or a Rita Coolidge.

The slick accompaniment comes from a band that David Dee Moore 

handpicked to add years of musical experience and creativity. These include Nick Scott (Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mary Black) on bass, Colin Henry (Nancy Griffiths, Charlie McGettigan) on dobro, Fintan Hanley(Vickers Vimy) on mandolin, Brian McAteer(Phil Coulter, Alisdair Frazer) on strings, the folk duo Cathryn Craig (Righteous Brothers, Chet Atkins) and Brian Willoughby (Strawbs, Mary Hopkin) on nylon guitar and project producer, arranger David Dee Moore (Liam Clancy, Juliet Turner, Brian Kennedy) on guitars.

The track was mixed by Grammy nominees Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy at The Production Suite Dublin and mastered by Richard Dowling at Wav Mastering Limerick.

This week’s show features all the best releases from independent artists in Ireland in 2019 with ‘Song of the Year ‘ The Darkling Air’ and ‘Octogenarian Mermaid’.

The show is aired on www.bluesandrootsradio.com every Friday at 6.30pm GMT and repeated every Wednesday at 8pm GMT and presented by david Dee Moore