Debut album, Evening Train, available now!
In shops in Ireland:
Road Records, 16 Fade St., Dublin 2
Plugd Records, Washington St., Cork
The Living Tradition, MacCurtain St., Cork
The Corner House, Coburg St., Cork
Check back for more soon!
Mick in New York City!
Check out Mick's upcoming gigs listed on www.mickflannery.com
Review in Urban Folk, N.Y.C. Magazine
(August/September 2005. By the editorial collective)
Mick Flannery
Evening Train - Demo
I haven't been this excited for an album in a long time. Don't let the ad next to this review fool you into thinking that we're giving a glowing review because we were paid. Just the opposite, after hearing Mick play and then hearing the demo it felt imperative to get as many people as possible to hear this. The obvious comparison here is Tom Waits, but to stop there doesn't give enough credit. Mick is a songwriter of the first order. His writing is filled with a deep heart wrenching sadness to the lyrics, combined with melodies that give just the right amount of hope and warmth before falling back into a despair that is impossible to not want to embrace. His voice is pained, gravelly, and powerful. Recorded or live, it carries through and stops you in your tracks. This is only a three song demo of an album that will be available by the time you read this. It is a concept album with a story revolving around two brothers both trying to get the last train out of their small town. "In The Gutter" starts with a classic dark folk feel introducing one of the brother's debilitating alcoholism combined with a tough resolve in the timeless refrain "My bed is made in the gutter, but I won't lie down." From there is breaks into something poppy bordering on bouncy, which might sound like a bad idea here, but trust it. It holds true to the dark folk feel even with the slight Elton John touch, and the hope and determination in the lyrics are exactly what we're yearning for. The song put together is an instant classic from the first listen. The second one comes in with a rhythmic electric riff that honestly I thought sounded more natural on acoustic live, but either way the song shines through. Here we meet the brother Frank, a bartender who tries to refrain from sympathizing or caring about his desperate customers, but the care with which the scene is drawn shows anything but a lack of sympathy, as Mick moans like an addict a long repeated haunting plea from his patrons "Please, Frank." Frank's just there to do his job though, described as "pouring water into sinking ships." The last song is a drawn out ballad of sorts, introducing the vocals of Mick's aunt in the part of the love interest that seems to be coming between the two brothers as one of them contemplates skipping town with her. Her voice manages the trick of being sweet as well as low and morose, which also describes the song itself with it's long catchy melody that lifts just long enough to make you feel it when it falls back down. Sad stuff, and an intriguing story that I am burning to hear in its entirety. Do yourself a large favor and get [Evening Train] the full length (available 8/17). See him live too, before he goes back to his native Ireland in September and you miss the chance to see him stop a room cold with his powerful deep tragedy.
Mick in Canada @ Atlantic Crossroads Festival!
Roots Cellar Productions presents Atlantic Fest 2005 - the first annual international Atlantic Crossroads Festival! The festival features singer/songwriters from Ireland and Newfoundland, including Mick who'll be gigging from Friday 24th June- Tuesday 28th in 4 downtown venues; Bridie Molloy's, The Celtic Hearth, Erin's Pub and The Ship Pub in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Friday, June 24th
11pm @ Erin's Pub
12.50 @ The Ship Pub
Saturday, June 25th
10.30 @ Erin's Pub
11.05 @ Bridie Molloy's
12.50 @ Celtic Hearth
Sunday, June 26th
11.05 @ Erin's Pub
12.50 at The Ship Pub
Monday, June 27th
10.40 @ Bridie Molloy's
11.50 @ Celtic Hearth
Tuesday, June 28th
10.40 @ Celtic Hearth
11.50 @ Bridie Molloy's
Thursday, June 30th
'Islands of Song' Gala
The Arts and Culture Centre
Mick in The Irish Times Magazine
On page 10 of The Irish Times Magazine of Saturday, April 16, 2005 in an article entitled After Midnight devoted to Lilian Smith who hosts the radio show 'Late Date', the following paragraph appears:
Not that it's just established artists Smith will play. She gets a lot of CDs posted to her at RTÉ's studios in Cork, from where she presents the programme, and when she comes across a gem she shares it with listeners. "Occasionally, you do get stuff that blows you away. Last summer I got some stuff from Mick Flannery from Blarney. Does Tom Waits know that somebody else has his voice? But then Mick is very much his own man as well: he's fantastic." |
Recent Gigs
April
13th @ Cyprus Avenue, Cork with Clare O'Mahony
3rd @ De Barra's, Clonakilty | SONGSMITHS LIVE 2005
1st @ The Blackbird, Ballycotton | SONGSMITHS LIVE 2005
Both of these gigs were part of a showcase tour of singer/songwriters from Cork for the Beamish Cork Folk Festival and Cork 2005. Mick was joined by John Leo Carter, Annette Buckley, Ger Wolfe and Clare O'Mahony.
March
31st @ The Savoy Theatre | Supported Tom Baxter (London, England)
30th @ The Cruiscín Lán | Supported The Section Quartet (LA, USA)
24th @ The Cruiscín Lán
16th @ The Triskel Arts Centre | Islands of Song as part of Cork 2005 European Capital of Culture and Cork St. Patrick's Festival Mick played the Triskel with Martin Finn from Cork and Pamela Morgan from Newfoundland.
Special Guest for John Spillane
February 3rd, 2005 Mick supported John Spillane at de Barra's in Clonakilty, Cork.
International Recognition Flowing In...
In just over a month, Mick's songwriting ability has been recognised by TWO different international music competitions. On February 8th he was named a Finalist in the Folk category in the December section of the International Song of the Year Competition.
[PRESS RELEASE ] [Song of the Year Winners Page]
On January 5th he was named a semi-finalist in the Lyrics Only category of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
[ISC Winners Page]
SONG OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCES DECEMBER WINNERS
[PRESS RELEASE ]
Mick's song The Birds and the Bees was named as a finalist in the International Song of the Year Competition Folk category for December. The finalists were announced on February 8th 2005.
Visit the winners page on their website:
http://www.songoftheyear.com/winners/122004.htm
Special Guest for John Spillane @ de Barra's
On Thursday, February 3rd, 2005 Mick supported John Spillane at de Barra's in Clonakilty, Cork.
International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist!!
Mick's song The Birds and the Bees was named as a semi-finalist in the Lyrics Only category. The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) announced the semi-finalists on Thursday, January 5th 2005.
Visit the winners page on the ISC website:
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/SemiFinalists2004.htm
Mick kicks off the New Year in the Lobby
Mick played Cork's Lobby Bar on New Year's Day to a full house. He introduced three new songs to his enraptured crowd. The Irish Examiner's Alan Good said in advance of the gig that '[Mick's] aching melodies should be the prefect antidote for a New Year hangover'.
[See more in news section...]
In the news...
Debut EP Launch at the Triskel described as,
'a mind-blower' and 'a terrific concert'
[Read the full text... ]
| Monday, April 30th – Cork Folk Festival's SONGSMITHS LIVE 2005
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SONGSMITHS LIVE 2005 – a showcase of some of Cork's finest singer/ songwriters.
This year's line up is Ger Wolfe, Gavin Moore, Annette Buckley, John Leo Carter, Mick Flannery & Clare O Mahony. The show is on a Nation-wide tour in April 2005. Songsmiths has been a main feature at the Cork Folk Festival for the last two years. Songsmiths was launched in An Spailpín Fánach on Monday 21th of March at 6 30 pm. For further information please call John Leo Carter on 086 8079014 |
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| Wednesday, April 13th – Cyprus Avenue
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| Mick played Cyprus Avenue with Clare O'Mahony | |||||
| Friday, April 1st and Sunday, April 3rd: SONGSMITHS LIVE 2005
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As part the Beamish Cork Folk Festival
and Cork 2005
Mick played two gigs in Songsmiths Live 2005.
The Blackbird, Ballycotton on Friday, April 1st. De Barra's, Clonakilty on Sunday, April 3rd. Showcase tour of singer/songwriters from Cork. Mick was joined by John Leo Carter, Annette Buckley, Ger Wolfe and Clare O'Mahony | ||||
| Thursday, March 31st – SAVOY with Tom Baxter
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Mick supported London's Tom Baxter
The Savoy Theatre Patrick's St., Cork. |
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| Wednesday, March 23rd The Section Quartet @ An Cruiscín Lán
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Mick played with The Section Quartet from Los Angeles, U.S.A. at Cruiscín Lán, Douglas St., Cork. | ||||
| March 24th – Cruiscín Lán
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Mick played the Cruiscín Lán, Douglas St., Cork. | ||||
| March 16th: Islands of Song – Cork St. Patrick's Festival
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Wednesday March 16th, 2005 @ Triskel:
As part of the Cork St. Patrick's Festival Mick played the Triskel with
[ More information + lots of photographs ] 
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| February 10th: International Recognition Flowing In...
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In just over a month, Mick's songwriting ability has been recognised by TWO different international music competitions.
On February 8th he was named a Finalist in the Folk category in the December section of the International Song of the Year Competition.
[PRESS RELEASE ] [Song of the Year Winners Page] On January 5th he was named a semi-finalist in the Lyrics Only category of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). [ISC Winners Page] | ||||
| February 3rd: Special Guest for John Spillane @ De Barra's
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On Thursday, February 3rd, 2005 Mick supported John Spillane at de Barra's in Clonakilty, Cork.
[ Visit John Spillane's website ] [ de Barra's website ] | ||||
| January 5th: International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist!!
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Mick's song The Birds and the Bees
was named as a semi-finalist in the Lyrics Only category.
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) announced the semi-finalists on Thursday, January 5th 2005. Visit the winners page on the ISC website: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm | ||||
| January 13th: Lobby with Clare O'Mahony
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January 13th: Supported Clare
O'Mahony at The Lobby
Thursday, January 13th, 2005 The Lobby Bar. Doors @ 9pm | ||||
| Saturday, January 1st, 2005: New Year's Day Gig at The Lobby
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Mick introduced three new songs at the gig.
Band: Karen O'Doherty – fiddle Hugh Dillon – Electric Guitar Ber Quinn – bass guitar Keiran Manning – drums Mick played piano and acoustic guitar. Support: Audio Gypsies 'Mick has the honour of playing The Lobby on New Year's Day, when his aching melodies should be the prefect antidote for a New Year hangover'. - Alan Good, Irish Examiner | ||||
| December 30th: "Flannery to kick off the New Year"
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Mick launched his debut EP last month at the Triskel Arts Centre. Today's Evening Echo had an article entitled, 'Flannery to kick off the New Year'. The author, Paul Dromey,
called the launch event,
'a mind-blower' and 'a terrific concert'. Furthermore, he had this to say about Mick's music: 'Mick's self- titled album has it all: Astute and sophisticated lyrics, strong, imaginative melodies, consummate musicianship on both piano and guitar, and a 21-year-old voice that somehow manages to sound long experienced in the ways of the world.' [Read the full text... ] | ||||
| December 21st: International Songwriting Competition
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Mick's song "The Birds and The Bees", which was entered into the
Folk/Singer-Songwriter category, has advanced onto the
next round of judging for the 2004 International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
[Go to the lyrics page] Visit the ISC website: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/ | ||||
| December 6th: Irish Examiner review by Alan Good
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Today's review in the Irish Examiner introduces Mick as one of 'Cork's brightest new talents'.
The author, Alan Good goes on to say that, 'Mick's five-track offering shows off ... amazing song craftmanship' and 'Mick has the honour of playing The Lobby on New Year's Day, when his aching melodies should be the prefect anecdote for a New Year hangover'. [Read the full text... ] | ||||
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December 2nd: Mick featured in Downtown, 'Telling Tales is just the tonic'
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Colm O'Sullivan picks Mick and his 'wistful' , 'lyrically strong' songs as
as 'upcoming act who [he thinks has] what it takes to make it big' . In particular, he describes Christmas Past as 'a spare piece of wintry melancholia' . | ||||
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November 27th: EP Launch @ Triskel
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Described as, 'a mind-blower' and 'a terrific concert' !
[ Read a review ... ] Mick introduced three new songs at the sold-out launch in Cork's Triskel Arts Centre. Special Guest: Hugh Dillon | ||||
| November 6th: With Mandy Murphy @ The Lobby Bar
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Played special guest for
Mandy Murphy @ The Lobby Bar | ||||
| October 20th - November, 2004: People's Republic of Cork featured musician
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Mick was featured on the frontpage of the hugely popular People's Republic of Cork (PRC) site[ Link to Mick's profile on PRC Music section ] [ Link to PRC Murphy's Gig & Event Guide ] | ||||
| August: Air-time!
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The Birds and the Bees is aired on Cork Radio.
Both Cork 96FM's Neil Prenderville and RTE Radio 1's John Creedon played the song on their shows this month, accompanied with high praise for Mick and his work. | ||||
| July 18th: With Scribble @ The Lobby Bar
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On July 18th, 2004 Mick played 'special guest' for Scribble at The Lobby Bar. | ||||
| July 15th: Mastering the debut EP
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Mick set off for Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh to have his debut EP mastered at Mid-Atlantic-Digital by Robyn Robins. | ||||
| Gigs in Summer 2004
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June 28th Brought down De Barra's Folk Club, Clonakilty June 27th Played The Red Rooms,17 Liberty Street, Cork June 21st Supporting Mandy Murphy at Midsummer Party, Monard June 18th Played this week as part of the Listeners' Choice Festival Gig Rig from Cork Campus Radio 97.4FM and The Woodford Bourne Cork Midsummer Festival as noted here and here, with comments. Eclectic Ballroom at The Half Moon Club Supported by Karen O'Doherty May 13th Gig in The Lobby Bar with Andy Dunne and Lee-Jane Eastwood. | ||||
| March: Composed soundtrack to Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle
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March 24th - April 3rd Mick wrote the melodies for songs to accompany performances of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Granary Theatre, Cork. The Irish Examiner described the soundtrack as 'superb'! | ||||
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