With a quadruple helping of free music in recessionary times, KilkennyMusic.com’s One Take Sessions return to Cleere’s this coming Thursday on what is a double celebration for the popular music night, the series marking its thirtieth outing and also the beginning of the 2009 series.
With a reputation growing since its November 2006 launch, the One Take Sessions is rapidly becoming a staple ingredient in the calendar of many touring acts around the South East and this week is no different with three of the four acts on the cards coming from out of town.
Taking to the One Take Sessions stage on Thursday night are Kieran Byrne (Kilkenny), Nick Day (Wexford), Bill Coleman (Dublin) and Darragh J Glennon (Mullingar).
Native of Kilkenny, Kieran Byrne is no stranger to the One Take Sessions having performed each year since the 2006 launch. Familiar to many in Kilkenny as the front of ‘Frames cover band Silvertape, Byrne returns on Thursday night with a full catalog of new material previously unheard by the ‘Sessions audience.
“It’s a great opportunity for acts, both visiting and local, to showcase new sounds and new material to an appreciative audience and get some good feedback too before taking their music to the bigger stage”, says one of the organisers, Ken McGuire.
“While the opening night features four solo acts, we’ve also got a host of bands lined up for the year, all of whom are eager to bring their sound down to an acoustic level, some having never tried it before – we saw it last year and it can be a real eye opener and give a visiting band access to an audience they thought they’d never have for their music.”
Nick Day returns to the ‘Sessions for his third outing in two years.Born in 1962 in Kent, England and currently living in Ireland, Nick was raised on a jazz and classical diet with a generous helping of musicals. He supplemented this with his own taste for folk and new wave and enjoyed many avant-garde sonic adventures with the friends of his youth. He has performed with bands playing a variety of styles and has latterly undergone an extensive gestation period before venturing out on the solo path.
Nick has been sustained by the magic of Tavener’s mystical liturgical forms and the confessionals of Joni Mitchell alike and finds in writing the compulsion to communicate his corner of the world. He has married this to a guitar style that has developed out of a passion for the instrument’s expressive possibilities. He cites a lifelong love for the sounds of musicians as diverse as John McLoughlin, Pete Townsend, Martin Carthy and Vinnie Reilly.
The night also welcomes Dublin-based guitarist Bill Coleman arrives back in Kilkenny for his first One Take Sessions performance since April 2007. Performing solo on the night, his full band shows have sometimes been compared to those of The Flaming Lips “for the sheer zanyness, and positive, uplifting vibes to come from the music and the persona of Bill himself.”
Making a ‘Sessions debut Darragh J. Glennon was born in Mullingar and has lived there most of his life. He began playing guitar as a teenager and started writing songs at the age of fifteen. He has been actively playing live for the most part of four years spending most of his time in the group ‘Triega’.
He released his debut single ‘For My Love’ on Sounds IndiGo records in October 2008 as a limited edition, which sold out in release week. The single also enjoyed much success in the Irish Independent Download Charts peaking at No.6.
Working to promote music at all levels since 2005, Kilkenny Music is run by Ken McGuire, Ross Costigan, Alan Dawson and Michael Keogh. Local photographer Ross Costigan has a wide range of images on display through KilkennyMusic.com from previous One Take Sessions nights while music fans can listen to past nights via the Sound System Podcast available on KilkennyMusic.com and through iTunes.
The One Take Sessions takes place Thursday, March 12th in Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny and admission is free. First act 9:30pm sharp. For more details and information on upcoming nights, keep your eyes here on OneTakeSessions.com and via KilkennyMusic.com.
