This is the face of the voice you'll hear on Warriors' Prayer and Race to the Moon (see music page).
Angela, a soprano, is a native of Clonmel and has studied music at the College of Music in Dublin. She has been a member of several choirs and musical societies over the years, including The Bunratty Singers and Adagio Chamber Choir. She currently sings with wedding specialists 'Celtic Shadows'.
Angela is primarily a classically trained singer but I intend to change all that....
Singer-songwriter nights on a Thursday, by candlelight, till the early hours showed me that there were actually places where people came to listen to new music. I really do wish I had the words to properly evoke the magical qualities this place seemed to breathe into the music that was played there. A converted 18th century Mill which was at the same time a home from home and a place to come and hear what was, by times, amazing music. Bare walls, whitewashed on the inside. Bare timber floors. Bare timber ceilings. And a timber balcony. A pot bellied stove at the back which was lit when the room got too cold; and a big straw star hanging out of the ceiling which, when I first saw it was eerily lit by a green stage light. Whitewashed walls, a green star stage, candle light - and a song was born!
Those who came to play and those who came to listen won't easily forget the atmosphere. This place was a music lovers Nirvana, and there was no cover charge for frequent magic! I was smitten, and became a regular performer and eventually ended up hosting the night for a short period. That night with Luka Bloom, Mundy and a few lesser known songwriters with one acoustic guitar passed around a circle till the wee small hours will stay with me....
Performing in this intimate Co Kildare venue gave me a little more confidence to spread my wings a bit and do the rounds of the Dublin venues - The International, Isaac Butt, Bankers, The Pale, Whelans. During this period of re-discovering songwriting, I got a call from my good friend Mike Simmonds in London and was invited over to record a series of covers for a project he was getting involved in. One of those recordings (SAIL AWAY, a David Gray song) found its' way onto a compilation album called Celtic Chillout II which reached nr 9 in the UK charts. An mp3 clip is available on the music page. We also got around to recording versions of 2 songs which I had written a long time ago and which he had worked his own particular brand of magic on.
Having opened for the Dublin Gospel Choir in the Helix Theatre on the first night of their last tour I was then invited to support them on their national 'Revelation' tour is one I couldn't refuse. Thanks John!
The latest project has stemmed from that support slot; The Moat Theatre then approached me to see if we could put together a Songwriter Series which would showcase the wealth of talent around the country. So check out the MOAT SONGWRITER SERIES page for more information on this exciting new project.
Keep the Faith,
Edith
