Shows
BRIAN KENNEDY (IRE) with MICK MCHUGH
TRINITY SESSIONS PRESENTS BRIAN KENNEDY special guest MICK MCHUGH. Music 8.00pm Doors 7.30pm. Bar available and food at interval by Little Seeds Catering. General admission
Brian Kennedy survived a childhood on the infamous Falls Road,West Belfast at the height of its hellish history against all the odds to carve an extraordinary career in Music. In his own words he says, "I shouldn't have become a singer really, given where and how my life started, but my voice had other plans and saved me in the end." That Voice changed the course of his whole life forever.
From harmonising with ambulances as a child to finally overcoming stage fright, his gradual ascent was nothing short of miraculous. He busked on the dangerous streets of his hometown whatever the political weather until a sudden escape to London when only 18 saw him surviving in the only way he knew how. He sang unaccompanied in the underground stations and outside the Dominion Theatre, sometimes literally in order to eat and until he finally saved up enough money for a guitar. He lived in various illegal squats before eventually being discovered by the now legendary Svengali Simon Fuller- [Pop Idol, Annie Lennox, The Spice Girls.]
His work with Van Morrison has been well documented. The Belfast Legend invited Brian to a rehearsal one day that resulted in him being featured as guest lead singer on the now unforgettable ‘Blues & Soul Revue’. Courtesy of Van’s continuing mentoring and generosity, Brian ended up sharing Vocal duties on stages across the globe over a six-year period with Morrison and a breathtaking cast of some of the greatest artists in history: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker to name but a few. Madison Square Gardens was a far cry from the Falls Road. That unique Irish Voice can be heard harmonising and answering Van on five of his major hit albums.
2014 saw the release of Brian’s eagerly anticipated studio tribute album to Joni Mitchell called ‘A Love Letter To Joni’. Speaking about his Canadian Hero, Brian said: "When I realised Joni Mitchell was about to turn 70 last year I immediately wanted to honour her big birthday and her continued influence on me as an Artist by carefully selecting and recording 10 of my favourite songs of hers.
Brian’s 2012 album ‘VOICE’ entered the album chart at No. 3 and the single ‘Best Days’ is his lyrical reaction to the recession and the album cemented Brian’s reputation as an exceptional vocalist, guitar player, songwriter and interpreter. On ‘Best Days’ Brian says, “I wanted to write something from a positive perspective, that gives us all a flicker of hope amongst the negativity we have to deal with on a daily basis.”
Throughout the relentless touring with Van Morrison, Brian somehow managed to maintain a stream of chart-making albums. ‘A Better Man’ (1996) and ‘Now That I Know What I Want’ (1999), both went platinum at No.1 and earned him the awards of Irish Best Male Artist and Irish Best Male Album, as did the highly acclaimed ‘Homebird’ (2006) and cover album ‘Interpretations’ (2008). Remarkably Brian also found time to publish 2 fiction Novels that were as instant success and he continues to receive many prestigious awards, including the 2010 Ireland Meteor Lifetime Achievement Award for Music, and an even rarer Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters by the Universityof Ulster, for his contribution to the Arts.
Brian has sold out all his shows at Trinity Sessions 2003, 2004 and 2013. It is very exciting to have Brian back in the perfect venue to hear "a voice to charm the angels".
Honest, heart-warming lyrics stories and engaging stories coupled with this one - man band acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica and foot percussion Irish singer - songwriter Mick McHugh's live shows strive to connect, imnspire and disseminate positive messages.
"Get to see him live, it will cause for hope and optimism" - Ralph McTell
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