- Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick on Thursday 15th September
- The Sugar Club, Dublin on Friday 16th September
- Triskel Christchurch, Cork on Saturday 17th September
From Note.ie:
“Iarla O’Lionáird tours to mark the release his new solo album Foxlight on Realworld Records on September 26th. O’Lionáird grew up and learned his craft in the musical heartland of Cúil Aodha in the West Cork Gaeltacht. From his iconic early recording of the vision song “Aisling Gheal” whilst still a boy, through many recordings O’Lionaird established himself both as a masterful exponent of Sean Nós Song and as a pioneer in its renewal and development.
HIs latest, Foxlight, shimmers with versatility. While it is rooted in certain traditions, it is also unclassifiable and refuses to be located in one genre or another. It’s also one of Ó Lionáird’s most organic, naturalistic records to date. Instrumentation and layers are embedded in each song, but ultimately it’s about Ó Lionáird’s exquisite, sonically unique voice. Foxlight is produced by Leo Abrahams a features Leafcutter John, Geese, Adjagas, Neill McColl and more as guests. All eleven songs are imbued with a sense of time and place, of connections and myths. From ancient rhythms to modern electronics, Ó Lionáird’s exceptional voice is the fulcrum around which everything pivots.
These shows also feature O’Lionaird’s new band featuring amongst others Stephen Shannon of Strands, Donnacha Hoey of Spook of the Thirteenth Lock and Max Greenwood.
Always an artist on his own journey O’Lionáird signed to the prestigious Realworld label in the mid 1990′s he would go on to make many ground breaking recordings with the multi million selling Afro Celt Sound System receiving two Grammy nominations. Solo albums “Seven Steps to Mercy” (1997, produced by Michael Brook) and “Invisible Fields” (2005) brought widespread acclaim confirming O’Lionáird as one of contemporary music’s most ambitious singers and recording artists. His latest
O’Lionáird has always been a collaborator and an artist seeking new fields of engagement. From his collaborations with Peter Gabriel on Ovo, this has taken an increasingly classical form. His song-cycle with Gavin Bryars, Anail De (The Breath of God) reflects a deep artistic collaboration and friendship with the composer. Similarly he has worked extensively with acclaimed Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy and his group The Crash Ensemble. He also featured as a soloist on the Nonesuch debut label release of Dennehy’s “Grá agus Bás” with Dawn Upshaw and Crash Ensemble released in May.
Foxlight is released on Real World Records on September 26th.”
