I was asked to write a piece on what my muse is for an upcoming show, “Confronting the Muse” happening in Berlin early January. After I wrote the following paragraph I got to thinking: the idea of muses can really mess with an artists’ head, especially when it comes to taking payment or credit for … Continue reading Confronting The Muse
It was back in the ye olde days of 2017. I had told everyone in Berlin I was going touring Ireland in September. “To launch the EP”, I said. But, in fact, I had no venues booked, no idea what touring actually entailed, or if it was even possible. I just said it enough and … Continue reading That Time Kilkelly (and Michael Brinkworth) Climbed An Irish Mountain (With Instruments)
“This part of the contract denotes that you won’t do anything sacrilegious during your performance”, said the amiable young event coordinator for the cathedral. “Oh”, I replied, nervously perusing every line in my mind’s eye depicting religion in the album. Seeing the worry set in my face, he added – “of course, you can be … Continue reading Gallivanting #6: Launch & Liverpool
Ireland just introduced a new dole, a social welfare for unemployed artists. It’s 200 euro a week, in your pocket, no questions asked. Soon as I heard this, my gut reaction was “can’t be, it’s too good to be true”. And that feeling has stuck with me, even as I read through the government statement, … Continue reading Should Artists Suffer For Their Art?
We – Dave and I, that is – arrive into Trivandrum, India from Singapore – a souped-up technological haven with good food, punishing sun and not a whole lot else. My only impression of Singapore previous to this came from a sailor I once met in Copenhagen – at least seventy, who had traveled the … Continue reading Gallivanting #5: Singapore & Trivandrum
I got booked to do a run of cover song shows in an up-scale hotel in Stuttgart, Germany. Cover gigs are a whole other breed of shows than what I’m used to. Firstly, they’re long. You play three sets, roughly 45 minutes each per night – if not longer. Secondly, I got spoiled rotten with … Continue reading Gallivanting #4: Stuttgart
No matter how far away a gig is, so long as it’s in Germany I’ll go. That’s the new, borderline psychotic deal I’ve made with myself. It’s justified 8 hour bus rides, each way, in the span of a single day with only a mantra in my head for comfort – “suffer now, money later. … Continue reading Gallivanting #3: Mannheim & Wuppertal
When the album was done the idea was to celebrate and rest my undoubtedly fragile, if not faltering mind in a sleepy Spanish village. Albums are a tricky thing to finish. Every decision is final, until it isn’t, and you wake up in the dead of night convinced church bells may just work on the … Continue reading Gallivanting #2: Arcos de la Frontera
Before you read the essay, here’s a video intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsfqe5Ko4Ik This is an article about you, me, music, money and muses. At the end I’m going to ask for some cash for an idea I’ve got festering. It’ll be a tiny sum, and you’ll get something in return, but it’s best I say that part … Continue reading Why Patronage? (Album Crowdfunding)
The smartest thing you can have in the working musician game is a booker. I don’t have a booker — not being particularly smart, and, as such, I find myself on a seven and a half hour journey to Germany’s Herzland (heartland) for a one-off show in a place I’ve never heard of: Marburg. Steph … Continue reading Gallivanting #1: Marburg
