John Spillane
JOHN SPILLANE is a musician, songwriter, performer,
recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer –
a canvass filled with color and brilliance. His music
transports the listener; his live performance captivates
the audience. In a world filled with strife and upheaval,
a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the
load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light.
The man and his music are pure magic.
What makes John special is that he is an artist who
knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone
of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference.
Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional,
world or pop – that’s fine with John. He’s
a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing
solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with
full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains,
charms, and mesmerizes.
John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes
as “the centre of the universe”, and it
has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally,
he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like
element in his singing and he is said to have a voice
“full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.
Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most
accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those
who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Karan
Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Shannon,
Sean Keane, George Murphy, to name a few. He performs
to audiences large and small everywhere.
From his heart-warming visit to Senegal to film a “musical
visit” for an Irish television series (where he
met and played music with, among others, the legendary
Baaba Maal), to his 2008 Australian tour where he sang
the Irish National Anthem before 45,000 people attending
the Australia v. Ireland Ozzie Rules Football, to singing
for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese (by invitation),
and so on ad infinitum …
John’s performances shimmer with the magic realism
that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly
flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy
to roguish, irreverent Cork humour. If you are looking
for a night of good ‘craic’, a John Spillane
show should not be missed.
VERY NICE QUOTES, INDEED:
“ … some of the most skillfully crafted,
vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland
over the past dozen years.” Earle Hitchner, premier
writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal.
“ … funny, quirky, massively entertaining.
John is a story teller, a shanachie.” Dan Regan,
Founder, Kansas City Irish Festival.
“Why isn’t John Spillane a major star? [John]
writes catchy, heartfelt folk-pop songs with the bonus
of actually meaning something.” The Sunday Business
Post (My Dark Rosaleen & The Island of Dreams).
“He’s carved a niche writing melodic, compelling,
simple songs. Spillane is at his best when his delivery
is unforced and lyrical.” Oliver P. Sweeney, The
Ticket, Irish Times (“My Dark Rosaleen & The
Island of Dreams).
“ … glorious technicolour hues that transcend
linguistic boundaries; world music for a new world.”
Siobhán Long, Irish Times (The Gaelic Hit Factory).
“ … these tracks exhibit Spillane’s
remarkably prolific output of gorgeous, peaceful tunes.”
Lisa Coen, Hot Press (Hey Dreamer).
“[John Spillane] delivers the goods yet again.
“Hey Dreamer” is a stunner.” Steve
Cummins, Hot Press (Hey Dreamer).
Endorser
of:
Manuel
Rodriguez –
Model D Rio
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