Ireland’s music legend Sharon Shannon tours Australia with new album ‘Sacred Earth’ & Susan O’Neill (SON) – 22 Feb to 13 March

15 February 2019

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New album ‘Sacred Earth’ & Susan O’Neill (SON)

22 February to 13 March 2019

Sharon Shannon is a name synonymous and entrenched in the culture and fabric of Traditional Irish Music. She has been at the forefront of the Irish music scene for near 30 years, and her journey with her accordion and love for music has led her to become one of the world’s most highly acclaimed traditional musicians. Her personality has led her to be one of Ireland’s most well-liked and popular national treasures.

From her debut self-titled album in 1991, to her most recent album ‘Sacred Earth’, her work demonstrates a wide-ranging number of musical influences. Sharon Shannon is a musician who likes to surprise. While she is known for her arrangements of traditional Irish tunes and Irish-influenced compositions, she has always been eager to explore new styles, and to meet and work with other musicians. Her work demonstrates a ground-breaking mix of traditional Irish with reggae, country, Native American, bluegrass, cajun, rap, dance, French Canadian and African.

Recently conferred with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from National University of Ireland Galway, Shannon has been fearless in her collaborations and has recorded and toured with The Waterboys, Bono, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, The Chieftains, The RTE Concert Orchestra and many more. Her collaboration with Steve Earle on The Galway Girl (later recorded and released with Mundy) became a number 1 hit in Ireland and is now a global anthem.

‘Sacred Earth’, is her 10th studio album was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in England. Produced by Robert Plant’s guitarist and producer, Justin Adams. The album features new material written collaboratively with African musicians including Seckou Keita, the renowned Kora master and percussionist from Senegal and also features classical influences and stunning vocals performances from Irish Legend Finbar Furey, Australian duo Hat Fitz and Cara and newcomer Susan O’Neill (SON), like Shannon also from County Clare.

Susan O’Neill’s soulful and husky-voiced performances are truly something to behold. Using guitar, harmonica, trumpet and a loop pedal, Susan delivers a timeless and powerful blend of the old and new. Her inspirational fusion of soulful Irish folk & her own acclaimed original material makes for an entertaining and enchanting musical experience. Her solo performances are literally mind-blowing. The amazing range of her gritty vocal combined with her superb guitar technique, her loop pedals and trumpet, make for a truly unforgettable musical experience.

Sharon’s track with Susan on vocals and trumpet The Machine is the debut single from ‘Sacred Earth’ and Susan joins Sharon and her band for her Sacred Earth tour of Australia and New Zealand 2019. The single was released in Australia on 4 December 2018.

The Machine is a song that Sharon first heard sung by Alyra Rose at Acoma Indian Reservation in New Mexico. The lyrics and sentiment of the song had a big impact on Sharon. Alyra and her father were also very involved with the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Three Forks Reservation in North Dakota.

Sharon’s album was already titled Sacred Earth, so the inclusion of the song on the album was a natural fit. Sharon worked on the song with Alyra and engineer Craig Mulvagh and brought in Susan O Neill on vocals and trumpet, resulting in a trad Irish/ hip hop/ rap hybrid with an important message.

The Machine

Stream it here

Fri 22 Feb – John Curtin College of the Arts, Fremantle WA

https://www.facebook.com/events/1152573681574773/

Sat 23 Feb – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany WA

https://www.ptt.wa.gov.au/venues/albany-entertainment-centre/whats-on/sharon-shannon-son/

Sun 24 Feb – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah WA

https://www.manpac.com.au/show/the-sharon-shannon-band/

Wed 27 Feb – Jack Duggan’s Irish Pub, Bathurst NSW

https://jackduggans.com.au/

Thur 28 Feb – Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centre, Braddon ACT

http://www.agac.com.au/event/sharon-shannon-band-susan-oneill-son/