Niall Connolly: International Folk Hero

Ryan Morgan performs Niall Connolly’s ‘Your Idiot...

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:43:51 -0400

Ryan Morgan performs Niall Connolly’s ‘Your Idiot Friend vs 200 Years of Darwin’ which is featured on Niall’s ‘Super Cool Fantastic’ and Ryan’s ‘Chivalry is Dead’.

Bono and Glen Hansard and me and less than 100 people in Living...

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:56:00 -0400

Bono and Glen Hansard and me and less than 100 people in Living Room yesterday!

Video captured by Patrick Glennon.

Chivalry is Dead- Ryan Morgan

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:54:03 -0400

I first met Ryan Morgan at the Wednesday Night Song Club in Ceol. he was in town visiting in the company of a friend of a friend of of a friend of mine.Ceol, is generally a filtered open mic. I am supposed to have heard everyone who plays. Or else they need to be invited by another regular performer. It helps distinguish the night from completely open mics. Ryan seemed the right level of confident, yet not to pushy. So, I let him play. I remember thinking hopefully he won’t drive anyone out of the room.

Well folks, sometimes tiny gambles pay off. Ryan quickly became a fast friend with his quick wit, his openness to allowing the good times in, and crucially, for his excellent songwriting.

Produced by Sky Captain of Industry’s E.W. Harris, ‘Chivalry is Dead’, is Ryan Morgan’s debut album. E.W. as you know produced my own ‘Brother, the Fight is Fixed’ as well as Casey Black’s triumphant ‘It Shapes Me As It Goes’ and his own highly original work, ‘A Waste of Water and Time’. As in person, Ryan Morgan, the songwriter, is an excellent storyteller. The songs cover the front and back pages of contemporary issues from the border to the playing field. Populated by corrupt mayors, junkies, sports stars or dead singers, raise many prescient issues in an entertaining and concise manner. Morgan has an excellent turn of phrase, takes unexpected word choices and paints very clear and dirty pictures in his work. The production by E.W. is inventive and original giving the songs a foundation which will hopefully help them reach as large an audience as they deserve.

Buy this album, then buy it again for someone you love.

The album is available online now and will be launched at Bar 4, 444 7th Ave, Brooklyn on Friday May 18th.

40,000 Norwegians singing in the rain.

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:45:23 -0400

Today, in the pouring rain, in Oslo, 40,000 people gathered to sing ‘Barn av regnbuen’ and hold roses in defiance of the horrific acts of violence committed by Ander Behring Breivik last summer. During the week, Breivik had said that this song was used to brainwash children, objecting to its message of peace in an age of multiculturalism.

Two women started a campaign to reclaim the songs TWO days ago. Here is what happened today. I was fortunate enough to be performing in a school in Norway today, where we watched this live on a projected screen in the gym with hundreds of Norwegian middle school children. Many singing along. This is the most spine tingling moment of my life. A remarkably dignified and beautiful peaceful and powerful protest.

Read more about it from more informed sources here:

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/04/26/norwegians-pull-together-again/

Watch the video. Trust me. It is beautiful.

Another Oslo gig Sat 7pm at Noir Lounge

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:19:18 -0400

NOIR-LOUNGE #2
featuring live music performances by
THOMAS TRUAX (US/UK)
NIALL CONNOLLY (IRL/US)
hosted by Mark Steiner & His Problems

Studio Schaeffers Gate 5

Schæffers gate 5, 0558 Oslo, Norway

7pm Pass the hat and BYOB!

Oslo

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:44:12 -0400

Thanks to everyone at Mono who made us feel so welcome last night. I loved the gig. Thanks also to The Irish Embassy and the Norwegian Irish Society who seemingly sent out an e-mail about the gig. Now, that’s international folk heroism.

Another fine article about Big City Folk and 'aNiallated'.

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:14:00 -0400

“Niall sings a range of finely crafted songs with intelligent lyrics that demand attention – whether for their sharp political comment, philosophical musings or their stories of relationships, won and lost. His voice is instantly recognisable, a real advantage in this world of copycat, almost karaoke performers, and his stage manner direct; self assured yet unassertive. He lets his songs speak for themselves.”

“Recently members of the Big City Folk collective released an album of Niall’s songs as a birthday tribute; such is the respect he has earned on the local music scene. The album “aNiallated” features artists like Warren, Casey Black, E.W.Harris and Don Paris Schlotman (Sky Captains of Industry), and Magic Bones (who are Brandon Wilde and Len Monachello). Bones”. Check it out (and buy) on http://niallconnolly.bandcamp.com/album/aniallated-a-big-city-folk-tribute-to-niall-connolly.

http://sometimeinlongislandcity.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/a-spirit-of-musical-community/#comment-94

Niall Connolly added to Stereoterra Festival in Michigan

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:52:01 -0400

We’ve been invited to perform at the first Stereoterra Festival in Michigan this summer. It runs Aug 16th-19th. We will perform on 19th. Details as we have them.

www.stereoterra.com

VZ Magazine Interview and review

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:49:03 -0400

http://www.vzmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=437:a-big-city-interview-with-niall-connolly-and-the-big-city-folk-collective&Itemid=141

Musical guest at Beauty Love Truth at NYC Improv Fest

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:00:29 -0400

Niall will be tonight’s musical guest at Beauty Love Truth at the People’s Imrov Theatre 123 E 24th St tonight at 10pm.

The Open Mic at Path Cafe will commence as normal with E.W. Harris taking over from Niall at 9pm.

http://beautylovetruthtv.com/wp/

Live from ‘Gealach Gorm Theatre’ Kill,...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:53:03 -0500

Live from ‘Gealach Gorm Theatre’ Kill, Co.Waterford.

Buy 'aNiallated-Big City Folk Tribute' online now

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:50:48 -0500

Big City Folk Tribute album featuring, Chris Mills, Chris Michael, Magic Bones, Colin Campbell, E.W. Harris, Warren Malone, Don Paris Schlotman, Justin Storer, Casey Black, Ryan Morgan, David Rynhart and Diana Jones.

Executive producer: Ryan Morgan

Mastered by E.W. Harris

Artwork by Don Paris Schlotman (based on photograph by Cory Treadway).

www.niallconnolly.bandcamp.com

Casey Black promo for our Caffe Vivaldi gig this Saturday at...

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:15:07 -0500

Casey Black promo for our Caffe Vivaldi gig this Saturday at 9.30pm.

From Warren Malone’s new album ‘And the Ants Ate the...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:36:59 -0500

From Warren Malone’s new album ‘And the Ants Ate the Bee’ for sale now on cdbaby and itunes

http://www.cdbaby.com/all/warrenmalone

Occupy Jones St-Save Caffe Vivaldi Petition

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:05:02 -0400

Please sign this petition and help save one of New York City’s most supportive venues.

http://signon.org/sign/save-caffe-vivaldi

"I'm not that hard to find"

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:31:43 -0400

Four gigs in 24 hours.

Tues 1am- the Red Lion solo

Wed 1.30pm- The Living Room CMJ Showcase Full Band

Wed 7.30pm -Wednesday Night Song Club at Ceol. EW Harris turns 30, the Sky Captains of industry “rock the place to rubble”.

Wed 1am - in the audience for Fred at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1

www.fredtheband.com

Bar 4band gig Brooklyn -Friday 9pm. Caffe Vivaldi Big City Folk in the round Sat 9.45pm

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:15:49 -0400

Both gigs are pass the hat with suggested donation $5 or your house.

Video

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:13:50 -0400

Sum of Our Parts-This video is ridiculous, it has footage from...

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:43:10 -0400

Sum of Our Parts-This video is ridiculous, it has footage from Cork, Prague, New York, Lannion, Clonakilty and Myrtlevillle and about a billion brilliant musicians and poets with whom, i have had the good fortune to share the stage. A prize for anyone who can name the most venues and musicians!

'Songs from a Corner' is Ten. Share a memory. $5 download sale.

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:14:17 -0400

‘Songs from a Corner ’ is ten years old this week.

My debut album is ten years old this week. Released in quieter world a fortnight before the twin towers came down. It was recorded by Ray Barron in Douglas in Cork and Ruairi O’ Flaherty in Killarney, Co. Kerry. ‘Songs from a Corner’ will always remind me of the Lobby Bar and the countless great gigs I had there. Firstly, opening for John Spillane and eventually headlining and filing the place in my own right, three nights in a row at one point… ahh.
It was the album that got me opening slots with Evan Dando, Lambchop, Thin Lizzy amongst others, as well as starting me out on the road, with my first trips to UK, France, Belgium and Holland.

It stars Karl Nesbitt, Emmet Christie, Aisling Fitzpatrick and Justin O’Mahony.

Physical copies are long since sold out but it is available to download and I would like to celebrate its birthday and offer it to you at the birthday price of $5. If you already have it, recommend it to a friend!
www.cdbaby.com/niallconnolly1