Kieran Halpin is the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd November and he is a guest to put in the ‘unmissable’ category. The man who writes great melodies and sings with the passionate, gravelly voice is back.
A career that started in 1974, with 20 plus albums to his name, thousands of gigs played at venues all over the world, a prolific songwriter of great quality – these are the key musical facts about Kieran Halpin. What the facts don’t tell you is his continuing search for new approaches to present his songs nor does it describe the powerful nature of a live Kieran Halpin performance. This unassuming man has an easy stage presence, an incisive wit and connects with his audience so very well.
Kieran plays acoustic guitar, regales the audience with explanations of where each song comes from and links it all together with some very funny asides. His thought-provoking lyrics and memorable melodies can make you think, laugh or cry. Numbers like ‘Nothing to show for it all’, ‘Berlin Calling’, Closing time in Paradise’ are some of his songs that come to mind.
Kieran Halpin has played on a number of occasions at the Irvine Club. He is invited back because he is such a gifted writer and performer. Kieran is also one of the hardest working artists with upwards of 160 gigs each year. In September he was touring in New Zealand and South Australia then in October it was Germany and now he is back in the UK. Yet with all the travelling his busy touring schedule entails, Kieran still finds time to write songs. His recent CD, Doll, released this year, has eleven new self-penned songs on it.
If you are a fan of lyrics, it would be a mistake to miss Kieran Halpin at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd November. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.