Giggidy Giggidy...

Hey y'all

Just a quick update on a few upcoming shows I have in the next few weeks

Real excited to play alongside the super talented Aaron Shanley and on the same bill as Ben Glover.  I've been a big fan of Ben's for a few years now so it's going to be a real treat to finally get sharing the stage with him at the Listening Post, Coleraine (probably my favourite place in the world - apart from my home) every time I get to play up there it's like meeting up with childhood friends.

A week later I'm playing as part of a Public Sector Records extravaganza - another personal class night for me, getting to finally play alongside and watch the mighty Pat Dam Smyth and Malojian....we're all going to be loaded with a backing band this should be a really good night, looking forward to the hometown banter

Another show just confirmed today is the launch of Cedric Has A Name's brand spanking new EP.  This is going to be a super cool night as its in Catalyst Arts (a new venue for me) and Best Boy Grip will also be performing and I'm a big fan of both these lads sounds.

Hopefully see y'all sometime down the line
Til then..
xo
C

Public Sector Records

Dead excited and totally psyched to be attached to great new label Public Sector Records, joining the serious amount of talent that already have a home at PS Records including Malojian, Pat Dam Smyth and John McGurgan to name a few...if you don't believe me read what the people of AU Magazine had to say in a recent interview with the Public Sector Brainchild of Barrett Lahey and Stevie Scullion (of Malojian) Page 16

http://issuu.com/iheartau/docs/au80-online?mode=window&backgroundColor#222222

Multiplied my excitement with the chance to work with producer Barrett Lahey and members of the enigmatic 'Glue' session players on some brand new material, with a look toward a summer release :):):):) 

Here's all the info you need on Public Sector Records, including the roster and what all the fuss is about

http://public-sector-records.com/

x

C

Draperstown, Review

Here's the extra cool review from the good people at Alternative Ulster from the weekend's musical goodness in The Cellar Bar, Draperstown

http://iheartau.com/2012/02/dead-wing-weekender-pocket-billiards-in-case-of-fire-and-more/

 Captain Kennedy vocalist Ciaran Lavery delivers a first-rate acoustic performance in the Front Bar. With an instantly ineffable quality that can’t be readily reduced to comparison, tracks such as ‘Til’ You’re Leaving’ – written about a lovely girl from Draperstown – and a beautifully-worked cover of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ sees harmonic shifts and delicately distinctive vocals expose unmistakable originality. Lavery is, by some distance, the most accomplished acoustic performer over both days.

Draperstown

Here's a short illustrative piece from the wonderful peeps at AU Magazine on next weekend's weekend in The Cellar Bar, Draperstown 17th Feb

http://iheartau.com/2012/02/in-case-of-fire-pocket-billiards-and-more/

C

2012

It's been a quiet few weeks of 2k12..but things are about to pick up double quick time i tells ye!!  After a great end of 2011 with an Irish Tour alongside Aaron Shanley, this years gigs kick off with an appearance at the Lagan Sessions on February 5th.

In the last week I was added to the impressive roster at Public Sector Records..which you can see in full at the site www.public-sector-records.com.  It's class to be sitting alongside other great artists like Malojian and Pat Dam Smyth

It's going to be great to get back on to the stage again after almost two months away, and with some other plans in place for the next few months, including some more live shows around the country and elsewhere, here's hoping this year to be a busy one..

All plans will be unveiled in the next few weeks

:)

Aaron Shanley VS Ciaran Lavery - Tour Day 5 (Junkies)

Our short trip between Dundalk and Dublin was beautiful and pretty to say the least.  We drove to Howth to park the car – the most gorgeous place we’ve probably ever seen.  After hanging around and looking at the boats for a while we took the train into Dublin to get on with it.

We left our shit inside and went out onto the street for a smoke where we watched three junkies doing their thing…two dudes and one girl with chlamydia lips and stitches in their faces.  They approached us and tried to sell us crack…we said we were quite alright and then the girl stole my cigarette out of my mouth.  We lived to tell the tale.

Anyway.  Rua Unplugged upstairs in Anseo was awesome.  A lovely little room.  Niall McGarty and Leanne Harte (with Bob) were amazing.  Such stunning tunes.

We played 100% unplugged which was a real trip & Ciaran busted out his beautiful sweet cover of ‘We Found Love’ (which for the record is the best version ever).  Such a fun night!

A&C x

Aaron Shanley VS Ciaran Lavery - Tour Day 4 (Man & Dog)

Monday morning took us on the curious journey to Dundalk..mostly curious due to my strange knack for getting lost on any road/journey.  After surviving the trip we planned on sourcing out somewhere to rest our travelling bones for the afternoon - many Bukowski discussions later we found ourselves in the Spirit Store ready and primed for the gig.

We were lucky to have RunawayGo for company on stage on the night and the little setting was perfect for their two-part haunting harmonies.  Big thanks to the lads/gal for the scarily good set and banter!

Once again, the whole night was style, and another big thanks to the local bartender for his patience to let us play long into the night...and the local pizzeria for providing us with a first class night-cap that kept us in good stead for our early journey to Dublin the next morn..

A & C

29th November - Rua Unplugged, Dublin

1st December - The Woodville, Lurgan

2nd December - Listening Post, Coleraine

Aaron Shanley VS Ciaran Lavery - Tour Day 2 (Bridget)

Our second night on the road took us to Saintfield, and more namely Saints cafe on Saturday 26th November.  The venue was perfect and small and full of more than pleasant folk to share our songs with. Fountains Fall opened the show for us in a great way (thanks lads) and after stuffing our faces with some otherworldly foods we played a rousing two hour set, belly's full.  We even got to premiere our rendition of Blue Christmas (that we worked out an hour previous in Maghera)...tiz the season I suppose! The higlight of our night was getting to listen to the razor-sharp poetry of Andrew Gibson - funny as hell and educational, the perfect mix. All in all it was a style evening, with some more new friends (Andrew, get that script to the big screen!!!)..we must thank Saints for their bad ass service, hopefully we will be back again sometime soon..until then...

A & C

27th November - Love & Death Inc, Belfast

28th November - Spirit Store, Dundalk

29th November - Rua Unplugged, Dublin

1st December - The Woodville, Lurgan

2nd December - Listening Post, Coleraine

Aaron Shanley vs Ciaran Lavery - Tour Day 1 (GhostBusters)

We kickstarted our acoustic tour in the city of culture, Derry, at Cafe Del Mondo last night.  The gig setting was a whole bowl of awesome, in an old thatched cottage full of burning candles and incense, that totally blew us away on arrival.  We decided at soundcheck to perform the gig in true battle style, both on stage, trading songs and stories to a super patient and respectful audience.  The whole atmosphere allowed us to be completely comfortable and open, trying brand new songs never played live before or recorded previous, culmonating in a close to two hour set.  It was a real blast for sure, that wouldn't have been possible without the people who came out and the girls at the cafe (big thanks!)
ps. after the gig we also had to chase some ghosts from the venue - cheap asses never even bought a cd!

Tonight we take to Saints cafe in Saintfield, armed to the teeth with plenty of good spirits and one or two tricks up our sleeves.  We hope to see y'all down there, it's gonna be another great night!

C & A

Tour Shows:
26th November - Saints Cafe, Saintfield
27th November - Love & Death Inc, Belfast
28th November - Spirit Store, Dundalk
29th November - Rua Unplugged, Dublin
1st December - The Woodville, Lurgan
2nd December - Listening Post, Coleraine

Aaron Shanley VS Ciaran Lavery

Two warriors-bound together by one ultimate vision:
...To make really really sad music..
Armed with an acoustic guitar apiece, a full-on assault is currently booked in the following venues on such dates;

25th November - Cafe Del Mondo, Derry

27th November - Love & Death Inc, Belfast

28th November - Spirit Store, Dundalk

29th November - Rua Unplugged, Dublin

2nd December - Listening Post, Coleraine

More dates to be added in the near future

So, Goodnight - Video Premiere

Here it is folks, the official video for 'So, Goodnight' taken from the EP 'To The Maker of Things' shot by the ever talented Paul McParland of mojofilms.net

We shot at two different locations, (Not-so)Funderland and at a house that's been in Paul's family for years.  Though it was perfect for a Blair Witch type/Ghost hunter style video we decided to go with what we both agreed as truer to the song (some day...ill get that proton-pack back on again - sigh)

Anyway, hope y'all enjoy
Remember you can download this song along with the whole EP at iTunes

Music Junkie Review

Here's a really cool review for 'To The Maker of Things' by the good people at Music Junkie

http://musicjunkie-uk.tumblr.com/post/11879115183/ciaran-lavery-to-the-maker-of-things-ep

C

To The Maker of Things Review - David Roy, Irish News

To The Maker of Things is a four-track EP credited to Ciaran Lavery and The Bad Hearts. Rather than the full-on arrangements that will be familiar to fans of Captain Kennedy's material, these songs are more stripped down, whimsical affairs on which Ciaran's smooth, husky vocals take centre stage. In particular the late night lament 'Til Your Leaving' jumps right out with just a lazily strummed acoustic and the raw emotion of Lavery's voice carrying the tune with ease.

There's a smidgen more instrumentation employed elsewhere (piano, mandolin, banjo, box drums) but in general the low-key 'sitting on the porch with a bottle of whiskey and memories of the way we were' vibe cuts through loud and clear - or rather, quiet and clear.

He's in full-on heartache mode throughout the EP, with the gentle, sad country pop ballad Needle and Thread telling a tale of broken promises and cut-off heads.

Soft and gentle finale So, Goodnight enjoys the benefit of breathy female backing vocals to set the mood, also employed to great effect in beefing up the melancholic melodies on opener I Lost.

Its all great, saccharine-free stuff that should be enough to guarantee Ciaran Lavery and indeed The Bad Hearts a residency at any decent dive bar. They'll have the punters crying into their beers even as they scrape together enough shrapnel to buy a CD and a carry-out for after hours listening.

Big List Review - 0ctober 2011

Ciaran Lavery & The Bad Hearts: To The Maker Of Things........4 Stars

Solemn and heartfelt, the opening two tracks of this four song EP thoroughly showcase the Ben Ottewell flavours Ciaran's rasp that first drew attention his way. During his days with Captain Kennedy, Ciaran's voice was always a force of nature but here he explores Tom Waits tones and phrasing, fitting the more laid back direction of The Bad Hearts especially in the too short Til You're Leaving. Ciaran's new outfit give classy support, with some restrained banjo and sweet backing vocals from Edelle McMahon. I found myself waiting for some of the tracks to take off and move towards a crescendo, which nearly happens during Needle & Thread, but even though Ciaran's voice is at its most impressive when pushed and full-bodied, I suppose it's too his credit that he's prepared to leave that in the bank occasionally.

Moving With The Times

Just a short message to let everyone know that indeed the times have caught up with us, long gone are the days of hard copies of albums/e.p's being the norm...although I am deeply sad at this fact, such is the day and age that even Bob Dylan is moving with the times...
To The Maker of Things gets its official release to the world wide web via iTunes (with a really bad ass parental advisory sticker) follow the link....

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/to-the-maker-of-things-ep/id473851535

The e.p also got its very first review from the very god people at The Big List, free entertainment mag kicking around Belfast and nearby.  To read this 4 Star review (awesome) you can do so at the above blog entry :)

In closing, November is starting to shape up like a busy month, with some new gigs announced and some more on the way hopefully I will get to meet some new happy faces along the way

C

To The Maker Of Things...

With the iminent release of "To The Maker of Things" the second e.p I thought it I would give everyone a heads up!! some songs are available now for listening pleasure's on soundlcloud, facebook and twitter pages...Also, to celebrate the release, a video by Paul McParland of Mojofilms.net (independent movie maker and all round genius of sorts) has been completed and currently screening across the world wide web...with all assorted links below, what more could you peeps want from a Saturday afternoon.....

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciaran-Lavery/117540161661939

much love

C

zzzzzzzzz

There you are
standing defnite and real;
definitely real.
And I, like clouds come rolling
without thought or sanity I have made my way here
because I knew you waited,
I know by your stance you waited
and by your eyes you're content I am here.
Now,
where shall you take me?

C

Festivals

I was one of a lucky bunch who got to play the Forfey Festival today alongside my fellow Captain Kennedy's/Kennedetes and I must admit, it was one of those rare occasions where you feel that you're part of somethin very special that's goin' on.  Personally, I'm not a festival go-er.  Maybe it's watching the Woodstock dvd one two many times, but I've always had that fear that I would just be bitterly disappointed at what should be a gargantuin musical explosion but instead leaves me feeling cold with a runny nose and a bad bad hangover.  Today, however, my faith was restored.  From the old shacks and haysheds to the super snug acoustic area (where everyone was compelled to take the shoes off) I looked around and thought 'now this is a festival I could get used to.'  It was just at the right pace for a recently turned quarter of a century old man as myself (puff puff) and what I thought was impossible was realised in that, dare I say it, it was intimate.  It was like being invited to a big family reunion....i like!!!!

I will sleep well tonight knowing that you're never too old to be converted to festival livin and with my second E.P iminant and a return to the studio in the very near future, I have that to look forward to...til then I will be sure to keep tossin my thoughts out into the ether

C

Tampere

standing in a record store in Tampere, Finland called Swamp Music and I'm thinking about Bob Geldof and what he did in his teens, thinking about what Bob Dylan thinks about when no-one is around.  I was thinking about Shane McGowan and all his crazy nights, about Joy Division and if love will really tear us apart, about James Joyce and how much he missed home and what exactly Luke Kelly said before he died.  I'm thinking about Justin Vernon and how if he knew For Emma, Forever Ago would have had such a major effect on today's music, about Captain Beefheart and what he really thought of Tom Waits, about Eddy Vedder and his favourite album of all time, and what Liam Clancy would put on his ipod at a house party if he was around now.  I am thinking about Bukowski and the love of his life, of Charles Dickens' least favourite person, of Charlie Chaplin and what his voice sounded like and of Staurt Bailie and what his first record he ever bought was.  I 'm thinking of Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, I'm thinking of Pintandwefal and how they're going to be the next big thing, of my friends and people who were my friends but I don't see anymore....everything is good, I think I will buy something here, maybe some Pixies

ps. nice live review from across the line from last weeks show in Belfast

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific410384.shtml

C

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH Part One

So last weeks shows were a real treat, if anything surprisingly better than I thought they would be (I missed my Badhearts)..but I made it through with few scrapes and bruises and even learned a thing or two.  Acoustic shows are different and hard to know what to expect, so I did what any sane person would do in the situation and expected nothin, it was a WIN WIN scenario.  This is indeed my first expedition into the big bad world of hussly bussly coffee shops/cafes/cafe shops/other but ive been a long term admirer of that setting, so getting a microphone in my face and guitar in my lap was class. The Black Box Green Room gig was as nice as pie, as was the gig in Palomo. I'd like to thank anyone who came to see me, or stayed to watch, or stayed just that bit longer, or inedvertantly were part of the audience, or hated the whole experience, it takes all sorts in this crazy..crazy..crazy..crazy..nights............i mean, world.

I'm making a concsious decision to try to be updateable with the blog (and also to learn the spelling of the word 'concsious').  For some reason ive always been attracted to the mysterious side of communications, for years my mobile used to get me bogged down, and it STILL remains on silent. Whether its the thrill of a missed call or surprise text, or my general beef with ringtones, ill never know...

There is no other song to some up the past week of gigs than this....fight the good fight my friends

C