Sharon Shannon, Dublin, Ireland
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:31 pm
I realize there are not a lot of people on the board familiar with Sharon Shannon, but for the few that are, or that like the accordion, here's a review of her recent show.
I was heading to Ireland last month to visit relatives when I discovered that Sharon Shannon would be playing in Dublin just a few days after I arrived. The resort hotel where she was appearing was only 2 hours away so myself and four relatives headed there for a holiday weekend.
Shortly after arrival, we were wandering around to find the venue and heard music coming from one of the rooms. Sure enough, Sharon was doing a sound check and we were able to walk in and listen. We thought we might be asked to leave when her and the crew saw us but she just smiled and continued to play.
When the concert began a few hours later, we were at the door early so got five front row center seats. I knew I would enjoy the show but it was much better than I ever imagined. Sharon Shannon has a unique way of playing, be it traditional Irish music or something more contemporary. She also has a very natural, relaxed interaction with the audience. In the past she used to tour with bands of various sizes, but for the past few years, tours with "one-man-band" Alan Connor. (An astounding musician in his own right, at one point he was playing guitar with one hand, keyboards with the other.)
Shannon covered songs from her first album in 1991, up to the most recent. For most of the night she played accordion, but switched to fiddle and tin whistle for a few songs. The big surprises were a rollicking version of Dylan's "I Want You" and Mark Knopfler's "Why Worry", two songs not on any of her previous albums. After the final encore of Steve Earle''s "Galway Girl" (a mega-hit for her in Ireland), she then took some audience requests, before departing the stage.
We stayed behind a few minutes to finish our drinks when looking up, I noticed her handwritten set list lying on the stage floor. I walked up and asked a crew member if I could have it. He said yes, a short chat ensued and after getting my name, he went backstage and had it autographed with a personal message. He then advised that if we wanted to wait around, Sharon might come out later to say hello. It was tempting but we decided not to, the evening had been fun enough as it was. We then all adjourned to the hotel lounge for an evening of 60's classics by a surprisingly good local band.
Following are some videos from the recent tour:.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMnDpB6RzI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZlMiqbuc9I
I was heading to Ireland last month to visit relatives when I discovered that Sharon Shannon would be playing in Dublin just a few days after I arrived. The resort hotel where she was appearing was only 2 hours away so myself and four relatives headed there for a holiday weekend.
Shortly after arrival, we were wandering around to find the venue and heard music coming from one of the rooms. Sure enough, Sharon was doing a sound check and we were able to walk in and listen. We thought we might be asked to leave when her and the crew saw us but she just smiled and continued to play.
When the concert began a few hours later, we were at the door early so got five front row center seats. I knew I would enjoy the show but it was much better than I ever imagined. Sharon Shannon has a unique way of playing, be it traditional Irish music or something more contemporary. She also has a very natural, relaxed interaction with the audience. In the past she used to tour with bands of various sizes, but for the past few years, tours with "one-man-band" Alan Connor. (An astounding musician in his own right, at one point he was playing guitar with one hand, keyboards with the other.)
Shannon covered songs from her first album in 1991, up to the most recent. For most of the night she played accordion, but switched to fiddle and tin whistle for a few songs. The big surprises were a rollicking version of Dylan's "I Want You" and Mark Knopfler's "Why Worry", two songs not on any of her previous albums. After the final encore of Steve Earle''s "Galway Girl" (a mega-hit for her in Ireland), she then took some audience requests, before departing the stage.
We stayed behind a few minutes to finish our drinks when looking up, I noticed her handwritten set list lying on the stage floor. I walked up and asked a crew member if I could have it. He said yes, a short chat ensued and after getting my name, he went backstage and had it autographed with a personal message. He then advised that if we wanted to wait around, Sharon might come out later to say hello. It was tempting but we decided not to, the evening had been fun enough as it was. We then all adjourned to the hotel lounge for an evening of 60's classics by a surprisingly good local band.
Following are some videos from the recent tour:.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMnDpB6RzI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZlMiqbuc9I