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JOHN SPILLANE

Whelanslive.com presents

JOHN SPILLANE

+ guests

Twice winner of the meteor award in the best folk/trad category, John Spillane has toured the country and the world spreading joy with a mix of melodic tunes, entertaining stories and poetic lyrics. Described as ‘one of the truest Irish voices of his generation’ by Irish music magazine, Spillane truly embodies the Celtic spirit. 

Spillane is also a dedicated & fierce champion of the Irish language as demonstrated by his double platinum selling Irish Songs We Learned At School in 2008 followed in 2009 by the logically titled More Songs We Learned At School featuring such music luminaries as Christy Moor and Séan Ó Sé.

What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference. Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop – that’s fine with John. He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes.

John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

The only thing that’s for sure is that whether from the emotive tunes with which he whisks you on a journey or his dynamic playful Cork wit, at the end of a John Spillane show there won’t be a dry eye in the house…

Nominated for “Cork Man of the Year”John also was awarded the Irish Music Association (USA) “Top Solo Performer in Concert” award 2009

“ … funny, quirky, massively entertaining. John is a story teller, a shanachie.” Dan Regan, Founder, Kansas City Irish Festival.

“One of the great songwriters to emerge in the last 10 years is John Spillane”- Christy Moore “Other Voices” Feb ‘09

“… some of the most skillfully crafted, vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland over the past dozen years.” – Earle Hitchner, premier writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal.

Why isn’t John Spillane a major star? [John] writes catchy, heartfelt folk-pop songs with the bonus of actually meaning something.” – The Sunday Business Post

TICKETS

€15 available online from WAV Tickets [Lo-Call 1890 200 078] (50c per ticket service charge applies on phone or creditcard bookings from WaV).

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Indie DJ from 11pm til late or you might even catch the end of Jaime Nanci and the Blue Boys in the front bar (9pm, Free).