Episode 269: Ciaran Lavery

Aug 06 2016

Northern-Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery makes his Canadian debut at Silence in Guelph on Monday August 15. Ciaran’s been creating lots of buzz for the quality of songwriting and some achingly beautiful songs, especially on his 2013 debut “Not Nearly Dark” and the “Kosher” EP (2014). His new album, “Let Bad In”, is already gaining some great reviews. We also include a special musical tribute to Canadian folk stalwart Penny Lang who sadly passed this week, alongside some of the latest new releases.

Tickets for Ciaran Lavery’s Canadian debut – a solo show at Silence are $20 in advance/ $25 at the door and $12 for students and unwaged and available at Royal Cat Records in Guelph, Forch’s Record Store in Cambridge and online at dollartone.com. Ciaran Lavery will also be opening for Neko Case, k.d. lang and Laura Veirs as Case/Lang/Veirs at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto on Tuesday August 16 and Wednesday August 17. For more information visit ciaranlavery.com.

Montreal born Penny Lang passed away earlier this week. A legend on the Canadian folk and roots scene, Penny Lang built a reputation around her ability to deliver folk standards with a distinctive and passionate bluesy folk style. She also produced a few classic songs of her own, including her most famous song “Ain’t Life Sweet” – which gained film placements, and has been reverentially covered by a few performers including Allison Russell and Awna Teixeira as Po’ Girl on this episode. Penny’s arrival on the folk scene in the 60s was just first act, and beautifully documented on “Gather Honey”, the Borealis Records collection of demos and live and radio performances from 1963-1976. Personal challenges limited recording and live performance in later years, but when she did resurface, the results were always memorable. Check out veteran music journalist Mike Regenstreif’s fabulously comprehensive tribute to Penny Lang on his Folk Roots/Branches blog, and published in the Montreal Gazette.

You can find the full playlist with artist links below. Please share your love for all the great folk and roots music out there. Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us, and thank you for listening. We have a lot of great music to bring you on future shows. I hope you’ll join us! You can listen to this episode again on Mixcloud by following the link below.

Photo credit: Caroline Vandekerckhove

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises (Demo)
Roll Right (expected 2016)

Po’ Girl
Ain’t Life Sweet
Home To You (2007, Nettwerk) CDN

Penny Lang
Senses Of Your Leave
Gather Honey (2001, Borealis Records) CDN

Penny Lang
Diamonds On the Water
Stone+Sand+Sea+Sky (2006, Borealis Records) CDN

Jason Dennie
Runaway Horse
Just Enough (2000, Wooden Pops Records)

Ciaran Lavery
Shame
Not Nearly Dark (2013, Self)

Interview: Ciaran Lavery discussing his music, latest album “Let Bad In” and Canadian debut at Silence in Guelph on Monday August 15.

Ciaran Lavery
Okkervil River
Let Bad In (2016, Believe Recordings)

Ciaran Lavery
Return To Form (Radio Edit)
Let Bad In (2016, Believe Recordings)

Ana Egge & The Sentimentals
Promises To Break
Say That Now (2016, Grace Records/Sentimental Music)

Luther Wright & The Wrongs
Comeover & Jam
Hearts and Lonely Hunters (2016, Self) CDN