Regular readers of Covert Music Club will be well aware of the esteem that this particular blog holds Tipperary singer/songwriter, Seánie Bermingham, in. Coming from a deep musical tradition and background, the former primary school teacher has slowly been building a strong repertoire of songs in the past few years with a string of outstanding singles, such as Call The Coroner and By Lake and Sea, and the beautiful debut EP, That Hollow Moon.
Bermingham has been supplementing his music releases with a series of live shows in recent months as well, and all have been leading up to a headline show last Saturday in Workman’s Cellar in Dublin. It proved to be a night deserving of the songwriter.
Support on the night came from esteemed Dublin singer/songwriter, Lorkin O’Reilly, and it served as the perfect opener for the night. O’Reilly has forged a reputation on the Irish music scene as a creator of considered and sophisticated songs and these were showcased in a touching half hour set to warm up the night.
And then came the main event…
There is something about good songwriting that can elevate the emotions of everyone in the room while listening to them and make them feel as though the songs are telling the stories of the audience, and thus was the case here. From the very first chord, the crowd in attention were rapt to attention for Bermingham and his band. Across an hour and a bit of music, those attendance were brought through every emotion, from nostalgia with Songs in the Kitchen to heartbreak and love in A Song for Nannie (which brought many tears), to everything in between. A special word as well for the band that Bermingham had assembled around him for the night, who helped to elevate the musicianship on show to nonsensically high levels. Comprising of Andrew Smyth (a.k.a. the wonderful, Smythy), Shane O’Connell, Liam Watts, Tadhg Gleeson, and Ciara Clarke, there was a real sense that this was a group of people who knew each other inside out musically, and it resulted in a captivating performance.
This was one of the best nights of music that I have experienced in a long time. There was a lovely feeling in the air throughout as one of the most genuine songwriters on the circuit at the moment got to share their talents with a caring and attentive audience. More nights like this soon please, Seán.
MK
Covert Ceol 