Brian Lennon launching debut solo album at Westival

BRIAN Lennon was born into a well-renowned traditional music family, but this month sees the launch of a whole new venture for this Mayo-based Leitrim man, as he launches his debut solo album, A matter of time, at Westival, the Westport arts and music festival.

The launch will take place on Sunday, October 30, at 7 p.m. in Westport Town Hall Theatre.

Born in Limerick in 1961, Brian started violin lessons at the age of four, but then went against the strong family fiddling tradition, concentrating on whistle and then concert flute.

He has featured on many traditional albums, including Ceol Tigh Neachtain while based in Galway, his father Ben’s album The Natural Bridge, his brother Maurice’s highly acclaimed album Brian Boru - High King of Tara, and his uncle Charlie’s Flight from the Hungry Land, a suite for traditional musicians and orchestra which was performed in the UK, USA and Australia.

He was a founding member of Mayo-based traditional group Céide, who recorded two albums and toured extensively in the UK and Europe.

In recent years, he has concentrated more on singing and songwriting. He first developed an interest in choral singing and joined UCG Choir while studying there in the early 1980s. In 1980, he was a founding member of Galway-based chamber choir Cois Cladaigh, and in 2004, whilst living in Mayo, became conductor of Cór Mhaigh Eo.

It was through meeting friends in the choral setting that the seven-piece vocal ensemble Coda was formed. Coda released their first album, Mouthmusic, in 2011 to critical acclaim. This was followed up with a second album, Train of Spirits, in 2017 and featured the first self-penned songs by Lennon.

When asked about his songwriting influences, he says: “My earliest memories recall my father’s albums of Dean Martin, Johnny Cash; then listening to my brother John’s tapes of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Neil Young. Later I listened a lot to James Taylor, Clifford T. Ward, Joe Jackson and Jackson Browne. One album that I was obsessed with was Paul Brady’s Hard Station.”

This led him to songwriting and to his first solo album, A matter of time. The album features 10 newly composed songs by Brian.

A matter of time will be launched by Tony Reidy in Westport Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, October 30, at 7 p.m., as part of Westival. Brian will be joined by a host of special guests including his brother, Maurice Lennon, and Laoise Kelly on harp.

Tickets - €18/€16 - are available from westival.ie.