Mark Geary returns to Bridge of Song
LEGENDARY Irish singer-songwriter Mark Geary returns to Bridge of Song, at Bridge St, Castlebar, on January 17.
Bridge of Song is a high quality monthly showcase for singer-songwriters and all the best in the contemporary folk genre.
It is an intimate, friendly show in a fantastic venue curated by Mayo College of Further Education Music course director Eamonn Mulderrig.
The focus is on the best of local, new, national and established talent. Special guests this month include wonderful Mayo acts Dowhan Music (Ciara O'Donnel and Clara Gardiner), and headline act is the renowned Mark Geary. Limited tickets are available on eventbrite, with doors at 7.45 and the show starting at 8 p.m. on January 17.
Singer-songwriter Mark Geary left Ireland with a one-way ticket to New York and a heart full of hope over 20 years ago. There, in Sin-é cafe, Mark honed his craft and sang alongside the best of them, including the late Jeff Buckley.
Time Out NY said: “His delicate songs about love and defiance recall Richard Thompson and John Lennon.”
With five studio and three live albums, touring and live performances are still Mark's lifeblood.
Geary’s sound is stripped back. He treats his songs with trade-mark Geary honesty. His lyrics slice right through to the core revealing a life laid bare of human emotional frailty, failed relationships, tenderness, hurt, making amends, desire and parting.
Geary has featured on bills with musicians as diverse as Glen Hansard, John Prine, Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, Coldplay and The Frames, amongst others, plus extensive headlining tours in Europe, the US and Switzerland.
He has composed the full score for three films and has many songs featured in films and TV programmes.
The single 'The Forest', released in May 2020, is exquisite. Its quietness is cathartic and evocative.
It set a new path for Geary’s sound and was followed by the single 'Spectre'.
Released in December 2020, it’s beautiful, dark and haunting and features deftly interwoven layers of acoustic guitars.
Mark featured on Irish musicians Side 4 Collective the single ‘Last Roll of the Dice’ in December 2022. Side 4 is the brainchild of drummer Dave Hingerty (The Frames, Kila, Josh Ritter).
During November 2022 Mark completed a sell-out month long residency in Little Whelan’s in Dublin with his band. In December 2023, he had a sold-out show Upstairs in Whelan’s.
There’s a lot more to come from this prolific and talented songsmith. A new single was released in November 2023 called ‘Hollow’, and the third single from Mark’s forthcoming album called 'In The Time Of Locusts’ is due for release early 2024.