Siobhán O'Brien Hailing from Limerick, Ireland and has been entertaining audiences with her individual unique voice,and her personal style of songwriting. No newcomer to the entertainment field,Siobhan made her first audio recording atthe tender age of six, with an old sea shanty. Siobhan has roots from four generations inthe music industry. Most notably, she is the niece of Ireland's Sixties music legend, Brendan Bowyer. Her vocal style has been described as "caressing a lyric with sophisticated simplicity. In addition to Bob Dylan inviting her to join him on stage, Siobhan has performed in concert as a guest vocalist with the famed Irish group The Chieftains. She has also appeared in shows supporting such acts as: Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Donovan, Henry Mc Cullough, Maria Mc Kee,Pete Cummins,The Cranberries and many more. Leonard Cohen heard about Siobhán from a friend of his which prompted him to send abook to her called 'Dance Me To The End Of Love'with a Henry Matisse painting on each page, as a gesture of encouragement. Siobhan's new CD 'Songs I grew Up To' includes specialguest appearances by several of Siobhan's musica lfriends including ~ Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains) Pete Cummins(Donovan,Fleadh Cowboys/Nanci Griffith) (Irish music legend) Brendan Bowyer (the Royal Showband) Paul Kelly (Fleadh Cowboys,Sharon Shannon) One of the tracks from the CD 'All My Trials' has been picked up for inclusion ona compilation CD, by British Company 'Matchbox Recordings' . What's next for Siobhan O'Brien? She is constantly performing in Ireland and America. There is always a new song to be written. Siobhan is enjoying the current wave of excitementher new release 'Songs I grew Up To' is bringing to her always expanding career. |
| NOW PLAYING..... "I WONT POLISH UP YOUR ARMOUR written by Siobhan O'Brien & Paul McDonald |
| RADIO SHOW 'FolkScene' Roz Larman~ Host Los Angeles, CA July 2008 Her CD "Songs I Grew Up To" is a must have!! |
FROOTS MAGAZINE REVIEW by John O'Regan June 16, 2008 Siobhán O'Brien's new LP SONGS I GREW UP TO Limerick born Siobhán O'Brien has madea commendable name on the Irish and American folk circuits doing primarily her own material. What lifts her apart from the trillion Vega acolytes is a razor sharp sense of tunnel vision coupled with a compelling stage presence. That is just one side of Ms. O'Brien's output - the other is this project Songs I Grew Up To. Consisting of material common to the American folk revival of the late '50s, 60s and 70s and gleaned from her familial record collections this is homage to Americana from a cosmopolitan Irish viewpoint. In essence it resembles the best elements from a rough cross between an Alan Lomax collection and Bowie's Pin Ups where songs almost considered beyond standards are revitalised. Take All My Trials for example, here rendered as a simple evocative homage to freedom from social oppression, her pure voice recalls Joan Baez but with an extra bittersweet tinge. The Fox known from Burl Ives and schooldays songbooks is reinvigorated with Pete Cummins' Dylan like backing vocals and Paddy Moloney's pipes and whistle light up the Long Black Veil. However while big honchos make guest slots the main game is Siobhán O'Brien's doing - hers is a rich supple voice honed from years of practise and she knows her traditional ballads too offering a delicious resetting of the Lakes of Ponchartrain. Using her characteristic taste and experience SONGS I GREW UP TO offers a role model in how to honour the daunting Americana songbook yet imprint ones own personality on such a project. This is quite a challenging dare and to Ms. O'Brien's credit she pulls it off admirably. The results are powerfully moving and make "Songs I Grew Up To "quite an event in the process. |


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