Live by the Liffey: Kieran Goss

Kieran Goss has long been hailed as one of Ireland's leading songwriters and performers, writes Ray Kelly. Over the last 20 years he has quietly and consistently delivered songs of rare quality and his wonderful, deceptively simple melodies have won him fans across the globe. But while his albums have made him a star, his live shows have made him a legend; live on stage is where Kieran Goss truly shines.

This has been a busy year for Kieran Goss with tours in Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Canada and the UK. And because his increasing commitments abroad mean that he’s spending less and less time at home in Ireland, Kieran is particularly looking forward to his forthcoming ‘Live and Solo’ tour on home turf.

“This year has been really hectic, but I’m excited about the opportunities that are being offered to me, particularly in the States and Canada. It looks like we'll be spending a lot of time there next year as well, but you know, I’m always glad to get home again. I love touring in Ireland and it's been a long time since I've toured solo, so I'm planning on playing a few of the old songs that I don't get a chance to do with the trio when we're on tour abroad and also some new stuff I’ve been writing for the next album”.

Anyone who saw Kieran on his last sold out tour in Ireland two years ago will testify that his show is an evening of great songs sung from the heart and more. It's an unforgettable and uplifting night out. See Kieran play in an intimate setting, in Kilcullen, Live by the Liffey on Friday November 26. Tickets available from Ray Kelly 0872636375 or Bernard Berneys Chemist, Kilcullen - Adm €20.

Live by The Liffey on the web

Ray Kelly's music project, which he started only last September but has been 'thinking about' for years, now has its own website.

The site provides information about upcoming gigs, and a gallery of past ones, the latest of which was Luka Bloom's super night on Friday.

The next gig features Ger Wolfe, on 19 March. We'll keep you posted.

Ellie and Kevin wow at 'Liffey' gig

Everybody was expecting to enjoy Luka Bloom's performance on Friday night, but what really blew them all away was the opening act from Ellie McMahon and Kevin McMahon.



Both are students at CPC but not related to each other. Ellie, daughter of Marie Claire McMahon who runs the Stagecoach music and drama school, has been singing for several years at CPC. Kevin is in Transition Year, and took up guitar a couple of years ago.

As 'Life by The Liffey' organiser Ray Kelly revealed before the show started, the pair had just begun rehearsing together the week before.

But they came through with a set in their 'warm up' that brought sustained applause when it finished.

Ellie showed a poise on stage, and a control of voice that belied her young years, and a promise of serious musical ability if she ever wants to take that road.

Kevin, along with guitar, is into songwriting and gave us a rendition of one of his compositions. It sounded good, though he said later that he hadn't yet sorted out the lyrics properly.



Ray Kelly says he plans to provide similar spots for local talent as part of the 'Live by The Liffey' series.

Luka coming Live by the Liffey

Luka Bloom is one of our own, a local lad from Newbridge who became a global minstrel, bringing his music and his thoughts on life to the world outside his home town, outside his home county, and outside his home country. He's coming to sing in the Town Hall Theatre next week, Friday 26th, for the latest gig in the Live By The Liffey series organised by Ray Kelly.

His mother many times tried to make your editor drink buttermilk as the price of playing after school with Luka's elder brother, but we don't hold that against any of the Moore family. Besides, the plant outside their kitchen door that actually suffered the stuff is long expired. This week, Luka shared his thoughts about just where he is in his own life at the moment. It seems a good place.

It's my first time to play in Kilcullen since I played Pat Keane's back room around 1980. I have changed. We all change. And when somebody says it to you, the answer should be 'Oh, thank you'.

To be honest about it, I think I'm a happier person. I hope I'm a bit more relaxed. And I'd like to think that I'm a little bit better at my job, too.

It's the kind of business in which you're always serving your time. It's a constant journey, you're always exploring and pushing out the boundaries. Sometimes you make good records, and sometimes they're not great. I never seek out a comfort zone, I'm always looking for ways to challenge myself. So that I'll be fresh, and that's what keeps me young.

The current challenge is just the same as it always was, to write a good song. That's really what it's all about, you always come back to the song. Obviously you look forward to the gigs, and I'm really looking forward to Kilcullen, but it's always about the songs, because the songs determine the gig. The song is the raw material for every gig and every record.

I'm about to launch an album to celebrate 20 years of making records as Luka Bloom, and I'm really quite thrilled about it because I recorded it in my home in Blacktrench. Once that's out I'll be hitting the road.

The focus of my inspiration has most definitely changed. When I was younger there was a lot of introspection involved, with the weight of the world sitting firmly on my shoulders. A lot of the songs that I wrote would have involved tragedy, not a lot of optimism. But over recent years I have consciously opened out, to try and write songs that reflect the nature of my life now as an optimistic person, a very hopeful person.

I haven't been writing at all for the last 18 months. I do this every now and then. After I wrote the 11 songs for my latest album I made a conscious decision to stop. I think it's very important for someone like myself to stop writing for a period of time. I like the feeling of stopping and just celebrating the songs that are already there. At a certain time my life will have shifted a bit and I go back to writing again and feel like a newcomer to it. And that's where I'm at right now, starting a whole new cycle of writing, and I'm determined that I won't do another record for at least two years.

I want to explore again what's out there, and what's within myself. The first song I've written in this cycle was a simple one last week, based on a day I spent with my entire family, including my cousins from England who came over to visit my Uncle Jimmy's grave in Meath. It was the very first time seeing his grave, and I just wrote a very simple song about the dream-like experience we all had there.

I don't know if I'll ever record this song, it might be one I'll just keep for my family. For every 10 songs I write that end up on a record, there are 10 or 15 more that are set aside. Maybe because they're too personal, or because I don't want to put them out in the public domain.

I'd like to think that I have both my old audience and new people. When I go to places like Holland or Australia I meet these young boys and girls who tell me that they grew up listening to their parents playing Luka Bloom. I suppose it's one of the joys of getting a little bit older that you come across a second generation who are coming to hear you live for the first time. But I suppose, in truth, most of my audience are ageing along with me as well.

Tickets for the Luka Bloom gig are available at Bernard Berney's Chemists.

Brian Byrne.