Wow, what a whirlwind the past year has been! It’s been a time of serious challenges and growth, both personally and professionally. I'm thrilled to share that I’m now 4 stone lighter, and I’ve found a sense of happiness and fulfillment in my work that I hadn’t felt in a long time. But it hasn’t been without its hurdles.

Performing and recording in today’s music scene—where many original artists are just scraping by—has been tough, to say the least. Some of you might have caught me live recently and noticed I’ve been playing fewer original songs. Honestly, it’s because staying inspired and finding the right spark in such a turbulent environment has been hard. But I'm working on it, and I promise I’ll get back to my roots soon.

To give you some context, my album and documentary project Welcome to Ballsgrove—despite a successful launch and receiving some much-needed funding—was an intense and costly experience. It took a lot out of me, both financially and personally. I was hesitant to apply for funding in the first place because I firmly believe artists should fully commit to their projects before seeking external support. But without that help, the project might never have seen the light of day.

After that, I put out the EP The Charcoal Dawn Sessions on a shoestring budget, featuring some stripped-down songs that didn’t need full arrangements. It was a simpler project, but even so, I had to take a financial hit to get it out there.

Looking ahead, I’m saving up to dive into a new Americana/Country project called Sometimes a Feeling is the Truth, which I plan to start late next year. And that’s not all! I’ve got THREE albums worth of material ready to go: another folk album called The Tortoise and the Hare, the Americana project, and a sean-nós project called City of Churches.

I’m setting up a home recording studio this winter, so I can start bringing these songs to life. Once the time comes, we’ll hit the ground running and get these albums out into the world. Thanks for sticking with me on this journey—I’m excited for what’s next, and I hope you are too! Ancora Imparo!! ✨🎶

Isn't it amazing how we can't see the change of all the seasons in one day? All these gradual things are generally more obvious when you return to them after being away. Thats why the old saying is true, "a break is as good as a rest ".

The last two blog posts I put up have been pretty much where I have shifted my focus to. I'm trying to cleanse myself of any tardiness or laziness I might have had in order to become much more productive. Some of our favourite Artists on our playlists have this needy restlessness that drives them to your ears from thousands of miles away. I'm looking for a slice of that work ethic by keeping busy with the right things whilst keeping the old John Wooden phrase in mind "never mistake activity for achievement".  And its not all about music either its about being a bit more useful person, yano? 

You might have seen I'm a featured Artist at this years Irish Folk Expo in Dundalk. I was there last year and it was a real learning curve to see so many people at the same stage as I am - doing the same things. Maybe thats where I'll start gigging again and looking around for decent opportunities. At the very least I will enjoy the company of other Artists for a few days and take in alot of performances.

"Showing Roots" will be in Dundalk, Ireland from 15th to 21st January 2024. 

Most of us have this little window. It's a time in our lives when we can literally do anything. As we get older the window can change. All these little things get bigger. 

You get a good job?
Window gets a little smaller if you never wanna leave. Golden handcuffs?

Beautiful children? 
A beautiful window opens whilst another one shrinks as you accept responsibility. 

Lots of money? 
Maybe you can "au pair" your responsibilities away and both windows stay open for both partners.  Or perhaps you can give up the day job!

Forgiving partner who shares your dreams? 
Maybe you can Love someone even more as they take the heavier load in family life for you. 

You got time? 
Maybe your parents are elderly or you have a disabled family member. Time, above all, is the most precious thing we have. Everybodies window gets smaller with time. 

I talk about all this stuff because I'm not sure what windows are open where at the moment for a myriad of reasons. Every time I think about the next thing to do I'm really muddled in my thoughts, theres a fog over me. The only thing I know I can do is just play the songs, do the gigs and meet the people. The social media thing has become a bit too much effort for me to really put the foot down at. I think its because I can feel a change coming in how we use all these mediums and building a following that can't be found anywhere else outside of an APP feels so futile. 

Anyway, if your window is open just go for it. Don't care about the No's and the Maybe's... just go for it!!
​

There is a quality you can see in every successful person. And the quality is relentless drive. In music, at times, I just don't know how people keep the drive going. After two years of promoting Welcome to Ballsgrove I am not ashamed to say that I'm now spent and I just want to go out gigging and remember why I do it!

A case in point was a wonderful gig in Belfast last Friday in Sunflower Folk Club. Myself and SJ Mcardle travelled up the motorway with a bit of trepidation but there was no need as we were treated to a wonderful audience in a wonderful venue. I digress. 

Back to this relentless drive thing. So I contacted several Booking Agents in Ireland all of whom say they have no room in their rosters. Charming. Somehow though it feels like I'm a handful of advocates away from the phone ringing. Nothing to do with music, only friends and vouching. Same for any decent PR with a proven track record in the genre... No space in the roster. Thats not to say I think its all about contacts because I know it isn't. It's about always looking as if you have something happening and its very difficult without that relentless drive you see in top indie musicians. 

So apart from music, I occasionally want to share the ugly side of self promotion. Like hundreds of other musicians, I'm in a crowded place where a bit of luck and a hint of hustle or a young and hungry representative can change things forever. Its not a case of "if I can just get this" or "if i could find out how to do this" its more important to simply be busy. And at the moment I am out of steam from a long Album campaign. 

If you are reading and wondering why I decide to moan about this then I should say I like to write things down in order to map my mind on a matter. It helps. If you all don't hear from me for a while you will know why. 

​Seán 

With the Fleadh now opened in Mullingar this week, I must say - never underestimate your environment! When I say that I mean, what do we really like? Isn't it more likely that we get into something because we are surrounded by it and grow a liking to it? In my case, rekindle a love for it. This is what happened for me when the Fleadh Cheoil came to Drogheda. Something about going to the Singers Club there made me realise that you can perform a song in any way you desire. And therein is a joy of not feeling like a parrot when a song makes its way into your repertoire. Once I had decided to join the Drogheda Singers, the bug was back. The Fleadh Cheoil can safely put me under the wing of its legacy in Drogheda. 

Throughout the whole time I was inactive from 2014 - 2018, I was always writing songs, working the muscle! For the 2019 Fleadh I had decided to stop playing GAA to concentrate on making an Album to launch there. The first group of songs were a group of songs about the Boyne. Songs like "The coming of Connla", "The Guard at Mornington Tower", "Hell than Drogheda" and "Beautiful Boann" were on the list in December 2018. Then another group of songs came along when I began to use DADGAD tuning. In February 2019, I bought a 12 string guitar. With the exception of Beautiful Boann, this is when Dreaming is Allowed came to be written. 

Convincing Breifne Holohan to take on a project for the Fleadh wasn't straightforward. First, I had measured up recording with people I had recorded with before. But none of those people had recorded a Folk Album or had a liking for the Genre. Then a chance meeting with Breifne happened at a mutual friends Birthday and I convinced Breifne to listen to the material I had written. Soon after we were hand picking the songs. Then we chose to record in Millmount because I lived practically next door to it and the acoustics were astounding in it. 

The Old Drogheda Society run the whole Millmount complex in Drogheda. They are a Historical Society who are much in favour of the arts. They were delighted to allow us to record in Millmount. We began recording in April 2019. Dreaming is Allowed was recorded in three sessions in Millmount and most of the Guitar / Vocals were done live in a few takes. The Album comes out that way and for the purpose of grabbing a natural snapshot of that time, I am still thrilled with it. 

In the months that followed the launch of Dreaming is Allowed there was a wider acceptance of it that couldn't have been any more humbling. Creatively, it sparked off a flurry of energy that has not faded up to now. Sometimes getting something out and the fear that comes with it is a demon you need to dance with. Yes, Dreaming is Allowed isn't slick. Yes, Dreaming is Allowed fires a quick jab with the Commuter Song. Yes, Dreaming is Allowed isn't a polished gem. Only, I am living with it because it was much better than Carte Blanche, a bit better than a series of youtube videos and a lot better than sitting on songs for years without ever believing in myself. Go an listen to it for yourself. Listen for the reverberation of the Tower, the rawness in the phrasing and lyrics, the jangle of the 12 string! For it will soon be followed up with something lightyears more calculated in "Welcome to Ballsgrove" (out on 27th August ! ) .  

​Seán 

Friends, there is a risk of appearing unprofessional in speaking about this. But I really must. My youtube channel has been Hijacked! An English DJ who shares my name, who is too small to have his socials managed, has decided to ignore my messages and the fact that his published music is being tagged on my youtube channel. Youtube have an Artist separation request from me for a long time. No joy yet!

Reasons I am not a D J ! 

- I don't own a set of decks 
- I dont know the difference between trance and dance 

Several things explain how this happened. The first is that in the sub genres of Trance music there are a lot of Labels who handle the publishing side of things for Artists. These Labels can have hundreds of Artists on their rosters and they have a very robust system of maximising reach on multiple platforms. So it is difficult for even the Artist to get things like this sorted - which is understandeable. But hey,  the Artists still get plenty of plays!! 

So firstly along the lines of my last blog post, if you have the opportunity to let people know I'm not a DJ and the whole "Label" thing please do! 

And secondly, please keep your eyes peeled the next few days - something nice coming! 

For some artists it is easy to be involved in the art of self promotion. For others there is always a level of discomfort when it comes to it. For myself I tend to like the idea of everything happening organically - but the thing is - it doesn't!

If I had a euro for every band who has a member starting sentences with "she's well in there with", "he has a contact in", "if we could all pay for X". What I have learned is that although there is alot of turn key knowledge, ease of access and privilege for some Music Artists in Ireland, if they don't put the work in they stay at the level they were dropped at. 

The shameless self promotion cap is a strange cap to wear. I'm about to release my second album"Welcome to Ballsgrove", a concept Album made from the point of view as if I never left my childhood neighbourhood. Something I worry about is how people will view that lens. Only, at this point, I have to focus a little bit less energy on that because I'm not fuppin Mystic Meg, you know?! It is what it is now! 

However I can say with absolute certainty that if I don't work hard making sure everybody in my network can find the Album and listen to it then it WILL be a bumbling failure. And with that in mind every little thing you do - from reading this to sharing the next few weeks with me - is going to count. 

​The lights coming .... :) 

Something special happened in Drogheda on St Patricks Day this year. Drogheda Festivals Committee organised a St Patricks Day parade that resurrected the experience people had when they went to the Parade years ago. During the Drogheda Fleadh in 2018 I got to talk to a well known Sean-nós singer from Wexford who said "My God didn't Drogheda hide West Street well. It is by far the finest promenade I have ever seen and I have been at every Fleadh since 1956". Did they hide it again? No they didn't! West Street shone again thanks to the Drogheda Festivals committee.

With every committee in every area in the world there is always a time for turnover, renewal and for new ideas. And for every committee there is always a time when things are really ticking over nicely, like how St Nicholas GAA club took on innovative fund raising during the pandemic. St Patricks Day was a signal from a group of people showing they are ready to dedicate themselves to enriching their hometown. I've said it in many blog posts before, no matter where you are - Culture is your greatest currency. 

I was honoured that "Days of our Prime" from my debut Album, "Dreaming is Allowed" featured on the highlights video for the parade. You can see the video from the link below: