Ry Cavanaugh in Ireland, 17-26 Feb. 2012

Thanks to Ry Cavanaugh (USA), former Donegal resident, who sends this release:

With a song on Mary Black's new album and a string of dates with Donegal's Henry Girls, Boston singer/songriter Ry Cavanaugh returns to Ireland for a short 'solo' tour this February.

During the winter of 2010 Ry Cavanaugh was holed-up in a house on the beach in Culdaff, Co. Donegal, writing songs, playing with local musicians, and running a Thursday night session (non-trad) at the local music pub. On one of the Thursdays, Mary Black's band was rehearsing for a tour in the back room. The band all joined the session after rehearsal and as he did every Thursday, Ry closed the night by singing his song 'Lighthouse light'. A year later, the song appeared on a new Mary Black CD, performed as a duet with Janis Ian.

Ry writes and demos songs regularly, but seldom performs on his own. His vibrant band Session Americana keeps the live music part of his life busy, fun, and rewarding. Session Americana plays regularly around his native New England, and has toured Ireland a couple of times, including Galway Arts Festival and Earagail Arts Festival in 2010. But his desire to re-centre some of his musical life in Ireland and reconnect with some of the musicians he worked with in Donegal, and an offer to play the Belfast Nashville Songwriter Festival, have led him to plan a tour on his own this winter.

The timing of the trip coincides with a stretch of dates the Henry Girls were booking, so they asked him to be part of their shows - as co-star, guest, support, collaborator, guitar player, bass player, whatever is needed. Ry is most comfortable in a collaborative musical setting, and even though this was supposed to be a 'solo' tour, wandering around with the Henrys and other friends is a perfect way to share a few of his songs and spend a couple of winter weekends.

17 Feb. Monroe's, Galway, with the Henry Girls
18 Feb. Kenny's Bar, Lahinch, Co. Clare, with the Henry Girls
19 Feb. The Playhouse, Derry city, with the Henry Girls
20 Feb. Roddens Bar, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, with Finbarr Doherty and Seamus Devenny
23 Feb. McGrory's, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
24 Feb. Castlereagh Civic Centre, Belfast: 'In the round' with Eleanor McEvoy and Benita Hill
25 Feb. venue TBD, Belfast, with Ted Ponsonby and Denise Boyle, Doors 1.00 p.m., show 1.30 p.m.
25 Feb. The Glens Arts Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, with the Henry Girls
26 Feb. The Half Moon Theatre at Cork Opera House, with the Henry Girls