ELEANOR MCEVOY ANNOUNCES IRISH ‘NAKED’ TOUR DATES FOR 2017

“One of the few artists who can do no wrong whatsoever.” – BBC Radio 2

Ireland’s internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy continues her ‘Naked… Live’ tour of Ireland with tour dates in March & April.

Best known for her songs ‘Sophie’ and the Irish standard ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’, which this year celebrates its 25^th anniversary, Eleanor’s tour starts on 4^th March in Antrim and ends 1^st April in Bray, Co Wicklow.

Eleanor’s latest run of dates continues the support for her most recent album, 2016’s critically acclaimed ‘Naked Music’. The concept behind the album was “studio-performing”, with Eleanor performing hers and others’ songs as she might at her solo shows.

The recordings led to collaboration with famed British artist Chris Gollon after Eleanor purchased one of his paintings. The subsequent meeting and conversations with the artist led to the title Naked Music. With this focus, four canvasses were painted for the album artwork, then the tour de force ‘Naked Music – The Exhibition’ in Gallery Different in Fitzrovia, London.

The opening night was a special concert by Eleanor, playing ‘Naked… Live’ surrounded by 24 paintings inspired by the songs and titles of the album.

This in turn led to Eleanor publishing her first ever songbook, entitled ‘Naked Music – The Songbook’. This unique publication is a pioneering collaboration, featuring lyrics and melodies from the songs on Naked Music alongside 24 of Gollon’s stunning paintings inspired by the music on that album.

McEvoy’s live performances are intimate, emotional, uplifting affairs in which she explores soul, love and humour, using own compositions and interpretations from other songbooks in her rich, lilting voice and beautiful playing.

Now based in Wexford, Dublin-born McEvoy’s career originally started as a session musician, which included a long stint with The Irish National Symphony Orchestra. However, it was whilst playing with The Mary Black Band that McEvoy decided to develop her own career, and in 1992 two life-changing opportunities came along.

Mary Black and her record company manager/husband decided that McEvoy’s song ‘A Woman’s Heart’ would be a fitting title and lead track for the compilation they were putting together of contemporary Irish female performers. Simultaneously, Tom Zutaut, the legendary A&R of Geffen Records (who had previously signed Guns & Roses, Motley Crue, and Edie Brickell), was on a scouting mission to Dublin. After hearing McEvoy perform at The Baggott Inn pub, he offered her a worldwide recording deal on the spot.

McEvoy was soon touring the world to promote her eponymous debut album for Geffen, which went on to sell 250,000 copies. At the same time, ‘A Woman’s Heart’ entered the Irish charts, selling over 750,000 copies – and remains one of Ireland’s biggest selling albums of all-time. These successes established McEvoy as one of Ireland’s biggest stars, launching a career that has since seen her release twelve studio albums and tour the world.

SAT 04 MARCH Island Arts Centre Lisburn, Co. Antrim

FRI 10 MARCH Axis Ballymun, Co. Dublin

FRI 17 MARCH Kilkenny Tradfest Kilkenny

SAT18 MARCH Presentation Centre Enniscorthy 

SAT 25 MARCH The Oriel Centre Dundalk, Co. Louth

SUN26 MARCH The Black Box Belfast 

 Fri 31st March Baker’s Loft (Brogan’s Guesthouse), High St, Trim, Co Meath 

SUN 01 APRIL Mermaid Arts Centre Bray, Co. Wicklow