Eleanor McEvoy Announces Christmas Single!
Eleanor McEvoy ‘SOUTH ANNE STREET’ (The Christmas Mix)
Via Blue Dandelion Music is Out Tues 21st Nov
+ Launch of the single on Tuesday 21st Nov 2.30pm, upstairs room in McDaids, 3 Harry St, Dublin, D02 NC42, Ireland.
Get ready for a festive treat this holiday season with South Anne Street – the Christmas Mix! Grammy award winning sound engineer Ciaran Byrne, known for his work with musical legends like U2, Ed Sheeran and The Pogues, has sprinkled his magic on Eleanor McEvoy’s enchanting song. Mark your calendars for the release on Tuesday 21st November
“South Anne Street” was originally featured on McEvoy’s critically acclaimed album “GIMME SOME WINE” which was recorded during lockdown. (Giving some clue, perhaps, as to why the album was entitled “GIMME SOME WINE”).
The song captures the essence of a chance encounter with a former flame on a Tuesday afternoon before Christmas. Awkward conversations transform into warm moments at McDaid’s pub on Harry Street – a stone’s throw from the iconic corner of South Anne Street and Grafton Street in Dublin.
Steeped in the ambience of ‘the corner of South Anne and Grafton Street’ this Christmas Mix by Ciaran Byrne brings out the yuletide atmosphere of the lyrics. It is the only single in the world to feature the bell of the Luas, a sound that is unique to Dublin city! As the track gently fades away, the bells of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral resonate across the city.
“South Anne Street” is both absolutely specific and utterly universal. “At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite like a quiet pint in a Dublin pub in the company of an old friend..” Experience the magic of Christmas with Eleanor McEvoy’s SOUTH ANNE STREET – The Christmas Mix and let the spirit of the season wash over you.
Featuring;
Damon Butcher (Everything But the Girl, The Beautiful South) – Fender Rhodes
Liam Bradley (Van Morrison, Moving Hearts) – Drums
Keith Duffy (The Corrs, The Commitments) – Bass
Alexander Koryukovec – Accordion
Eamon Nolan (RTE CO, BBC Symphony Scottish National Jazz Orch) -Flugelhorn
Interesting notes of interest for editors/researchers:
COLLEGE PARK
College Park is a cricket ground in the grounds of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and is the home ground of Dublin University Cricket Club. The ground made history in 2000 by playing host to Ireland women’s first Women’s Test match against Pakistan women, which Ireland women won by an innings and 54 runs.
McDAIDS
The pub was once the Dublin City Morgue and was later converted into a chapel for the Moravian Brethren, hence the high ceilings and the Gothic style windows. McDaid’s has been identified by Joycean scholars as the setting for the opening of his story, Grace. one time haunt of the nation’s literary giants of the 20th century: Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien, J.P. Donleavy, Liam O’Flaherty, Paddy Kavanagh and Brendan Behan.
SOUTH ANNE STREET
Really interesting history – one of the oldest shopping streets in Dublin
CORNER OF SOUTH ANNE AND GRAFTON STREET
Flower sellers on the streets of Dublin have been part of the theatre of the city since Viking times. Fast forward to nineteenth century Dublin when Grafton Street and Henry Street became the shopping destinations of the city.
Additional Reading: Eleanor McEvoy Biography 2023
“McEvoy sounds like the sort of woman who might greet you with a bottle of red one night and a rolling pin the next” – Truck and Driver Magazine
Eleanor McEvoy is one of Ireland’s foremost songwriters. She is the composer, producer and co-performer of “A Woman’s Heart”, the title track for the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. In May 2019 it was voted by the Irish public as being in the TOP 10 of Ireland’s Favourite Folk Songs. It features regularly on screen, most recently in 2019 in the award-winning TV show “Derry Girls”.
Eleanor began her career as a session musician in Dublin, where she lent her talents to numerous recording artists including U2, Sinead O’Connor, The Pale, Mary Black, Phil Coulter and Liam Clancy. She also spent five years as a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, but her true passion was song writing.
Her eponymous debut album, released under Geffen Records in LA was followed by tours across the USA, Europe and Asia. Subsequently, Eleanor transitioned to Columbia Records in New York for her second album “What’s Following Me?” From that point onward, Eleanor McEvoy established herself as a globally recognized artist and performer. Her extensive discography comprising seventeen albums, has been consistently praised by critics and fans alike.
McEvoy’s song writing prowess is further evident in the multitude of cover versions of her songs by renowned artists like Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Phil Coulter, Mary Coughlan, Eliza Carthy, Jack L, Derek Ryan, Emma Langford and up and coming Irish band Saint Sister.
Her song “Sophie” was aptly described by David Smith in The Guardian as “an anthem that is touching, inspiring and consoling thousands of anorexic girls around the world” It is employed internationally in treatment centres to aid patients with eating disorders.
In May 2022, McEvoy mesmerized audiences with sold-out concerts at the National Concert Hall and National Opera House where she performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra alongside Wallis Bird and Maura O’Connell for “A Woman’s Heart Orchestrated”.
Her latest album “Gimme Some Wine” recorded during lockdown, features the singles “Scarlet Angels”, “Almost Beautiful” (a co-write with The Beautiful South’s Dave Rotheray) and “South Anne Street”. Since its release Eleanor has been touring extensively, both at home and internationally in support of the album. Throughout 2024 she will continue to tour with dates across Australia, Ireland, Germany and UK throughout the year.
Outside of her touring and recording commitments, McEvoy serves as the Chairperson of the board of IMRO, she recently held a position as a board member of the National Concert Hall, and is a voting member of The American Academy (The Grammy Awards). In October 2020 Minister Catherine Martin appointed her to the Task Force for the Recovery of the Arts.
For All Upcoming Irish & International Tour Dates visit www.eleanormcevoy.com