"Songs for Sooner"
Featuring the Radio Hits "Clonard”, "Blue Western Skies", and "Born in Sydney Town"
Irish Release Date April 30th, 2010 on Blind Romantic Records, distributed by ESD.
www.faithfield.com ~ www.myspace.com/roryfaithfield
::: LIVE ::: Upcoming Irish Shows
01 May – Bewleys Cafe Theatre – Dublin
11 May – Ruby Session – Dublin
19 May – Roisin Dubh – Galway
20 May – Mullarkeys Bar – Clifden
26 May – Spirit Store- Dundalk
18 June – McCarthys Bar- Dingle
27 June – The Sky & The Ground Bar – Wexford
14 July – Whelan’s – Dublin
::: LIVE ::: Upcoming Irish Shows
01 May – Bewleys Cafe Theatre – Dublin
11 May – Ruby Session – Dublin
19 May – Roisin Dubh – Galway
20 May – Mullarkeys Bar – Clifden
26 May – Spirit Store- Dundalk
18 June – McCarthys Bar- Dingle
27 June – The Sky & The Ground Bar – Wexford
14 July – Whelan’s – Dublin
Australia’s Dublin-based acoustic powerhouse Rory Faithfield is back in Ireland to launch his fourth album. With Celtic songlines in his head and grains of sand between his toes, Rory has conjured an alluring songbook of life, love and consequence!
Dividing his time between Dublin and Vasse on the West Australian coast, Rory has honed his craft on the European pub circuit to create this authentic home-coming album. Big Blue Western Skies casts a wistful spell; capturing the hypnotic harsh beauty of our summers, while the single release Born in Sydney Town is a little piece of home for every erstwhile Australian traveller. Clonard beguiles as a Celtic ballad of the journey featuring John O'Brien on Uilleann Pipes & Whistles.
Much of Songs for Sooner was written last year in Australia, then recorded in Ireland with a full band which included Nick Scott (Van Morrison) and Johnny Boyle (The Frames). Rory co-produced the album with industry veteran Gavin Murphy and also includes top local musicians Bill Shanley, Christian Herzberger, Lorcan Daly, and Ciaran Byrne.
Applauded by the often unforgiving Irish music media, Rory is described as "Power Acoustic" by the Irish Independent, and "invigorating and inspiring" by The Irish Times.
In a recent 4 Star review, 'The Australian' (national newspaper) noted that, “his message is that all shades of experience can be metamorphosed into positivity and individualistic growth”, and the West Australian newspaper remarked that “this is beautiful, straightforward storytelling, saturated in Irish folk traditions but with a keen edge born of Faithfield's days as a punk rocker in Sydney. I was reminded of Paul Kelly's more lyrical excursions, which is a high compliment”.
Biography – Rory Faithfield: journeyman and musician
Rory Faithfield is a Dublin-based yet Australian born and bred singer-songwriter, with Celtic songlines in his head and grains of sand between his toes.
Undeterred by school reports – kicked out of singing class at age 6 and the School Band at 14 – Rory’s journey began with the post-punk Sydney band scene. Inspired by The Saints, Hunters & Collectors, Birthday Party and X – he eschewed his middle-class beginnings in his search for something that felt more real.
Like thousands of Australians, that search inevitably led to a one way ticket to London. “Walkabout” lasted 20 years and saw a reinvention in the fertile Dublin music scene. Rory was inspired by the sheer talent of solo artists such as Christy Moore, Luka Bloom and Glen Hansard who held their audiences transfixed.
Rory spent the 90’s paying his songwriting and performance dues in the demanding pub circuits of Ireland and Germany. Between cries for “The Irish Rover” and “Whisky in the Jar”, Rory discovered his voice as a solo artist.
1998 saw the UK release of his debut album NOWHERE, SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE. This was followed in 2002 by BLOOD, BONES & SOUL – described by the Irish Times: “his relentlessly upbeat folk-rock courses with positive thinking and vigorous musicality… Faithfield is invigorating and inspiring..”. With standout songs SHED MY SKIN and the anthemic RISE ABOVE.
CIRCLE DANCE , a completely solo acoustic album, was released in 2007 – yet another step in confidence, energy and strength. "This is beautiful, straightforward storytelling, saturated in Irish folk traditions but with a keen edge born of Faithfield's days as a punk rocker in Sydney. I was reminded of Paul Kelly's more lyrical excursions, which is a high compliment" (WEST AUSTRALIAN).
Rory’s fourth album SONGS FOR SOONER, is co-produced with renowned Irish music veteran Gavin Murphy and will be released in 2010. The multilayered album title harks to Sooner, a beautiful broken kelpie from a regional NSW farm that he rescued and nurtured. This album is the culmination of Faithfield’s experience as an authentic songwriter and performer.
Rory currently divides his time between Dublin and his home in Vasse on the West Australian coast, not far from famed wine country Margaret River. Until recently, Rory has flown largely under the radar of the music scene. Mesmerising Festival performances are changing things.
For more info and contact details, visit: www.faithfield.com
Recent Australian Activity:
– Played the prestigious Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia, one of the biggest, 50,000 people, on the bill with Saw Doctors, Eleanor McEvoy, Mairtin O'Connor.
– Played the St Patricks Day Fest in Sydney's Hyde Park to 10,000 people.
– Performed live sessions on both ABC Sydney & ABC Melbourne and 'Born In Sydney Town' is playlisted on both stations.
– Album Of The Week on ABC Tasmania.
– 4 Star Review in 'The Australian' (national newspaper).
1998 saw the UK release of his debut album NOWHERE, SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE. This was followed in 2002 by BLOOD, BONES & SOUL – described by the Irish Times: “his relentlessly upbeat folk-rock courses with positive thinking and vigorous musicality… Faithfield is invigorating and inspiring..”. With standout songs SHED MY SKIN and the anthemic RISE ABOVE.
CIRCLE DANCE , a completely solo acoustic album, was released in 2007 – yet another step in confidence, energy and strength. "This is beautiful, straightforward storytelling, saturated in Irish folk traditions but with a keen edge born of Faithfield's days as a punk rocker in Sydney. I was reminded of Paul Kelly's more lyrical excursions, which is a high compliment" (WEST AUSTRALIAN).
Rory’s fourth album SONGS FOR SOONER, is co-produced with renowned Irish music veteran Gavin Murphy and will be released in 2010. The multilayered album title harks to Sooner, a beautiful broken kelpie from a regional NSW farm that he rescued and nurtured. This album is the culmination of Faithfield’s experience as an authentic songwriter and performer.
Rory currently divides his time between Dublin and his home in Vasse on the West Australian coast, not far from famed wine country Margaret River. Until recently, Rory has flown largely under the radar of the music scene. Mesmerising Festival performances are changing things.
For more info and contact details, visit: www.faithfield.com
Recent Australian Activity:
– Played the prestigious Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia, one of the biggest, 50,000 people, on the bill with Saw Doctors, Eleanor McEvoy, Mairtin O'Connor.
– Played the St Patricks Day Fest in Sydney's Hyde Park to 10,000 people.
– Performed live sessions on both ABC Sydney & ABC Melbourne and 'Born In Sydney Town' is playlisted on both stations.
– Album Of The Week on ABC Tasmania.
– 4 Star Review in 'The Australian' (national newspaper).
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