Mick performed a special guest slot, opening the show for Padraig Jack on 15th May. It was a great thrill to open the show for such a great songwriter as Padraig and to meet and hang out with Anto Thistlewaite (Waterboys & Sawdoctors) at the gig. A beautiful listening gig, full of heart.
FOLK FRIDAY RADIO – DAVID DEE MOORE SHOW – EP OF THE WEEK
SHANNONSIDE/NORTHERN SOUND – MIKE MULVIHILL – FEATURED EP OF THE WEEK
“Deserved EP of the week, really really good songs he’s put together. Well recorded in Songcraft Studios, mastered by the fabulous Richard Dowling. He’s done it all right, he’s recorded good songs and produced them to top quality. If you like your folk singing, if you like your stories listen to Mick Brown. This is a lovely EP”, David Dee Moore, Folk Friday Radio.
Renowned Singer Songwriter Don Stiffe, has great praise for the EP: “The stories in the songs are wonderful. This CD is a beautiful piece of work, there’s 5 beautiful songs on it” Don Stiffe
Radio Play to date: Galway Bay Fm, Midwest Radio, Shannonside/Northern Sound, Radio Kerry, Dublin City FM, KCLR, Tipp Midwest & Global Irish Radio
The collection is an authentic journey in song, where life’s joy and sadness, love and loss, companionship, solitude and community are explored through the prism of hope. This eagerly anticipated EP collection of 5 folk songs follows previous song releases, Somewhere Further down the Line, Huckleberry Finn and Me and Song for Brigid, which achieved widespread radio play throughout Ireland, UK and beyond.
Recorded in Songcraft Studios, and mastered by Richard Dowling, WAV Mastering, the EP was a massive learning curve for Mick, “The writing and recording of the EP challenged me to the core in terms of Songwriting”, Mick explains. “It is my first EP/CD release, I had to dig deep. I was trying to write and be faithful, as best I could, to what I was feeling inside”. The result is an authentic journey in song, where life’s joy and sadness, love and loss, companionship, solitude and community are explored through the prism of hope.
Mick’s songwriting is rooted in the fabric of his life, and grounded in the traditional folk style of the west of Ireland. His songs are carved from the ebb and flow of life, where the wild Atlantic ocean meets the western coastline. He outlines how the EP’s title track, Remember how we Dreamed, “is a voyage back to times when we dared to believe we could change the world”. The song is a story of love, and the simpler days of youth when everything seemed possible: “no need for gold nor diamonds blue, the stars above enough for you”.
Hope across the Sea commemorates those who have lost their lives in the ocean and those who face into gale and storm to save lives. Huckleberry Finn and me, meanwhile, hearkens back to long rambling days of childhood, with Highland Radio’s Paul McDevitt describing it as “an absolutely brilliant song, which carries an air of carefree days when things were a bit simpler”.
Ilen River, written in a John Spillane songwriting workshop, taps into Brown’s own previous experiences of emigration. The song brilliantly uses the metaphor of the river Ilen to describe an emigrants yearning for home and loved ones. Somewhere further down the line, a tender exploration of love and loss, will resonate deeply with listeners, inviting them to reflect on the ordinary, everyday happenings that make up a life of enduring love.
Remember How We Dreamed is now available for purchase in CD or download format, also available on all major music platforms. The EP was launched at a special concert performane in Charlie Byrnes bookshop Galway on 4th April this year. Mick headlined a show in the Michael J Quill centre, Kilgarvan on 6th April. He will play a special guest support slot for Padraig Jack at The Bridge of Song concert series, Castlebar, with more gig announcements to follow.
Had a lovely chat with Keith Finnegan from Galway Talks on Galway Bay Fm. I chatted with Keith about my Song for Brigid which I released on 1st February, the inspiration for the song and how the song finally took shape. Was great to catch up again with Padraig Jack the fabulous Songwriter from the Aran Islands who happened to be in studio to play later in the show.
If you listen to the interview on link below, you’ll get to hear the last few bars of Song for Brigid which we played live on the show. The clip includes a fabulous guitar solo by Padraig Seóige who was my guitar comrade in arms on the day. Link to the full interview below photo. Link to studio recorded version of Song for Brigid, below that again, down the bottom.
Delighted with the coverage for my Song for Brigid in Connact Tribune. The song went on to do very well getting lots of radio play around Ireland and also in the UK and even US
Eastcoast FM Radio interview with the wonderful radio legend Declan Meehan, to listen to full interview on link below
Highland Radio, Paul McDevitt: “it’s an absolutely brilliant song, a beautiful laid back track that definitely carries that air of care free days when things were a bit simpler”.
Galway Bay Fm, Donal Mahon: “The song is very reminiscent of past times, I’m sure it will strike a chord with listeners”.
Song for Brigid is a celebration of Brigid, a powerfully compassionate matriarchal leader who stood for fairness and justice for all. Song for Brigid heralds the coming of spring, and celebrates us moving from darkness into light: “Our prayers we raise to Brigid, woman of the earth, the winter it is leaving us, and the land is giving birth”. Acclaimed Connemara Sean Nós Singer Sarah Ghriallais collaborates on the track, adding some beautiful Gaeilge at the start of the song. To listen to the Song click on link here or click on picture below, love to hear what you think
The song has received a wonderful response with radio play on various stations including: Galway Bay Fm, Midwest Radio, Radio Kerry, Shannonside Radio, Blues & Roots Radio and Gobal Irish Radio. Mick was interviewed and played the song live on The Keith Finnegan show on Galway Bay Fm on 1st February, St Brigid’s day 2024.
Mick explains the Song was yearning for feminine energy.”Brigid is a towering figure in Irish history. I wanted to capture that spirit of the Gael in the song. Sarah’s unique and celebrated singing style draws from the deep well of the Gaelic tradition and way of life, which added new layers of depth and meaning to the song.” Sarah reads the spoken word part of the song in the Irish language which really gets to the heart of the song.
“Word rang through the valley, Everyone belongs, all on earth are welcome, to the banquet in the Sun”
Song for Brigid, the new single by Mick Brown is a celebration of the Celtic Goddess and Christian Saint. The song features a collaboration with acclaimed Connemara Sean Nós Singer Sarah Ghriallais. Song for Brigid heralds the coming of spring, and celebrates us moving from darkness into light. The Song is for release on 31st January 2024, the 1500 anniversary of St Brigid and the eve of the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc.
“Our prayers we raise to Brigid, woman of the earth, the winter it is leaving us, and the land is giving birth”
Song Download & Steaming Links
Song for Brigid: High quality Audio WAV download or stream click here
Song for Brigid: MP3 download or stream click here
Mick travelled out to Sarah’s home in Connemara to record Sarah as she contributed an Irish spoken word part to the beginning of the song. Mick explains how the Song was yearning for feminine energy, ”Brigid is a towering figure in Irish history. I wanted to capture that spirit of the Gael in the song. Sarah’s unique and celebrated singing style draws from the ancient well of the Gaelic tradition and way of life, which added new layers of depth and meaning to the song.”
“Word rang through the valley, Everyone belongs, All on earth are welcome, to the banquet in the Sun.”
Song Download & Steaming Links
Song for Brigid: High quality Audio WAV download or stream click here
Song for Brigid: MP3 download or stream click here
The Song is released on 31st January 2024, the 1500 anniversary of St Brigid and the eve of the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc. ‘Song for Brigid’ was produced by Axel Grude, Songcraft Studio, County Galway and mastered by Richard Dowling, Wav Mastering Limerick. Mick Roche plays whistle and flutes on the track, while Stephen Garrett provides percussion.
Mick Brown is a Songwriter and Folksinger based in Galway City. Mick’s previous song releases, ‘Somewhere Further Down The Line ’ and ‘Huckleberry Finn and Me’ received widespread radio play including: Raidió na Gaeltachta; Galway Bay Fm; Midwest Radio; Highland Radio; KCLR; Radio Kerry, Cork C103 and Global Irish Radio. Sarah Ghriallias is 3 times winner of Cór ni Riada Sean Nos Singing Competition and was awarded TG4 Gradam Ceoil Singer of the year 2022. Mick’s debut EP will be released in April 2024.
Radio Interview with Declan Meehan from Eastcoast FM (Aug ’23): click here to listen
Press Photos Click here
| For further info, interviews or live sessions, please contact Mick @ E: mickbrown99@gmail.com | M: 087 2145 119 | |
Lovely article in Kerry’s Eye on 3rd August about release of new song ‘Huckleberry Finn and Me’. The article also provided details on the Song Release gig at The Scene on the Green Festival in Kenmare, County Kerry. There was a lovely and very attentive audience at the gig where Mick was joined on stage by a number of guests and musical collaborators. Link to Article here
Link to Galway City Tribune Article Click here
Hope Across the Sea – This song is dedicated to all those in our Lifeboat Service, Coastguard Service, Air Corp and ordinary people who save lives at sea, day in and day out. The song was inspired by a plaque I saw on Killmacalogue Harbour in County Cork commemorating those who lost their lives in the sinking of The Seaflower, which left Killmacalogue Harbour on 22nd December 1968 heading for Dursey Island, she never made it. I wish that this song will in some way bring some love, healing and peace to the families of those who have lost their lives at sea, and to the cherished ones who were lost at sea, Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam dilis. Recorded live at a house concert in Brian Callan’s wonderful house in Carrabane Village, County Galway. Lyrics to song here
