Queues form in Limerick as Grammy-winning musician plays intimate gig at music shop
Cian Ducrot is currently taking the stage at the Cruises Street Golden Discs store this Tuesday afternoon to captivate the small crowd with songs from an upcoming album due for release next month.
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford awarded funding of €150,000 to support Fleadh preparations
The Fleadh, which is widely regarded as the world's largest annual celebration of traditional Irish music, language, song and dance, will return to Wexford again on Sunday, August 3 to Sunday, August 10 this year. Speaking on the allocation of funds, Wexford native and The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD said that he has great local pride for the festival. "I can't wait myself for the Fleadh. It's a class event in terms of the focus on community and voluntary led events, showcasing our local pride with a burst of colour and sound,' he said. 'The Fleadh in Wexford is celebrating the living tradition, and has really focused on making performances and spaces accessible to a wide group of people of all ages and backgrounds. Even just getting to sit in on some of the competitions of every type of instrument is deadly. That's what the festival is best at. I want to acknowledge the trojan work of all the teams across Wexford County Council in hosting the Fleadh Cheoil.' He highlighted the major impact the Fleadh has on Irish and local tourism as well. "The Fleadh is a welcome boost for our local tourism, and will attract thousands visitors from home and abroad to the county. This funding I am an announcing today aims to assist the Council in ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate another successful Fleadh, which sees such a serious effort from all parts of the county,' he added. Similar funding of €150,000 was provided to Wexford County Council for the Fleadh Cheoil in 2024 last year, which saw great success with an estimated 650,000 joining in on the festivities.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
This is like the warm-up, it's so early in my career – I want to win a Grammy for a solo track one day, says Cian Ducrot
SEVEN years ago when Cian Ducrot was an unknown, he predicted that he would win a Grammy Award for his songwriting. Back in February, that dream came true when the half-Irish, half-French singer-songwriter won his first Grammy for Saturn, a global hit he co-wrote with SZA, which scooped Best RnB Song. 4 Cian Ducrot predicted that he would win a Grammy Award for his songwriting Credit: Supplied 4 The half-Irish, half-French singer-songwriter won his first Grammy for Saturn 4 Ducrot is hoping his next gong will be for a solo track 'It's nuts isn't it?' he says. 'I'd written on my computer when I was just 20 that I would win one. 'I even said it would be the Grammy for Best RnB Song, which is crazy because I don't even make RnB music — and I said it would be in 2023, so I was only two years out.' Now 27, Ducrot is hoping his next gong will be for a solo track. 'Hopefully, I'll get a Grammy for one of my own songs down the line — it's so early in my career. READ MORE MUSIC INTERVIEWS 'I've always wanted to be a songwriter, and winning a Grammy is the biggest musical recognition you can get.' I'm meeting Ducrot in a central London hotel to chat about his success as he releases second album Little Dreaming, the follow-up to his chart-topping debut Victory. Winning a Grammy kicked off the rising star's momentous year. In March he also sang the Irish and French national anthems at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, in front of more than 50,000 people when the two countries played each other in the Six Nations. Little Dreaming is an album of self-discovery from an artist unafraid to dream big. Most read in Music 'I want to be like Bob Dylan or 'This is like the warm-up, which is just crazy. It's about the legacy. Cian Ducrot performs on RTE Late Late Show 'Life is so short, I can click my fingers and be 60 or 70 in no time. I want to look back and be like, 'Yes I did that — I went that extra mile and built the shows I wanted to and did the tours I wanted to do'. It's really important to me to be doing that.' Former Royal Academy of Music student Ducrot says he takes inspiration from Bob Dylan as well as lots of other artists and musical styles. 'There are so many influences for me, whether it's classical, jazz, soul or folk. 'At the moment I listen to a lot of Dylan, and then there is Elton John, 'When I was on tour with him I just watched him in awe. He does whatever he wants and that's what I want to do. 'For a long time, Ed Sheeran was my biggest inspiration. He inspired me to be a songwriter and also write for other people. 'If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have a Grammy.' Little Dreaming is a product of the 70s and 80s music Ducrot immersed himself in — with the album cover showing him aboard a vintage jet in a nod to rock 'n' roll's golden age of excess. 'I had playlists with Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Queen on, and then I'd go down a rabbit hole for certain artists,' he explains. One week I'm obsessed with jazz, the next it's folk. Then I want to make an album that's just me and my acoustic guitar, then I want a big band. Cian Ducrot 'I came across this plane called The Starship, a customised Boeing 720B jet, which was just for artists to tour the world in. 'Led Zeppelin, Elton John, The Rolling Stones and John Lennon all used it. 'It had a bar, couches and a fake fireplace — it was the coolest thing ever. 'People used to get on after their show and party. 'There were even airlines in the 1970s that had dancefloors on their upper decks. 'I guess it was like a tour bus — only in America they needed tour planes.' Ducrot says he spent a lot of time ensuring Little Dreaming fully reflected his wide ranging influences and creative moods. 'You can really hear the music, musicality and instrumentation,' he says proudly. 'There are lots of different styles — there's everything. 'It's like being inside my ADHD brain! 'One week I'm obsessed with jazz, the next it's folk. Then I want to make an album that's just me and my acoustic guitar, then I want a big band. 'Another week I'm like, 'Hmm, I should do a full jazz EP, like Lady Gaga'. 'That's what I want my music to represent — all of my musicality, not just one part of it.' The first single from the album, Who's Making You Feel It, is a confident sound for Ducrot. He says: 'I wrote that song sat on my piano in my kitchen. 'Sometimes when you write, a song comes that has a very strong identity. And that's what that is — the opening chords are something else.' The album begins with a bit of fun with the track It's Cian Bitch, which pokes fun at people who wrongly pronounce his name as 'Si-on', 'Ky-an' or 'Cien'. Ducrot laughs: 'It happens a lot, which is nice as it means people know who I am — even though they can't pronounce my name.' Standouts include Shalalala, one of the three tracks he worked on with Theo Hutchcraft of Hurts, and the rock anthem See It To Believe It, influenced by the operatic style of Queen and What About Love is another great track and a topic which Ducrot questioned following the success of his first album. 'I'm concentrating on being present' He says: 'Little Dreaming has been a journey as there was a time when I was struggling mentally. 'I'd question what I was working so hard for, and I wanted more love. 'I also want to be able to love more, because I feel like I'm always folding in. 'I was missing my family — my brother has a son and I wasn't spending enough time with him. I was missing my grandparents, who had passed away, and friends. I wanted everyone around. 'With memories, you think of the good times with your friends — dinners together, nights having a laugh down the pub, or nights on the tour bus. Interactions. 'All my performances are really just a search for love. 'All artists want to be told they're good enough — and that's why they end up wanting more and more.' My Best Friend on the new record is a moving track about the heartbreaking loss of Ducrot's friend Phil to suicide in 2019, and the overwhelming grief that followed. He says: 'Philly was a friend I had in Cork,' he says. 'Losing him just hits at random times. 'The day I wrote that song, I was exhausted but it arrived line by line. It just poured out of me. 'It's an accurate representation of how sometimes it hits you and you get a feeling of wishing I could see him again. 'It's about feeling sad and missing my friend. 'But missing people as I'm working too hard has been a lesson. 'Now I'm concentrating on being present rather than what can I do next. My first two EPs were self-produced, but now I oversee production — I'm always coming up with ideas, though. Cian Ducrot 'Now I'm really focused on time with my friends, more with my family and making sure everyone is loved.' Currently touring the US supporting last week's SFTW cover star Teddy Swims, Ducrot has been working hard preparing his own headline show, which will kick off in September. 'I am hands-on with all that I do and I want this to be the best show, the best tour I can do. I have found the right people, have a new musical director and it's my dream and my vision. 'I have put the work in finding the right people and musicians who speak the same language as me musically. 'I have a lot of musical ideas having spent so many years in orchestras. 'I love being involved musically and in the production of my music, too. 'My first two EPs were self-produced, but now I oversee production — I'm always coming up with ideas, though. 'I would like to be like Quincy Jones in that respect, he was a musical genius who I look up to. 'He studied at the Paris Conservatoire of Classical Music, where my mum also studied.' That same admiration for artistry extends to his peers, too. 'Another artist I admire is 'Every time I watch her I cry and have goosebumps. 'There is something so special about her — she's on another level and gives so much to her live show. I've never met her but if I did, I'd be telling her how great she is. 'Her Glastonbury performance was blood, sweat and tears. She adds so much incredible detail, which is very important to me. 'She's one of the only people who is putting in effort at that level.' That kind of passion and dedication is exactly what Ducrot aspires to in his own career. 'The dream would be to tour arenas all over the world and continue growing at this level. 'Another No1 album would be amazing, too. 'And to have big, massive successful songs and be one of the biggest songwriters and artists in the world. 'Oh, and another Grammy would be amazing. 'Every day is working towards that.' The album Little Dreaming is out today. CIAN DUCROT Little Dreaming ★★★★☆ 4 Little Dreaming is an album of self-discovery from an artist unafraid to dream big Credit: Supplied
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island star furiously hits back at claims Megan was flirting with Tommy outside villa as she tells Blu ‘go home'
A LOVE Island star furiously hit back at claims Megan was flirting with Tommy outside the villa. The Irish star 4 Megan and Conor have been reunited on Love Island Credit: Eroteme 4 Blu introduced drama into Megan and Conor's relationship Credit: Eroteme 4 Jessy Potts hit out at Blu's claims Credit: Getty While she initially coupled up with Tommy, she However, fellow returnee Blu introduced new drama into the couple's dynamic. He told Conor how Megan had been flirting with Tommy during her time away from the villa. In addition, how she had allegedly been annoyed seeing Read more on Love Island Taking to TikTok, former Love Island star Jessy Potts has hit back at the claims. She said in a video: "Why is Blu getting involved about the outside and Megan being annoyed about Tommy. "I went on that trip with Irish Meg and she was talking about Conor the entire time. "Blu, why are you in here babe? Go home." Most read in TV Meanwhile, Jessy soon got her wish - as Blu and Helena were axed in a brutal dumping. Furious Love Island bombshell reveals he's been SNUBBED by ITV and banned from returning to the villa with the cast this week Their exits immediately Helena won for her air hostess-inspired "No Good Airlines" routine, which took playful jabs at her co-stars. One viewer wrote on X: "Helena being dumped right after winning the talent show ?? …. these producers." Another penned: "Producers making Meg read out that Helena was dumped." A third chimed in: "helena and blu being dumped looks like i'm going to be watching aftersun tor the first time this season." Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX. 4 The Irish star originally coupled up with Tommy Credit: Eroteme
