Review: Billy Kennedy, Fiona Kennedy and Hank Wedel shine during intimate Kinsale gig
Billy Kennedy, Fiona Kennedy and Hank Wedel at St Catherine's Cultural Centre, Kinsale. Photo: Kieran Murphy / 'Murphy Kie'
A highly charged standing ovation greeted the final encores of songwriters Fiona Kennedy, Hank Wedel and Billy Kennedy on an intimate and powerful evening by the seaside.
Built in 1744 and beautifully restored at a cost of €500,000 by a group of local businessmen, St Catherine's Cultural Centre was the ideal setting for this lyrical candle-lit celebration of creative songwriting and storytelling.
Billy Kennedy's instantly memorable tunes included references to the 1950s Cork bakers' strike, and local landmarks like Roche's Point Lighthouse and Our Lady of the Wayside Church, infused with thought-provoking personal tales.
Billy's father was a baker, while both his father and father-in-law had attachments to the lighthouse. His wife, Sheila, however, doesn't feature in the song 'Sheila, You Just Have to Wait'. Billy just felt the name Sheila deserved an outing in song.
The name certainly got an outing in St Catherine's as Sheila was responsible for the candles that added to the ethereal atmosphere.
Billy stayed on stage to add his incredible guitaring and piano to Fiona Kennedy's set. They're excellent together; keep an eye out for their upcoming No Relation tour.
Family featured again in Fiona's song 'Where Else Would You Get It?', her father's catchphrase on days when he'd get to indulge his passion for fly fishing. Fiona said 'Get Through The Day' was dedicated to people like Caitríona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners — people who bring joy to other people's day.
We also got a debut airing of Fiona's excellent upcoming single, 'We Will Dance', the tale of Cork heroine Mary Elmes, a Quaker captured by the Gestapo during WWII, who spent one night dancing flamenco with a gypsy dance troupe while in hiding.
A really uplifting tune, carried skyward by Billy's nylon-stringed classical guitar. Fiona picked up the tale from 'A Time To Risk All', Clodagh Finn's book about Mary Elmes.
The church-like respect of this intimate audience allows these artists to open up and share the thoughts and emotions that inspire their songs.
Hank Wedel's career is more storied than most. Tonight he treats us to 'Listen' (his song also recorded by Christy Moore), along with 'Sleep Out on the Beach' (co-written with Declan Sinnott), 'Speak To Me' from his days with Prince's Street and to 'Your Lover Will Call' from his time with Open Kitchen.
Hank recalled writing the song during his days working in the sugar factory in Mallow, "the sweetest town in Ireland". He turns up as a leading character in Fiona Kennedy's song 'All Together Now', recalling heady musical nights in UCC's College Bar in the 1980s, a real highlight with all the crowd singing along to the instantly catchy chorus.
Clearly loved by his peers for his generosity, Hank is very happy to share his stage. He gave a platform firstly to the angelic backing vocals of Aaron Harper, then to the mercurial talent of Marian Quirke, who brought the house down with her version of 'At the End of the Rainbow'.
The night was at its height with all three artists sharing the stage for the finale. Billy Kennedy's 'Sea Creatures', set during Storm Ophelia, was a personal favourite for me; a truly poetic soul, great songwriter, singer and up there with the best guitarists I've seen.
However, there's no denying the standout beauty of Hank Wedel's song 'The Time We Share', co-written with Brian O'Carroll and Ronan Ó Snodaigh.
The lyrics are a perfect fit for this night's communion of saintly talents in a truly divine setting. The lyrics captured the mood and the melody captured our hearts.
Three artists from the top rung of the musical ladder. If you see their name on a poster, treat yourself to a night you'll hold long in the memory.
