Tom McShane

New Song/Video #2

Hi there,

As I explained last time I’m writing and demoing new songs at the moment and sometimes the easiest way to capture a new tune is to make a quick video. I’ve decided that rather than practicing the songs for months with a band then spending weeks in a studio trying to get the perfect version, that it might be fun to share some of these songs with people at the time of their inception so you’ll hopefully hear how the songs develope and progress towards the finished article.

The song that follows, “The Ural Winter“, was written this morning, filmed at about 18:30 and was uploaded earlier this evening.  This represents the quickest turn-around from writing to public “release” I’ve ever had. I hope this doesn’t show to much in the quality of the song. At the moment I’m not sure how I feel about this tune; it’s too fresh for me to have an opinion. I’m certainly not sure if it’ll make it on the next album at this stage, but at the very least it’s a song that didn’t exist this time yesterday, and that’s a nice feeling.

Less chatter! Here it is, I hope you enjoy:

If you missed the first of these video demos you can see the last one here.

All the best,

Tom

Fundraiser Show for Philippines Development Projects

Hey Folks,

Just to let y’all know I’ll be playing a charity show with Robyn G Shiels and Johnny Black (Lafaro) on Thursday 25th June. The gig will take place in The Menagerie, off University St in Belfast. The door tax is £5.

See you there!

 Tom

See Tom McShane at the Victoria Square Dome

On 29th July, Tom McShane will perform a show on the observation platform of the glass dome of Belfast’s Victoria Square as part of this year’s Trans Festival. Tickets are strickly limited to 15 pairs and available for free by e-mailing info@transbelfast.com. Get ‘em while you can!

Scene at the Citadel featured on NI Chart’s video poll…

Mr Davy Matchett of independent label, Only Gone Records and also of the Oh Yeah Music Centre has listed my video for Scene at the Citadel as one of his three favourite NI music videos.

You can check out my video and others here and, should you choose to, vote for your favourite.

I hope you enjoy the wealth of creative talent on display, both musical and visual. It makes me very proud to be from this wonderful little corner of the world.

All the best,

Tom

New Song/Video

Following a very productive trip to the US, the writing for the new album is nearly complete. I’ve been demoing new material and in the coming weeks Rocky O’Reilly and I will be doing a few preliminary recordings and some pre-production work at Start Together. As soon as that is complete it’ll be time to assemble and rehearse a band and get ready to record.

In the mean time I thought I’d share this solo acoustic version of a brand new song I demoed last weekend. There’s a fairly lengthy disclaimer that comes with it but I hope you can get an idea of where I’m going with this tune.

HALLELUJAH: the Music of Leonard Cohen

After the massive success of last month’s Springsteen night it was going to take a massive and prolific songwriter to follow on… and they don’t come much bigger and certainly no more prolific than Leonard Cohen. Since the early sixties he has consistently been producing novels, poems and legendary songs such as Bird on the Wire, Chelsea Hotel and the often covered Hallelujah.

Calling London from a Faraway Town…

I’ll be playing a show in London on Thursday 15th January. The details are as follows:

The venue is the Troy Bar, 10 Hoxton Street, London N1 6NG. The doors open at 8pm and I’ll be on at 8.45pm. Admission is free!

I’ll be performing with two fine acts, Maighread and Paul O’Kane. 

I hope to see you there!

Tom

Maighread

A Little Solidarity Saturday 15th November

I have some news of a last minute show I’ll be playing tomorrow as part of the A Little Solidarity festival in Belfast. I’ll be playing an acoustic set in the Yurt (a temporary venue at the QUB Students’ Union), along with Cat Malojian, Cara Cowan, Heliopause, Robert Holmes and Johnny Black. Over in the Mandela Hall Oppenheimer, And So I Watch You From Afar, Fighting With Wire, Panama Kings, General Fiasco and many more will be performing. The acoustic shows will be kicking off at 13:00 and I’ve been given to understand that I’ll be on at 17:00. There are two shows in the Mandela, a matinee show for 13:00-18:00 and the evening show from 19:00 to late. Tickets are £10. For more info see: http://www.myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar  I hope to see you there!   Tom

Kitty & the Can Openers

Tomorrow evening I’ll be playing a solo set in support of my very good friends, Kitty and the Can Openers who’ll be launching their excellent debut EP. Also performing will be Joe Echo (AKA Ciaran Gribbon, formerly of Leya). 

See you there!

Tom

Nell Bryden Support

Tonight, Tom will be performing with New York singer/songwriter Nell Bryden in the Black Box in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Doors open at 8pm and admission is a very reasonable £6.