Mercury-nominated Villagers at Seapoint
It’s the time of year when music critics are picking their best of 2013 list and an album that’s deservedly being mentioned is Villagers’ {Awayland}.
While the critics ruminate, the Dublin band are on the road and will play Seapoint Ballroom this Saturday, December 14 as part of a tour of Europe and Ireland that will culminate in Dublin’s Vicar Street next Wednesday.
{Awayland} saw Villagers secure a second nomination for the prestigious Mercury Prize, making them the first Irish act to make the list twice. Their latest single is Earthly Pleasure, an impeccable piece of music, with a verse that’s a woozy spoken word narrative and a chorus that’s pure joy. There was nothing like it in 2013.
It’s been a good year for the band. In March Villagers played two sold-out shows in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and more recently Conor O’Brien appeared at Beck’s Song Reader Live at London’s Barbican, alongside Jarvis Cocker from Pulp, Franz Ferdinand, Charlotte Gainsbourg and others.
Conor performed his own sensitive version of Old Shanghai and also performed a duet with Beck on the closing song, Do We? We Do. This show in Seapoint is a chance to see one of the finest songwriters of recent years with a band who understand the swells and surges of his music. The ebullient, excellent Jape and Crayonsmith will open the show.
Doors 8pm, tickets €24/€22 online.