It was during a busking stint that Shane Joyce met fellow band member of The Midnight Union Band, Brian McGrath. While continuing to work with the Americana/folk group, Joyce has most recently been performing his own music, in spots like the UK, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, while supporting Mick Flannery and Brian Deady here in Ireland.

Joyce cites legends Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen as some of his earliest influences, as well as the poetic innovation of Beat writers like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. The destitution that nearly defined the Beat generation can be felt in Joyce’s powerful single ‘The Sadness of King Joyce’, but in respect to love, ageing and various life obstacles. It is a bitter meditation on being “left behind” and the useless song that life has left Joyce with. That gravelly voice and unique diction could never be useless, though. Reminiscent of the romantic rivals belonging to ‘Fairytale of New York', Joyce quotes his former lover as saying “I took your balls, your heart and your calvary”. Ouch.

With his album The Sadness of King Joyce due out on April 9th 2018, we would advise that you watch this space carefully.