- Opinion
- 06 Apr 22
Revisit Chris Leonard's Sunday night performance on the Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media...
Born in Dublin and raised in Ballivor, Co.Meath, Chris Leonard's passion for music was first shaped by watching his father play in sessions with the likes of The Fureys, and Barney McKenna of The Dubliners. Chris initially rose to prominence on The X-Factor, as a member of the band Stereo Kicks, who ultimately reached the quarter finals of the show. He's now a solo artist – and following the release of 'Fix' last year, 2022 will see him travel to America to record his debut album.
After teaming up with renowned producer Billy Farrell (The Corrs) and Darren Holden (The High Kings), Chris is fusing the worlds of pop and trad to craft a sound that has placed him on the verge of a major mainstream breakthrough. Accompanied by fiddle player Kane O'Rourke, Leonard delivered an applause-worthy set on the Y&E Series (livestream or no livestream).
The Fox & Bucks duo sees Kane on fiddle and Chris on vocals, guitar and stomp box while performing. The pair brought their infectious energy and back-and-forth banter to their livestream set, alternating between jigs and reels. O'Rourke himself has played alongside Daniel O'Donnell and Derek Ryan, among other giants of the industry.
The charismatic duo bickered over which key to start in (G, E minor), but it was all in good fun. Kane even whipped out the tin whistle at one stage, much to Leonard's delight. Infusing well-known Irish ballads and jigs named after Connemara and Belfast, it was reminiscent of a country pub scene. It was up tempo trad like no other, showcasing Chris' injection of youth and contemporary sounds into his traditional music roots.
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Watch the Hot Press Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7pm each night.
Coming up on the Y&E Series...
Wednesday, April 6: Clara Tracey
There’s a big buzz around the Fermanagh-born, Dublin-residing Clara Tracey, who’s played in assorted bands with Maija Sofia, Aoife Nessa Frances and Paddy Hanna. Now concentrating fully on her solo endeavours, the title-track from her upcoming Black Forest album has dropped on Dundalk’s Pizza Pizza artists’ collaborative label. Jazzy, poppy and Motown-y in equal measure, it features Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox on bass and calls on the titular 1920s stained glass artist to melt down his Eve of St. Agnes masterpiece so that the young lovers depicted in it can be reunited.
Thursday, April 7: Lea Heart
After clocking up millions of streams over lockdown, Lea Heart will make her Irish headline debut with two nights at The Academy on April 19th and 20th. Lea Heart’s pandemic success reflects bold new changes currently underway in the music industry. As well as getting her song ‘A Million Goodbyes’ featured in an episode of Love Island, her phenomenal popularity is also largely owing to social media. Fellow Kildare act Picture This have also been early champions of Lea. The band selected her as one of the support acts for their Malahide Castle show in June.
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Friday, April 8: Sinead McConville
The Wicklow musician first released her debut solo single, 'Doorstep', back in May 2020. Recorded at home in a sticky and sweaty attic with rising singer/songwriter and Y&E Series performer D. Cullen, the song is an expression of love on a summer’s day in Ireland. Previous single, ‘Running From You’, stayed on the RTE Recommends playlist for three weeks. Highlight performances for Sinéad include The Late Late Show and supporting Mundy in Lost Lane; ‘Ireland Music Week’ with ELKAE and John Barker’s ‘TILT’ with Munky in The Button Factory. The Irish folk-pop artist released her stripped back, harmony-driven piano ballad 'Break My Heart' last June.