Kieron Goss set to play concert in Portico

Kieron Goss set to play concert in Portico

16 May 2018

INTERNATIONAL singer-songwriter Kieran Goss is ‘Home for the Summer’.

His latest tour features just two shows in Northern Ireland — Portico, Portaferry, on June 22 and the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy on Saturday, June 23.

The County Down born star, long hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters and performers, has won fans across the world with songs such as Reason to Leave and Out Of My Head.

But if his songs have made him a star, his live shows have made him a legend. Live on stage is where Kieran really shines.

Kieran was just nine years old when he got his first guitar. Growing up in a big family with diverse musical tastes meant that early on he was hearing the music of  Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones. These varied influences fermented into the brew that gives Kieran his own unique sound. 

Kieran supported himself while a law student in Belfast by playing club gigs and the Queen’s University Students Union, earning himself support slots for Elvis Costello, Christy Moore and Joe Jackson along the way.

After qualifying as a lawyer in the mid-eighties, Kieran left home for France and Germany in order to avoid being drafted into the legal profession.

He came back home to Ireland in 1989 to record his first album, Brand New Star.  It included the songs Brand New Star and Just Around The Corner, which came to the attention of Mary Black, who recorded both songs for her album, Babes In The Wood.  

In 1994 Kieran followed up Brand New Star with the album New Day, which featured his chart-topping version of The Four Tops hit Reach Out (I’ll Be There).  The album Worse Than Pride came next and contained the Top Ten single Out Of My Head. Red-Letter Day followed in 2000 where the classic Reasons to Leave can be found.

In the winter of 2002 Kieran released the compilation, Out Of My Head... The Best Of Kieran Goss, which was intended to act as a resumé of his work up to that point and to give him a breather while he holed up to write. More albums have, of course, followed.

Performing all over the world Kieran and his wife, Annie Kinsella, also a singer-songwriter, have been travelling and performing together for 20 years.

The Home For The Summer Show will see Kieran  perform the first half of the show solo. He will then be joined on stage in the second half by Annie.

As Time Out Magazine wrote of their performance together: “Individually, they are both gifted singers but when they sing together, magic happens… the harmonies, the chemistry… just sublime.”

Kieran and Annie are currently recording a duo album Oh the Starlings, which is scheduled for release in Ireland in February 2019. Their shows will feature new songs from that album as well as old favourites such as Out Of My Head, Reasons to Leave and Just Around the Corner.  Don’t miss your chance to see this unforgettable show.  

Tickets for the Home for the Summer show are available from Portico, Portaferry, on 028 4272 8808. Also visit www.porticoards.com.