Dublinesque release self-titled debut album

Dublinesque have released their self-titled debut album. Frontman Eamonn Flynn, a Dubliner, has previously released multiple solo albums.

Flynn started his music career playing the soundtrack to the 1991 movie The Commitments and touring with that band. Having moved to San Francisco ten years ago, he founded Dublinesque for the end-of-term show of the children's music class he was teaching. He is now the band's vocalist, songwriter and pianist.

The band is completed by Darcy Noonan on fiddle, a local from Oakland who grew up playing Irish trad music; Hector Bragado from Guernica on banjo, contributing a Basque dance and music influence; and Félim Egan from County Offaly on accordion and bodhrán.

The album features several original tracks along with traditional Irish songs. The quartet's other influences have been named as soul and gospel.

“Dublinesque is my attempt to recreate the kind of parties we had in my parents’ house, growing up in Dublin,” said Flynn of the album. “There’d be neighbours and friends, and it would always end up as a sing-song/jam session. Everyone would participate – if you couldn’t hold a tune, you’d perform a ‘recitation’ or tell a joke!

“There was never any delineation between genres of music – whether it was Irish tunes and ballads, soul music, or a Beatles song,” he added.

The album was produced by non-profit record company Little Village.

Listen to Dublinesque below: