A House Set To Return To The National Concert Hall

Saturday 29th June will see a very special performance at the National Concert Hall of I Am The Greatest, the A House album consistently recognised as one of the best to come from Ireland.

For this one-off concert Dave Couse, Fergal Bunbury and friends re-interpret the seminal 1991 album for 2019.

A House’s first two singles ‘Kick Me Again Jesus’ and ‘Snowball Down’ (both 1987) were released on the band’s independent label, RIP, but in the same year A House signed to UK-based Blanco-Y-Negro (a subsidiary of WEA Records). Two albums were released via the major label: their debut, On Our Big Fat Merry-Go-Round (1988) and I Want Too Much (1990).

Due to a perceived lack of commercial success of the albums, A House were dropped. Soon after, however, the band (now augmented by extra members) signed to London-based and Irish-aligned independent label Setanta. Two Eps were released on Setanta (1990’s Doodle and Bingo in 1991), followed by the third album in 1991 -  I Am The Greatest. Two more albums on Setanta were released: Wide Eyed And Ignorant (1994), and No More Apologies (1996).

Dublin’s A House formed in 1985, with the trio of Dave Couse, Fergal Bunbury and Martin Healy representing the core of the band throughout their 12-year existence - in 1997, on February 28, A House played their final show at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre.

I Am The Greatest becomes the second recipient of the NCH/IMRO Trailblazer Award following the triumphant return of Microdisney last year, whose album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs was acknowledged with the award

Speaking about this year’s award, Keith Johnson, Director of Marketing & Membership IMRO said: "Having received critical and public praise on its release, A House's I Am The Greatest has stood the test of time and to this day is still considered one of the finest Irish albums ever released. Singling out this iconic album for the prestigious 2019 NCH | IMRO Trailblazer Award will no doubt reinforce its legacy and fondness with fans, and perhaps even ignite a spark within a whole new generation of music creators".

Gary Sheehan, Head of Programme Planning, NCH said: “We are delighted that Dave Couse and Fergal Bunbury agreed to come together to perform a new interpretation of I Am The Greatest for 2019. The album was widely acclaimed and much-loved by music fans, quite correctly. It’s all here - joy, turmoil, hope. Dave and Fergal have decided to call themselves ‘A House is Dead’ for this one-off show. Maybe so… but these wonderful songs remain to be enjoyed.

The Trailblazer Award is a music award presented by IMRO and NCH celebrating seminal albums by iconic Irish musicians, songwriters and composers.

Concert tickets are on sale April 5th, 10am via nch.ie