Martha Wainwright announces shows in Belfast and Dublin

Martha Wainwright is going on tour this spring and summer to celebrate 20 years since she catapulted on the scene with her debut album, Martha Wainwright.

The Canadian singer-songwriter is coming to Belfast’s Mandela Hall on June 6th, followed by a performance at The Button Factory in Dublin on June 7th to close out her UK and Ireland stint.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 8th, via Ticketmaster.

On March 21st, will also see the release of Martha Wainwright on vinyl for the first time ever, with pre-orders TBA. The digital re-release will also unveil a collection of unheard tracks, outtakes and early material.

Wainwright’s self-titled debut launched her career to dizzying heights, becoming an immediate success. As the daughter of two cult folkies, Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, as well as sister of Rufus, the LP saw the singer step out of her family’s illustrious shadow, taking her acoustic lineage and suffusing it with a modern thematic flair. Featuring ‘Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole’, a song about her father, ‘Factory’ and ‘When The Day Is Short’, it immediately proved she was a major talent to be reckoned with.

“20 years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released,” Martha recalls in a press release. “In many ways that record defined me, as well as launched me into a now over 20 year long career that has made me who I am. It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love, practising, writing, singing until I could barely sing anymore, partying, playing with musicians and listening to great artists, working with my ex-husband in the studio for 2 years, all that created this first record.

“20 years later, with 6 other albums under my belt, 2 kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say my first record paved my way forward.”