The Last Sunday Showcase

An increasingly popular platform for emerging and established talent, this monthly showcase (run in conjunction with IMRO) has been hanging the “House Full” signs of late.

Tonight’s line-up featured an intriguing mix of acts with Niall Brennan and Frank McGing, otherwise known as The Prescriptions, opening proceedings. Their songs, penned in the main by Brennan, range from the highly polemic to gorgeously melodic ballads reminiscent at times of Glen Tilbrook – all deftly sung and performed with some nice piano lines from McGing.

Recently featured in Hot Press, Belfast based singer-songwriter Susan Enan is a real find, her low-key, understated delivery recalling the two Beths – Gibbons and Orton – while her mature lyrics betray her age. Performing songs from her current self-produced EP Moonlight/Skin, Bone & Silicone she held the audience in rapt silence.

No stranger to the Irish scene, Garrett Wall – now based in Madrid – introduced a selection of songs from his third studio album, Gravity, currently receiving heavy airplay in Spain. Always an engaging performer with a great voice and solid songs (some sung in Spanish) Wall could yet break through internationally.

Wrapping up a successful Irish tour before heading Stateside where he resides, special guest Freddie White was his usual entertaining self. Wisely he stuck to long-time favourites like ‘Martha’, ‘Walking Stick’ and, appropriately given the times we live in, a cover of Randy Newman’s sardonic take on world political events, ‘God’s Song’.

A highly enjoyable and entertaining evening.