Covid restrictions meant that last year’s Busk for Simon Community couldn’t take place on the streets of the capital. Instead, a host of artists came together over two nights in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and did what they normally do around Grafton Street.

The results, viewable online last Christmas, were so good they turned them into a record to raise vital funds for Dublin Simon, at a time when a record number of people find themselves homeless.

The 10 tracks include bona fide heavyweights, like The Frames’ blistering take on ‘Fitzcarraldo’ and Bono’s powerful revisiting of ‘Running To Stand Still’, turning the song from addiction ballad to a singalong spiritual, courtesy of The Busk Choir – including fellow musicians and Simon Community volunteers. Liam O Maonlaí makes similar use of the crowd for a spirited run through Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’.

Meanwhile, Liam’s son Cian and his band Big Love deliver a gorgeous version of 2021 single ‘Lily’, the young O Maonlaí’s soulful vocals not unlike those of James Vincent McMorrow.

Other highlights include Lisa O’Neill’s Tom Waits-ean lullaby ‘Goodnight World’, and Laura Quirke’s beautiful solo ‘In The Half-Light’, a song she normally duets with Joshua Burnside. Damien Rice, meanwhile, debuts a new track, the tender drone of ‘Astronaut’, with a little help from Glen Hansard and Rónán O Snodaigh. A great album for the most worthy of causes.

Listen: ‘Running To Stand Still’
Score: 9/10

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