By John Fitzgerald
Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny will host the long-awaited launch of poet/songwriter Peter Brabazon’s new CD, a collection of twelve numbers guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings.
Among the topnotch musicians joining Peter on the night of May 6th will be the widely acclaimed Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham
The carefully chosen songs will showcase some of the best of Peter’s prolific output as a poet and songwriter.
They tackle all the great and small themes touching on the human condition, which Peter addresses with an uncanny quirkiness and his highly infectious humour.
Fans of the Callan-based bard have been counting the hours and the minutes to the launch since word of the event began to spread on the county’s ever-vibrant bush telegraph. When and where, they wondered, would the songs set their pulses thumping and their imaginations into full flight?
Peter never fails to move audiences to tears… or laughter, or both simultaneously, with his soulful, joyous, comic, satiric, balladic, or doom-laden renditions of his own compositions and the work of his favourite writers.
He intersperses some of his musical gigs with recitations of poetry, a mix that goes down well, even among fans not so much into the muse, especially if they’ve learned long stretches of archaic verse off by heart at school under the gaze of frowning educators.
He has several books of poetry and creative prose to his credit… his work appealing to a broad readership, spanning the generations.
He derives inspiration for his songs and poems during moments of stillness, whether at home, talking a walk, listening to birdsong, or reflecting on life’s variegated challenges…anywhere in Ireland or during his travels overseas.
The creative urge never deserts him. Even on a visit to war-torn Ukraine two years ago for a friend’s wedding, he held forth on the joys of literature against a gaunt and often tense backdrop, mentally composing poetry in between rushing to air raid shelters when the sirens start blaring.
The CD launch will be held in Cleere’s Theatre (at the back of the pub) in Parliament Street, Kilkenny at 8. P.M on Friday, May 6th Admission: €10 which includes the cost of the CD.
The CD will also be available for €15 at Fennelly’s of Callan, from Bandcamp.com, and at other outlets yet to be decided.
