MARY Coughlan, one of Ireland’s greatest jazz and blues singers, comes to the King’s Hall, Ilkley on Tuesday, April 16, 7.30pm.
Described as ‘Ireland’s Billie Holiday’ Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism and drug addiction to become a musical force like no other.
She arrives in Ilkley fresh from a well-received tour of Australia, where she thrilled audiences. ‘Mary Coughlan is still casting her earthy, Irish spells, as she has been doing for 35 years,’ reported the Brisbane Times in February 2019.
Her seminal first album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, and 15 albums later, her ability to deeply connect with both the song and her audience remains undiminished, a testament to her inner strength and to the power of transformation and redemption.
Mary live is in a league of her own, her glorious husky voice pulling every ounce of emotion from the music.
As the Observer said, ‘Mary Coughlan’s talent is awesome’. Resonant with the grief of Billie Holiday, the soul of Van Morrison and the defiance of Edith Piaf, to hear Mary sing is to be at the core of the human heart.
‘Her husky gin-soaked voice has been compared more often to Billie Holiday... at times she is more like an incredibly relaxed KD Lang or Edith Piaf.’ The Times
‘Bitter, seductive, raunchy, contemptuous. Startling songs of lust and disillusion’ MOJO
‘A song is not complete unless it has been sung by Mary Coughlan.’ Q Magazine
‘Tom Waits has met his Irish match.’ The Guardian
Tickets: £22.50. Call Bradford Theatres Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here