HAPPY MUNDY Singer-songwriter Mundy counts Dylan, The Doors and Hendrix among his early influences.
Ciara Moynihan
As word of the gigs in Castlebar’s Christ Church continues to spread, this Friday evening, September 1, will see Mundy become the latest big-name act to perform in the beautiful venue.
Mundy is one of a number of artists to successfully make the transition from street busking in Dublin to international stardom. Mundy’s acoustic, folk-based pop/rock has been compared to Damien Rice and Josh Ritter; however, his style is more upbeat and his jangle-pop influence and tendency to experiment with unconventional beats further distinguishes him.
Indeed, the artist, who has performed with acts like Van Morrison and the Manic Street Preachers, credits his style to early musical influences, which include Bob Dylan, REM, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and early U2.
Mundy cut his teeth on the streets of the capital. “I never really had a plan,” he told The Mayo News in 2011. “At 17, I just decided to go to Dublin and maybe make a few quid and meet people. I’d go the odd day to Dublin when I finished school and I just decided to start busking. Through that I met a lot of people like Paddy Casey, Damien Dempsey and Glen Hansard, and I was introduced to a lot of different singer songwriters.”
The 42-year-old Birr man was first spotted at a singer/songwriter night at the International Bar on Wicklow Street in Dublin in 1994. Since then, he has gone on to release eight albums and become a much-loved fixture on the Irish live-music scene.
The repertoire for Friday’s gig in Castlebar will include many of his most popular tunes from his 20 year career, including ‘July’ and ‘Galway Girl.’
Doors open at 7.45pm. Tickets, €20 each, are available from The Galway Roast, Castlebar, or by contacting 087 9909860.
