Lisa Hannigan, music's prolific "Passenger," is making a stop-over in the States this week, with a handful of new tunes in tow. Fans of Hannigan have elatedly anticipated the singer-songwriter's arrival, who is in residence at the Irish Arts Center to develop her newest work, to be performed in her concert series Thursday through Saturday.
The Kilcloon, Co. Meath, native, whose voice first reached the public ear in 2001, established herself as a solo music artist in 2007, and has given highlight performances at Electric Picnic and Glastonbury festivals and made U.S. television appearances on “The Colbert Report,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
She performed with her live band, the Daisy Okell Quartet, with whom she has contributed to the recordings of Herbie Hancock, Mic Christopher, and the Frames, and toured extensively in the U.S. with Jason Mraz and David Gray. Hannigan frequently collaborates with an array of Irish and international acts alike, such as Glen Hansard, Saint Sister, Rosie Carney, Nerina Pallot, Olivia Merilahti, Ray Lamontagne, Mick Flannery, and The Chieftains.
The Mercury Prize-winning, Choice Music Prize and Meteor Music Award-nominated, and Hot Press Readers’ Poll award-winning musician has since released three solo LPs to a wealth of critical praise. Her 2008 debut album “Sea Sew” released to positive acclaim from the New York Times and Financial Times, as well as the Los Angeles Times, which wrote of the album’s release, “ ‘Sea Sew’ has won praise for its playful lyricism and imaginative arrangements…” Of her 2011 album “Passenger,” characterized by Hannigan as “transience and nostalgia,” Rolling Stone wrote, “Her voice is light and agile, her phrasing like exquisite plumage, and her folksy songs move with deceptive power, sailing on guitars, strings and Irish drama.” Hannigan’s most recent album, “At Swim,” released in 2016, was met with general favor, regarding her melodies as “…expansive and pretty…” by the Financial Times, with lyrics remarked in review by The Irish Times as “…grounded in a profound sense of self-realization.”
Adding to her individual works, Hannigan has amassed accomplishments as a voice actor, in particular to Cartoon Saloon's 2014 animated masterpiece "Song of the Sea,” as a music composer for numerous films, as well as lending her talents on charity projects benefiting Oxfam, Aware, and Safe Ireland.
Hannigan's musicianship has been long renowned for her buoyant resilience, which oftentimes chronicles a personal journey, which accompanies her undulating, emotional narratives. While the subject of her latest songs, her newest original project to premiere since 2016, have remained quite tight-lipped, audiences will be thrilled to hear her dolefully celebrant voice, wistful melodies and ever-clever verse.
Hannigan will be joined in performance for the Irish Arts Center concert by Krea (formerly known as Karen Cowley) and Theodora Byrne on vocals, Yuki Numata on violin, and Clarice Jensen on cello. Don’t wait to wade away in her words.
Tickets to the concert series are strictly limited. For bookings, visit here.
