Peter McGrory, Burnfoot.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
THIS weekend another Donegal man takes to the daunting stage of The Voice Of Ireland blind auditions in a bid to make the next stage of the competition.
Singer/songwriter Peter McGrory (28) from Tooban, Burnfoot lived in the UK for nine years where he went to music college but returned home in Christmas 2012 when he had a serious health scare and was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The gigs were drying up in England due to the recession and Peter was also one week away from being homeless. This turn of events meant that he decided to come home to Ireland.
Very much a rock artist who also likes folk music and some pop too, Peter has been gigging for years, but this is the first time he has participated in an audition. His dream is get a record contract and his biggest fear is failing at this; that is why he applied for the show.
Often compared to Pearl Jam’s lead singer Eddie Vedder, it comes as no surprise that Peter performs one of the US band’s hits, Black, to demonstrate his vocal range at the auditions.
Donegal already has two contestants through to the battles stages – Kedar Friis-Lawrence (18) from Glen, near Carrigart and Paddy Molloy (23) from Glenties.
Will it be third time lucky this weekend with Peter McGrory’s performance? Don’t miss The Voice of Ireland this Sunday on RTÉ One, at 6.30pm.