Brendan McGlynn. Photo: Dara Munnis.
BY LAURA BRENNAN
LAST Thursday night a young Donegal singer songwriter took to the stage of Whelan’s in Dublin supporting fellow Irish musician Hozier at a sold out gig in the capital.
Brendan McGlynn from Letterkenny is a musician who is definitely one to watch after the 22-year-old was contacted by MCD Music Promotors to fill the supporting slot at one of Ireland’s most renowned music venues for the exclusive Hozier gig which was announced on Tuesday last and sold out within minutes.
“I found out about the gig on Wednesday after MCD rang me, I was pretty nervous but really excited to be given such an opportunity like this, I haven’t really done any major supporting slots on my own before and I didn’t really know who was going to be there or what to expect.
“It was mainly an invited guest-list of people from record labels and other music industry reps and managers so it was a big privilege to be asked to perform especially considering how popular Hozier has become. He’s definitely one of the biggest acts coming out of Ireland right now.”
This isn’t the first time Brendan has met the ‘Take Me To Church’ singer who’s music swept across Irish airwaves late last year.
“I actually met Hozier last summer at Electric Picnic, we were both playing on the Oxjam stage at the festival and I got to chat to him quite a bit he’s a really genuine guy.
“His music is very soulful and bluesy and I’m more folky. We talked about guitars because he’s an amazing player and he was saying how he really loves my arrangements and the a cappella harmonies in some of my songs,” he said.
After finding out he’d be playing the gig Brendan took a day off college to prepare.
“I just practiced all day and I was asking friends for advice on what I should play, I’ve been writing a lot recently and decided to start my set with some new material I’d been working on.”
See this Monday’s Donegal News for an in-depth feature on Brendan McGlynn.