TANYA McCole says that nothing compares to a live audience. During the past 18 months of limited contact, the Ardara singer and her colleagues have had to find other ways to connect with listeners while the usual options for live performances have been suspended.
Later this month, Tanya will perform live at Rathmullan House as part of the Earagail Arts Festival as limited audiences return to venues after months of shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The show, on Sunday, July 25, is sold out.
“I feel really, really excited. It’s amazing to be playing in front of a live audience again. Little did I know that a two-week lockdown at the beginning of this would last almost eighteen months. It’s mad,” she said.
Tanya’s uniquely distinctive voice and songwriting ability has been been captivating audiences across Donegal and much further afield for the best past of thirty years now.
The daughter of a Garda Sergeant, Tanya tried her hand at filleting fish, driving a digger and working on building sites in London before coming home to Ireland, and Galway, in 1996 where she worked on the bin lorries.
Around that same time she joined well-known soul band The Horny Devils and her singing career took off.
She has performed with the likes of Sharon Shannon, Mundy and Shane MacGowan and toured with Grammy award winner, the late, great John Prine.
“It’s been a tough time. We’ve had somewhat of a frugal existence this past year and a half but I’ve had fantastic support from Heather. She’s been my right hand woman and without her I wouldn’t have survived,” she said.
As a full-time musician, Tanya has found her diary unusually quiet in recent times.
“I’m delighted to be playing in Rathmullan House while I’ve another gig in October – which is secret at the minute – and one in London next April. That’s all that’s in the diary. No one is booking at the moment and we don’t know what is going to happen next. It’s the whole uncertainty which is the hardest thing to take,” she said.
Tanya takes great relief from the fact that she is now fully vaccinated.
“I’ve had a heart condition for quite a while and being vaccinated helps take the fear out of everyday things,” she admitted.
One of Tanya’s earlier memories is singing into the mirror pretending to be Elvis and making ‘sweet music’ with her sister Michelle – whenever the pair weren’t fighting!
“It’s all that I ever really wanted to do and getting the opportunity to go on tour with John Prine elevated me to a whole different level. It gave me a different sort of respect from people.
“I’m looking forward to playing to a live audience and it’s sold out too which is a bonus. I wasn’t sure if people would even remember who I was after being off the circuit for so long.
“I’m just so delighted to be able to play in front of human beings. I did a few things for the RCC and Emerald Guitars during the year but they were recorded in a studio and no one there. I’m chomping at the bit to get back out there,” she said.
When the world shut down, so did live music venues.
“Musicians have been let down and haven’t received a lot of support from government. Music is the backbone of Ireland,” she said.
“Weirdly, for me, the pandemic couldn’t have come at a better time though. I had a few health issues which knocked me back but the pandemic meant that I didn’t have to cancel a tour or lay off a band. I’m now back in the saddle. I’m playing my guitar again and I’m rehearsing ahead of the Earagail Arts Festival gig,” she said.
And after sitting quiet for more than a year, Tanya has also started to write new material.
“I put pen to paper a few weeks back and I’ve written some new songs. Who knows, I might even get to include them in my set,” she said.
“It really is amazing to be back,” she added.