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My Debut Album

Well here it is, my debut album is finally released and I couldn't be happier. So much work went into this and I'm going to use this to thank as many people as I can.

First off to Darren Farrell for doing all this for me. Darren heard me first back over five years ago and had faith in me from day one. This wasn't our first attempt at an album but this is the first one we've released and I think we got it right this time.

I want to thank Eamonn DeBarra, John McLoughlin and Sean Regan for the work they put in on the music and Ciaran Finn for helping me with the arrangements. All the songs you hear on this are no older than two hours old from the first rehearsal to the final recording and it really does show how professional these musicians are.

Paul Browne who doesn't feature on the album but has been my guitarist for near five years. I want to thank him for all the time and work he's put in over the years and some of these arrangements are pieces myself and Paul worked out over the years.

Avril and all the team at 10 Music Management and Trad Nua for all the background work on the editing and artwork etc.

Let's go back a bit further. Pauline Horgan and Emanuel Lawlor who gave me the years of music lessons and singing classes and not letting me quit when times got tough.

I know as I'm writing this I'm forgetting people and I'm sorry for that. But I finally want to thank my friends and family. There is an endless amount of reasons I'd be thanking them for so I won't even get into it all but they have been amazing all along this journey.

So there you go a small list of amazing people and hopefully they will be all with me on my next project that's coming.

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Sean McGuinness from The Dublin City Ramblers.

Sean played a big part in the start of my career. I went to a charity gig that Sean was playing for St Michaels House and we got talking, I told him I was a Drew and we spoke in dept about Ronnie. He asked did i sing? And at the time I wasn't really singing but I had a few songs under my belt. He asked me what they where I told him and he invited me on stage with the band. We sang the Rocky Road to Dublin that night and it went down really well with both the crowd and the band. A short while later I went to see the band in Tallaght. Myself and Sean got talking again, he invited me on stage to do the Rocky Road again. Again, it went down well and I was asked to do a second song so we did The Rattlin' Bog. These where the first few times I got to sing with a live band on a stage. Sean and Myself still keep in touch from time to time, but it was these small experiences with The Ramblers that helped pave the way for my future in Irish Music

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Brendan Grand & Mary Byrne

While Brendan is known more for his comedy over his singing this is the reason I want to talk about him. I put a lot of comedy into my shows and gigs as best I can and its comedians like Brendan that help me along. I watched him so much as a kid on VHS in the house. He was one of the guys who wasn't too rude for me to watch as a kid. It's great as a performer being able to watch and dissect what another performer is doing and studying what it is that makes them so good. Mary Byrne is also in this picture, I love Marys power in her voice. It's singers like Mary I look up too as I have quiet a powerful voice myself. Regardless of the genre difference there is always something that can be learned from other artists so it was a privilege​ meeting Mary.

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Finbar Furey

Finbar is one of the first of the folk legends I had the privilege to meet and it was under and unusual circumstance. Back in 2006 I had started to study opera in DIT under an amazing singer and teacher Emmanual Lawlor. For 6 years every year my old school in Sallynoggin put on a Christmas concert in the local church. This was the first year however I would be singing at this event as I had played the trumpet up until that point. Emmanual was a good friend on my cousin Ronnie (and actually features on Ronnies last album). I invited Ronnie to hear the work that me and Emmanual had been working on, he asked could he bring a friend, of course that wasn't a problem and along comes Finbar. Finbar brought his whistle to play a tune (The Lonesome Boatman no doubt). It was through Finbar I would be introduced to The High Kings and we still keep in touch today.

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The Stable Sessions

I’m here listening to Johnny McEvoy perform his Stable Sessions album. It's a fantastic collection of songs and stories from Johnny's career.

I'm listening to him talk about Luke Kelly and Liam Clancy and I'm jealous ha. Jealous I wasn't born in a time when I could experience them live. Phenomenal singers and legendary characters.

My own stable session will be out in the new year and I can't wait. It will be an honour to be on the same label as Johnny, Shay Healy, George Murphy and who know who else in the future

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Vicar Street

For years I looked up at this stage and I used to say to myself, "some day". well ladies and gentlemen, today is SOME DAY!  And I couldn't be happier to be here sharing this moment with so many talented people, friends and family.

My opening line last night at "Here's to you Ronnie Drew" charity tribute night. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm making it.

last night I got to sing The Monto for a sold out Vicar Street. It was surreal,  hundreds of cheering people and then to walk back stage and have so many talented inspirational people hug and kiss me for doing it.

God I really can't put down in words how I feel about the whole thing. I do wish Ronnie got to hear me sing it, but I know he did at the same time.

I really hope I made an impression because that buzz I felt last night...I want that again and again and again.

If I'm lucky I'll get to do it again on Monday ;)

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It’s All Go

It’s been a few weeks now since my video blog, but I've actually been a bit busy

Aside from the music I've started Crossfit and that can leave me in agony so physically opening the laptop is a struggle.

But I've open led the laptop and I'm getting this done. I got word back from the powers that be that all my album tracks came out well and that the album is definitely happening. So I am really over the moon with that news. Now that the laptop is open I'll be researching my arse off trying to find new/old songs for the next album.

I've also got a new gig, I'll be organising a pub session in town every Monday. This will be a great opportunity for me to get to meet new musicians and singers.

I also had a trip up to Donegal for the first time this week. The place is absolutely stunning. At one stage I taught I was in Thailand it was surreal.

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First Video Blog stay tuned for more

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Rehearsals

Well it's been another while since I was on. But I've an excuse, New Album is coming :) I've been working on it a lot recently and have a few more weeks to start perfecting it as best I can. Been working with some really talented people and their input has been fantastic. Old songs getting a new lease of life and new songs finally getting to see the light of day.

I'm so excited. I've been singing for over 4 years and had a few small releases with stuff but this is the debut one. I can't really give many secrets away but I am dying to tell everyone what is happening.

I'll post up again soon to let you know how it's all coming along, but so far so good :)

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I love my job

This week I really started to knuckle down and get some work done and I'm loving it

Not only am I learning new songs I'm writing stories and songs to go with those stories. I'm having meetings in the parks and getting to have a few pints while I research songs in singing clubs. It's so much fun. Right now I'm writing this after a morning of guitar lessons and singing. I get to hop onto my instagram soon and make some pretty pictures.

I guess having worked in a 9 to 5 for the guts of 8 years I can appreciate all this so much more now.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow me on most social media sites https://twitter.com/iandrewmusic https://www.facebook.com/iandrewmusic/ http://iandrewmusic.tumblr.com/ http://www.iandrewmusic.com/ Instagram: iandrewmusic

Right back to work! :)

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Normality has resumed

We'll the Olympia shows are over now. And I have to say being able to play in a theatre in Dublin that has a huge place in heart was a phenomenal experience. The show was taken so well by the Irish audiences it really caught us off guard. Standing ovations every night. It was just brilliant.

But back to normality now. Straight back into the Arlington Hotel and I have to say that it is amazing being back. I missed it so much.  The buzz of performing to people is something I love and can't get enough of it in this hotel. Great seeing the staff again. Great getting to know the next staff. Great having my regular band of musicians back around me. Great being back singing my songs and learning new ones. It's all just great. I'm genuinely shocked about how much I missed it an how well I've fit back in.

We'll see how I feel in a weeks time haha :)

Also on a side note. Here's a glimpse of all the magnets I bought my Nanny for her fridge. She's added them to her already large collection ha

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Back at home! #Irish comfort food! 

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Home Sweet Home

I'm back.

Back in Dublin after the tour and everyone said it would take me weeks to settle back in. Liars ha. Soon as I was off that plane my family where there to welcome me home with a "Welcome home" balloon and....wait for it....a box of Meanies. That was enough I was settled again, like I never had left.

How ever in regards to settling back in because of jetlag, they were right. It got me, good. It's after taking me about 5 days to get myself right.  Didn't know me arse from me elbow for days.

I've had a few days off and tomorrow I go into rehearsals for essentially the final week of the tour. 6 nights straight in the Olympia Dublin. Shouldn't be hard it's the same show more or less that we've been doing for 4 months. But it's exciting getting to sing in one of my bucket list venues and on the same stage as some of my musical hero's. I'm very very excited for that.

Then after that I'm back home. The Arlington Hotel. I can't wait for it :)

I'll be in touch! Laters

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America Tour

It's been a long time since I got around to writing one of these. The reason...I've been having the time of my life and time got away from me. The last blog was back in Colorado and so much has happened since then. As I speak I'm en route to my final show of the tour in the USA after having visited 33 US States and 2 Canadian provenance along the way.

To sum up, I've pretty much seen it all. Like if you could picture the best of the USA on a postcard I've probably seen it

Grand Canyon Las Vegas The Rocky Mountains New York Los Angeles NFL and NBA games Graceland Universal and Disney Studio's NASA

And once off experiences like

Being in Denver when they won the Superbowl Folsom Prison Making naked snow angles on a frozen Mississippi River Singing into Elvis' own microphone Playing on Jerry Lee Lewis piano Shooting an AK and a Sub Automatic Russian Machine Gun (supervised) Seeing wild Dolphins up close Seeing where JFK and John Lennon where shot

My list could go on and on. I didn't get Mount Rushmore the White House or to go on a big Riverboat but they are my excuses now when I need a holiday. But the whole experience has been one I'll never forget or regret taking. It's clearly had many ups and a few downs. And the one down was home sickness. I have missed ireland something terrible. The craic in the pubs is so unique to Ireland. The butter and tea is shite in America and don't get me started on the chocolate. I will miss the burgers though...my God every burger was send down from a greasy heaven. Can't bate that. It's Monday now and I'm off tomorrow. Wednesday I've that last show. And fly out Thursday I'll check in then and let you know how it was and what it's like to be back in Dublin!

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Froozen

Well it's been a while since I wrote. Main reason. It's been to bloody cold. After Vegas we popped into Scottsdale AZ for a day. It was such a cool place. A real old time country western vibe in the old town and then an amazing arts university where we performed that night. But my favourite thing about Arizona is that even in January it was 26°c. We were able to lie in the grass and tan while all my friends at home got blown away by another hurricane. Next we headed to Pismo beach. A beautiful area of California. We sat on the beach an watched the sunset and later sat around an open fire it was so relaxing. Just what we needed after our first month. So after that we hopped back on the bus for some serious travelling towards Colorado.

This is where the cold kicked in. We made our way to Beaver Creek an amazing looking skiing resort but it's 8,000 ft above sea level which meant it was -22°c once the sun went down. In 48 hours I took a temperature drop of 46°c. Some of the guys got sick from the cold some got sick from the altitude it was miserable for some people. I however had an amazing time :)

As luck would have it on Sunday we got to go Denver to watch the Broncos play in the Superbowl and as luck would have it,  they won the Superbowl so we got to party on the streets of Denver. I'd never even once watched an American Football game. So to watch my first game in the town that won the 50th Superbowl was pretty cool and a moment that I will be rubbing in my mates faces for a good long time

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#Caesars Palace  #Coca cola Bear #Las Vegas

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Folsom/ Vegas

I got to go to Folsom Prison were the legendary Johnny Cash performed. We naturally weren't aloud into the prison but just outside was a small museum and gift shop which was full of cool bits and pieces. The fun part was standing in the same spot as Johnny and getting the photo taken.

Now I talk about Las Vegas. This place is breathtaking. From lights to the people everything is just so in your face and wonderful. We got to stay in the Luxor (the pyramid ), which was unreal inside! Huge Egyptian sculptures everywhere and very very very friendly staff to look after us.

Now one thing on my list was to go to a magic show in Vegas, and who better then the 40 year veterans Penn and Teller. We got and great deal on our seat and had yet another dream come true. I got to help them out onstage making an elephant disappear :) and then to top it off I got to meet them after the show and then I got to hear Teller speak! All this blew my mind.

But I have to say out off all the amazing stuff to happen and see (Matt Damon making the new Bourne Movie, Ceasers Palace etc etc) my favourite thing was meeting the Coke Cola bear and posing for photos! I will attach a video and you will see the pure joy in my face!

I've just arrived in Scotsdale Arizona. I'm back to work! Talk soon!