Mary Coughlan

Renowned Irish jazz and blues singer Mary Coughlan is set to take centre stage at this year’s Mountshannon Arts Festival, leading an outstanding line-up of musical performances. Known for her raw, soulful voice and deeply emotive storytelling, Coughlan’s headline act promises an unforgettable evening for festivalgoers. 

Her appearance perfectly encapsulates this year’s festival theme of ‘Evolution’, with both the Galway singer and the East Clare event having made storied journeys over the decades. Coughlan's fame as one of the country’s foremost jazz and blues performer saw her inspired by the likes of Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith, though her catalogue includes influences by music’s many genres. Now, as she celebrates with a 40th-anniversary tour, her evolution finds her exploring a little-known side of the music of Peggy Lee.

MAIL ON SUNDAY 4**** album of the week “Mary delivers a set of torch songs with fierce tenderness and precise timing. Her version of God Only Knows, the Beach Boys classic, is better than David Bowie’s”.

MOJO 4**** “Honey-voiced Irish national treasure looks over her shoulder on her 15th album”. Mark Cooper

BLUES MATTERS “A wonderful album full of great songs, and an album that reminds us who Mary Coughlan is, a brilliant artist. Stephen Harrison

GET READY TO ROCK 4**** “a soulful voice which wrings every last drop of meaning from every last word” Pete Feenstra

RAMZINE “Mary has taken all life can throw at her but she’s still got an unquenchable thirst of life & song & has put it all into this quite delightful collection of tunes”.

IRISH POST “A dramatic & passionate performer. She has a unique voice and remains one of the legends of Irish music”.

MUSIC-NEWS.COM 5***** “This album is one of the best in a long career & clearly indicates that she is still in love with music. The opening – title – track is a gentle masterpiece. An album very much to fall in love with.”

Photo Credit Ciara Buckley