Padraig Jack - Making Sand
Padraig Jack writes and sings songs on guitar and piano in Gaelic and English. He was born and raised 10 miles off the west coast of Ireland on the Aran islands. Music and words are in his blood as his dad is bilingual songwriter Barry Ronan and he is the nephew on his mothers side of the Irish poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley. His music is influenced by his surroundings as much as it is by James Taylor, Van Morrison, Shane McGowan and The Eagles. Padraig Jack has appeared on RTE 1 Television, TG4, RTE Radio 1, Newstalk as well as many Irish and BBC regional radio stations. His Gaelic language songs are played almost daily on the national Irish language radio station RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Padraig’s live shows are reinforcing his reputation as a singer and songwriter of substance in both English and Irish. Career highlights to date include multiple tours with Sharon Shannon playing venues such as Whelans in Dublin, the Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre, Poole Lighthouse theatre and the famous Cecil Sharp House in London. He has thus far opened for The Saw Doctors, Donal Lunny, Mick Flannery, The 4 of Us, John Spillane and has appeared at numerous festivals including Electric Picnic and the SOMA, Shorelines and the Skibbereen Arts Festivals. Padraig played his latest sold-out headline show in the Crane Bar in Galway in November 2019 while on an Irish tour that featured memorable shows in The Cobblestone Dublin, Coughlans Cork and Bridge St in Castlebar.
Padraig has won second prize at the Pan Celtic National Song contest and his song ‘Minnie’ was shortlisted for the final of the Christie Hennessy song contest. He has also received numerous Gradaim NÓS Award nominations (incl. Song and Artist of the year). Making Sand is his debut album. It was named Album of the week on RTÉ Radio 1.
The album opens with Let It Shine, a fine rock number with a full band and the harmica adding some bluesy mood into the mix. The following "Gospel of Matthew" flows in the same mood, the energy bursting out and you can well see this somewhere on a big stage.
Streetbed Ridden highlights the issue of homelessness but not in a sentimental way, more matter of fact. A wake up call to those capable to do something about it. An upbeat melody lifts the spirit but the direct lyrics stick the knife into the soul and make you think about what you hear.
Making Sand could be semi-autobiographical, you hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the salt in the air. The flute enhances the Celtic feel and the lyrics speak for themselves.Even more so even a line from the chorus is sung in the Irish language. Padraig Jack comes across as a Gael through and through.
"Celtic culture still maintained so dear"
The soundscapes created around the powerful lyrics draw the listener's attention not only to the words but to their meaning. The songs sung in Gaelic transport you to a different mindset, make everything around you disappear and you get lost in the sounds. Doesn't matter not knowing what they mean.
Fighting Irish is a perfect example of the storytelling the Irish in general are so renowned for. This song is a beautiful encounter between trad and folk.
You can smell the sea throughout the album, the pride of the Celtic heritage is shining through.