SHARON SHANNON

Chapel nightclub

SALISBURY’S Irish music fans had a treat last Wednesday when accordion player Sharon Shannon gave a concert at the Chapel nightclub.

The event was a real coup for the organiser, Salisbury’s Finbarr Sheehan.

Sharon Shannon is internationally-renowned and fills concert halls around the world so to see her in such intimate surroundings was a treat.

Shannon currently performs with versatile keyboard player and instrumentalist Alan Connor.

Both musicians play with consummate skill and show real empathy as they swap melodies and accompaniments. Sharon immediately struck up a rapport with the audience and had people dancing within the first couple of numbers.

Her warmth and joy in the music really shone through. The early part of their set featured a mix of dance and slower traditional tunes. The enthusiastic crowd cheered the duo as the tempo increased and they raced through a wide selection of of jigs and reels.

By the time they finished, the dancers were kicking chairs out of the way to give themselves more room.

The evening opened with a solo set from Salisbury’s own Lily McCauley. Fresh from being voted best solo female artist at this year’s Salisbury Music Awards, Lily sang several of her own songs and a few well-chosen covers. Her powerful voice and sensitive guitar conveyed her sometimes wonderfully dark songs to great effect.

One of Finbarr’s objectives at his gigs is to raise funds for Salisbury Hospice. On this occasion it raised a substantial sum in memory of Salisbury mum Lyn Futcher who passed away a year ago.

Finbarr does not have any more gigs booked for this year, but is already working on the programme for 2015.

 JOHN PALMER