Maria Kelly
Maria Kelly + Equinox, The Peacekeeper + Sean Christopher
Entry Requirements: 18+
"...kelly’s art is an immersive
experience, imbued with honesty and
enthused with youthful exuberance.
we love it." - wonderland
"...stunning..." - the 405
"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- consequence of sound
"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...." - the line of best fit
Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly returns with her most poignant and honest release to date. Her debut EP The Things I Should, out now via Veta Records, is a stunning collection of emotionally gripping tracks performed with purity and grace.
The EP is based around Maria’s struggle with self-expression and how, by always trying to please others, you can lose a part of yourself in the process. Maria explains, “these four songs are written about four different personal experiences, where a lack of honest expression at the outset had created a much bigger problem in the long run”. Opening track Torn Into Two immediately displays Maria’s signature fragile vocal tone as well as her incredibly earnest songwriting abilities akin to the likes of Lucy Rose and Billie Marten. Each track on the EP builds intricately alongside Kelly’s soaring vocal, with a captivating string arrangement throughout adding the final touch.
Line Up
Hailing from the West of Ireland, Maria Kelly has been captivating audiences with her ‘bare-boned’ live performance since the age of fourteen. Her music, a subtle blend of atmospheric-folk, tells humanising and heart-breaking tales, with ‘pin-drop’ vocal precision that’s impossible to ignore.
Following the release of her debut single ‘Before It Has Begun’ (Veta Records) in 2015, Maria has played relentlessly across the UK and Ireland. Most recently, she has returned from an Irish & UK tour, supporting Berlin-based indie band, HAWK. Previously, she appeared on the 2015 Other Voices music trail and was named ‘Artist of the Week’ by Nialler9.
Following that, her song ‘Black and Blue’ premiered in Consequence of Sound last summer, who celebrated her ‘silky smooth vocals’ and the maturing richness of her sound.
Her latest single ‘Stitches’ has been praised by the 405 (‘honest fragility, poignant pen-work’) and named as one of ‘The Best Tracks of 2016’ in The Irish Times.
Previously, she has supported the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and Wyvern Lingo and played venues such as Cork Opera House, Servant Jazz Quarters, Birthdays, The Lock Tavern, Whelans and The Róisín Dubh.
Maria was recently named one of ’50 people to watch in 2017’ in The Irish Times and is currently working in the studio on new tracks for her debut EP and developing her live sound with her band in preparation for a busy year ahead.
