Kingly Kennedy’s Royal Highlight

The name Brian, means ‘high’ or ‘noble’ and its suitably the name of Brian Boru, one of the greatest of the high kings of Ireland. Brian is a name shared by Irish musician Brian Kennedy and the name sits well with him too. Possessing a voice of kingly authority in contemporary music, its also a voice that ironically both exalts and calms the spirits.

It’s been several years since Brian Kennedy has visited Tasmania and although on his previous two visits he hasn’t had the opportunity to see a lot of Tasmania he does recognise it as a beautiful place and describes it as ‘gorgeous’.

Brian is most known to audiences for the original and arguably the best rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’ with Norwegian group Secret Garden and for his participation in Riverdance on Broadway. Brian also has a solid background in recording and composing as well as a natural desire to continually challenge himself in new areas including a successful career as an author with two novels to his credit.

On this tour Brian will be showcasing his new album ‘Voice’ and indeed the album gives us a glimpse of many different voices from Brian, a traditional Irish song, songs of unrequited love, songs of finding strength to move on, and a song of positivity for a time of recession. In ‘Best Days’ Brian aims and succeeds in giving a positive spin to hard times.

Brian’s optimism spreads to a reworking of one of the songs on the album ‘Sunday Morning’, a song that celebrates life’s small joys. Brian adapted this song to ‘Christmas morning’ for Christmas last year in Ireland. Christmas is a holiday with all its attendant stresses that makes it decidedly not Brian’s favourite time of year, however he manages to celebrate its joys with gusto in this adaptation.

Always happy to take on challenges Brian recently was one of the judges on the Irish version of ‘The Voice’. He found it a learning curve and requiring him to use his ears rather than his eyes.

Eyes, however, will be working hard when Brian performs in Tassie’s Theatre Royal as he will be keenly on the look out for Fred the resident ghost!

As Brian is an infrequent visitor to Tasmania, I ask how he chooses what songs to perform from what is a vast back catalogue. Brian says the way he chooses is ‘hormonal’ in that it is a response to the audience’s reaction to his storytelling.

Music is not the only thing on Brian’s agenda with forays into television presenting and a potential interest in acting roles to challenge him further. Brian tells me he has had acting offers from Australia although nothing has materialised as yet.

Before his visit to Tasmania Brian will take part in a 20th anniversary Riverdance retrospective where Brian will sing with the male members of the original troupe. Also, on the cards for Brian is a new album in homage to one of his favourite artists, Joni Mitchell.

If that is not enough, before he packs his bags for Australia Brian will record the new TV program ‘Hit’ which will see artists taking to a room to choose between them a hit song. Production of the show finishes on the 30th August just before he jets out to Australia.

Some interesting trivia about Brian is the fact that in spite of a in spite of a flourishing career on television Brian doesn’t own a TV. The decision to be TV less came about when he stayed in surroundings without television and found it a preferable atmosphere. Another surprising fact about Brian is that he has never eaten at McDonalds!

This multi-talented Renaissance man will be in his element at the iconic Theatre Royal on Wednesday, 25th September 2013 – 8:00pm.

Also on the bill will be Australia’s Shane Howard (Goanna, ‘Solid Rock’).
Paula Xiberras