‘I can’t wait to share this milestone’
“This road wasn't easy,” James McGrath said ahead of the release of his long-awaited debut album this month.
For the well-travelled Nenagh solo musician, ‘Can't Get Out’ represents the culmination of a journey that began almost 20 years ago when James fronted local band Bluebox Duvet. While still a teenager, he went on to write and perform his own music, and quickly earned renown for his exciting one-man live shows.
Son of well-known bassist Hughie McGrath, James has music in his blood and a string of well-received singles and EPs followed. He relocated to the UK to gain greater promotion of his music but regularly returned to Ireland to gig.
A definite highlight of James' tenure to date was opening for Aslan on their 30th anniversary tour in 2012. The tour included sold-out shows at Dublin's Olympia theatre, as well as Nenagh Arts Centre.
More recently basing himself in Tennessee and Florida to record music, James' debut album will be released this month by US label Shamrock Records. The 12-track album is titled ‘Can't Get Out’ in reference to James' song about “drinking, smoking, gambling, women, religion and more the sheer ups and downs of life in the heart of town”.
LAUNCH PARTY
He will release the album with a launch party at The Kenyon on Saturday, August 24. “It's hard to believe that my first album is coming out,” James said in a post on Facebook. “I know so many of you have followed and supported my journey ups and downs, and I'm so grateful.
“I guess it's overwhelming to think that I'm releasing my first album, and for so many of my friends here, you'd understand this road wasn't easy. It was hard to see it happening at times.”
James thanked his manager James Jester and Alex Dale, who works on his music videos, for their support. He also praised Peter Maher of Middlewalk Studios in Cloughjordan, where the album was recorded, and photographer Selina O'Meara of Carney for capturing the cover image.
“To my family and friends, who stuck around through one too many rock bottoms, I can't thank you enough,” James said. “Your support has meant everything to me, and I can't wait to share this milestone with all of you. I'm the very person who gives out about all the soppy X Factor stories, but I feel this just needed to be said.”
James will perform on the launch night with support from Eddie Lawlor from Portroe, now living in Sydney, where he sings with a band called Medusa's Wake. “Folks, if you haven't heard Eddie, you are in for a treat,” James commented.
Doors open at 8.30pm and pre-sale tickets (€15) are already available on Eventbrite. Additional tickets may be available on the door.