The Hills Above the Valley

www.batkinanemusic.com
www.batkinanemusic.com

Some years ago historian, poet and writer Mattie Lennon was producing a DVD “Sunrise on the Wicklow Hills” and it was a struggle to get fourteen or fifteen Wicklow songs. It would appear that there was a dearth of songwriters in the Garden County. All that has changed. Wicklow singer/songwriter Barry “Bat” Kinane is bringing out an album, “The Hills above the Valley.” The release coincides with the 75th anniversary of the flooding of the Liffey Valley and the formation of the Blessington lakes. All ten are Wicklow songs which, in the true ballad tradition, tell tales of love, hardship, tragedy, hope and humour.

Tracklist:

  1. Where The Brook Waters Flow
  2. Cockahoof
  3. Mary
  4. The Ballyknockan Band/Ballyknockan Band Reel
  5. Ballinahown
  6. Mrs O’s Delight/ Mrs O’s Delight Reel
  7. Madonna and the Lion
  8. A Stonecutter’s Journey
  9. Biddy Mulvey & the Landgrabber
  10. The Hills above the Valley

Barry, who grew up in Ballyknockan is married with two children and lives in Carrigacurra, overlooking the beautiful Blessington Lakes. He has been a songwriter and composer of music most of his life and started playing in bands as a teenager.

His music has been played on BBC, RTE and their equivalent stations in Sweden, Germany and Norway as well as rock shows all over the world. While in hard rock band Glyder he toured all over Europe and opened for international acts like Metallica, Slash, Thin Lizzy and many more. In 2010 he released a solo album, “A Lifetime to Kill” described as “folk prog” by Hot Press magazine. It featured guest appearances from Johnny Cash’s bass player Dave Rorick as well as top Irish musicians Rob Strong and Pat MacManus. In 2014 he released a Country and Bluegrass album with The Whole Hog Band called “Ordinary Days” which he recorded and produced in his own studio. It received the award of best debut album at the Leinster Entertainment Awards.

Barry has been a finalist in many writing competitions and in 2014 won the prestigious Sean McCarthy Ballad writing competition in Listowal, Co. Kerry.

The album “The Hills Above the Valley” will be released digitally on 23rd November and is available to purchase on CD “direct from the artist” at: wwwbatkinanemusic.com

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