Oisin Leech – Whelans – Live Review
by Killian Laher

Singular Artists proudly presents Oisin Leech live at Whelan’s, Dublin 14th November 2024

A first headline solo show at Whelans for Oisin Leech, who, with double bass player Graham Heaney has been touring the Cold Sea album for the last six months or so.  First up was renowned fiddle player Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, who played a 10-string fiddle and got into his stride right from the start with renditions of Maureen de Barra and Jockey To The Fair.  After playing The Chieftains’ The Rights of Man, he focused on new, strange-sounding material where he conjured up great slabs of sound using a loop pedal.  It was a joy to see this talented yet humble musician playing what is trad-inspired music but brought in a new direction.

Oisin Leech and Graham Heaney opened their set with One Hill Further, Leech adding a harmonica part.  October Sun was played faithfully and one of the early highlights was their rendition of Maritime Radio, Leech playing some superb electric guitar over a recording of Deirdre Lowe’s weather report while Heaney played double bass flourishes with a bow.  Oisin Leech was no slouch with an acoustic either, with guitar picking on Trawbreaga Bay and Malin Gales.  The set was accompanied by a backdrop featuring a projection of a collage of various paintings by Sinead Smyth, whose art was on the cover of Cold Sea.

There were a couple of new songs aired, one instrumental piece and another which may have been called Bring Me Home Tremone, and later the pair showcased their love for Bob Dylan with versions of As I Went Out One Morning and Billy.  The set was interspersed with anecdotes about the recording of the album and a recent show in Wrexham which sounded…. eventful!  But mostly it was about witnessing two musicians in the moment, playing some really fine music.

Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh returned to join Leech and Heaney for an encore featuring instrumentals, covers and rounding off with a sing-song version of Wild Mountain Thyme.  It’s great to see Oisin Leech getting the acclaim for an album which is one of the understated gems of the year.