Cork Roots Fest : Malojian + Cormac O' Caoimh
Sun 18 May 2025 (note: this event has already taken place)
7:30pm
€15
Over the last few years, Malojian has released several stunning solo albums, along the way collaborating with musical legends including Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies…), Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M…), Gerry Love (Teenage Fanclub, Lightships), Jon Thorne (Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, Lamb) and more… But it’s his own voice and songs that sets him apart from the crowd.
Malojian’s 5th album, HUMM, which is a collaboration with Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle, was released in Sept 2020 and was his 4th time being shortlisted for the Northern Irish Music Prize.
“evokes such rich emotions” 8/10 MOJO Magazine
“I absolutely love his music… just beautiful” Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music, The Guardian
“Absolutely love that…a masterpiece with a strong element of Beatles ’67…that kind of slightly woozy psychedelia…beautiful…” Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster
“I love your music” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2
“I’m completely obsessed” Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)
“really beautiful” Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music
“achingly beautiful” Q Magazine
“beautiful stuff” Stuart Bailie, NME, BBC Radio Ulster
“the North’s best songwriter over the last half decade” Hot Press Magazine
“I really and truly believe we’ve unearthed a star here and I can’t urge you strongly enough to seek out this wonderful album.” Maverick Magazine
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"Acoustic Gems from the Cork singer-songwriter. Each song superglues to the memory " **** Mojo Magazine
Cormac O Caoimh released his 4th solo album “Shiny Silvery Things” in 2017. It in charted in the official IRMA charts and was launched with a sold out show in the Triskel Christchurch, Cork. All 12 songs have received airplay and the first single (his most successful to date) reached over 3 million listeners in Ireland. The song was played in over 23 stations in Ireland and many more in the UK ( a lot of spins from the BBC including the prestigious award winning listenership Radcliffe and Maconie show on BBC 6 Music) and Europe. The second single (Track of the the day in Hotpress) wasn’t far behind reaching 2 million listeners. Have You Built Yourself Well/Proud - the third single (a double a- side) both reached the semi- semi-final of the International Songwriting Competition (judged by Tom Waits and Robert Smith of the Cure (among others). Proud was a winner!
His intimate vocals, magical melodies and exquisite guitar playing has always attracted very favourable appeal to critics (with Mojo, The Irish Times, HotPress, R2, Americana UK, OndaRock in Italy and many more) always quick to point to his unique style as well as comparisons to acts varying from the dreamy pop of The Go Betweens, Badly Drawn Boy, Elliott Smith and Prefab Sprout to the introspective and more folk-oriented Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon. But he sees himself as a pop song-writer. When pop was good.
2019 was relatively quiet. But he did do a handful of gigs (most notably with Sean Millar) and continued to receive a lot of support and airplay in Ireland and the UK. And he did do some co-writes. Brother with Mary Greene and is on Greenshine's new album Family which is receiving loads of airplay and great reviews. Buidling an Ark was written with Martin Leahy (and will finish up the new album - Track 10 - on Swim Crawl Walk Run). And a specially written co-write with Sean Millar was played during their double headlining tour. It was really good. I can't remember the name. Or if it even had one.
Not quite sure why this wizard of an Irish songwriter doesn't get talked about more.If you like your Go Betweens/Prefab Sprout,this is for you” – Willie Meighan – RollerCoaster Records
"Acoustic Gems from the Cork singer-songwriter. Each song superglues to the memory " **** Mojo Magazine
"Rich vein of indie inspired melodicism which always makes his work so richly rewarding. Selecting highlights would be a pointless exercise because every track really is a subtly crafted gem" - Kevin Bryan - Messenger Newspaper
"Shiny Silvery Things is a masterpiece that has been grown and nurtured to produce something that is unique and soulful. It is a warm and versatile album that can adapt itself to any mood" – Artree
**** "There are echoes of terrific songwriters here – the likes of Lloyd Cole, Paul Simon, Eels’ Mark E Everett, and Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon filter through – but O Caoimh’s personalized worldview makes the material his own" - The Irish Times
