TPOE 220: Jack O'Rourke

What this episode covers

Cork singer-songwriter Jack O'Rourke returns to the TPOE podcast ahead of the release of his second album, Wild Place, on November 5. It's a more stripped back affair than his 2016 debut Dreamcatcher and 2019 EP Ivory Towers, O'Rourke's songwriting standing front and centre, with a little orchestration behind. It was all done at the old piano at Cork's Triskel Christchurch over the past year and a bit. "Wild Place has songs of love and loss, beautiful misfits, nature and wilderness," says Jack in the press release. "There's freedom and rage in there too, alongside questions on race, friendship, a still-Covid world, my dreams and sea swimming. The piano and vocal are centre, but there are elements of folk, roots, blues, Americana and chamber music." There's also a song, 'Strange Bird' written about the last year and a half - a drone recording a town during lockdown and all we’ve lost and gained. It’s influenced hugely by John Prine - "When John Prine died during Covid, it was a Bowie or Cohen or Prince moment - I was heartbroken without knowing him personally - his lyrics and his style meant so much, and his songwriting always floored me. There’s a Steinbeck or Mark Twain quality - he says so much without being flowery." Jack O'Rourke tour dates: October 16 - Spirit Store - Dundalk October 28 - The Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo November 5 - Glengarra Mountain Lodge, Co. Tipperary November 12 - Dolans Limerick November 13 - The Courthouse Arts Theatre, Co Wicklow November 27 - Triskel Christchurch, Cork Outro music: Jack O'Rouke - 'Sea Swimming'

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