Last night, Dingle Distillery launched “Dingle Unplugged” a series of intimate performances celebrating Irish music and creators. Located on a quiet lane off Camden street, Camden Recording Studios , the perfect venue for a night of authentic Irish music and drink.
The audience enjoyed cocktail options at the Dingle Unplugged bar to the rear, a smooth Old Fashioned made from Dingle Single Malt Whiskey, and a tangy pineapple cocktail made with Dingle Vodka that I had dubbed the “Fanta Exotic”.
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The studio is a wonderland evoking a perfect college gaff party – less cans used as ashtrays, more beautiful retro analog gear in a long, series of small rooms, a cosy confluence of instruments, people seated wherever they fit and chilled vibes. We settled in, cocktails in hand, for something far more special than a 3 chord chanteur fumbling through free bird in a kitchen corner.
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The night was kicked off by singer & songwriter Loah on MC duty, who guided us through Dingle’s connection with local creators, before introducing the first act. Moncrieff took to the piano, cracking wise with the audience and blowing us away with his honest, impassioned vocals. He’d just dropped his brand new video, ‘Young Men’ an hour earlier, an emotionally charged and raw piece about friendship and loss, part of his new EP, Highways and Hurricanes, which recently came out.
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Then, Cathy Davey took to the stage, in a rare and treasured performance. She told us about her great love for the Camden studios, how it was her favourite place to record and play. Accompanied by her band on piano, guitar and drums, Cathy played a high energy set of signature blues, indie and rock songs. Cathy also debuted 2 ethereal new tracks, written for the upcoming animated feature film ‘Little Caribou‘, which is now in production.
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The highlight of the evening came when Cathy invited Moncrieff and Loah to join her on-stage for a stunning rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’, accompanied by Cathy’s band. The coming together of unique and diverse elements to create something new and special, it sums up a good gaff party, a good whiskey, and an incredible show. We look forward to the next one.
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-CJ
- Drinks/invite recieved were gratis, all words are genuine opinion