Homecoming gig for nenagh musician

Nenagh musician James McGrath is coming home to play The Kenyon following the London release of his new EP.
James (26) will be joined at the Friday October 9th gig by local acoustic guitar player Lisa Manning and band Ebony.
The Nenagh show will follow what James regards as his most important gig to date when he launches his EP at The Troubadour in London on October 7th. The Nenagh man has been living in the UK for the last few months and has built up strong support there. He is anticipating the presence of key music industry people at the well known Earls Court venue, coming to “see what all the fuss is about”!
And there has indeed been something of a buzz around James McGrath's music of late. He has signed to Steve Strange's X Ray management agency, booking agents for the likes of Eminem, Coldplay and Green Day. In his management corner, James has Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick, the latter musician well known in Nenagh for his many performances around here over the years. Ralph has recently been involved in No 1 records with the band Clean Bandit.
He and Kirkpatrick feature on James' new EP, titled '8 Cans'. They are joined by 'Fluff', cello player with popular UK band Elbow.
The EP – James' first official release – features four tracks that many will already be familiar with. But whereas before it was just James and his guitar, this recording features a range of supporting instruments and big production under the guidance of seasoned musicians.
“I have never been so proud as I am with this EP,” James said of '8 Cans'.
He has also made a new video in support of the EP. Though he would have liked to have filmed it in Nenagh, time constraints resulted in James and his house mate Alex Dale shooting the '8 Cans' video in Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme, a venture in which they had a lot of fun. Asked about the theme behind the music, the young Nenagh man said '8 Cans' “highlights unemployment and depression, being lost in life and not being able to save money”.
Needless to say, James is looking forward to coming home and airing his new material at the Kenyon in the company of Kirkpatrick and Ralph. He added that it will be a great honour to have his father, local councillor Hughie McGrath, and the members Ebony also playing on the night.
“I can't wait to be home for the week, as some of my new friends and supporters from the UK are coming to stay, which means a lot,” James said. “I can't believe the support I'm getting, especially from a little village called Audlem [Cheshire], where they have really taken me into their hearts.”
Doors open at The Kenyon at 8pm. The '8 Cans' EP will be available for download from October 12th. You can watch James' music videos on You Tube.