Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Niamh Regan introduced herself to the musical world in 2020 with Hemet – a record that took flight organically, garnering thousands of listeners and ultimately receiving nominations for Album of the Year in both the RTÉ Folk Awards and the Choice Prize.

In May of this year, the Kilrickle native released her follow-up. Come As You Are was an evolution sonically, and a different challenge from a writing perspective. Like Hemet, though, it lands a spotlight on Regan’s grasp of compelling melody and her distinctive, sweet-sounding voice.

This Saturday, she closes out a mini tour for Come As You Are in the Róisín Dubh alongside a full band consisting of Jake Curran, Alma Kelliher, Adam Taylor, Dylan Lynch and Chanele McGuinness who will provide backing vocals as well as opening the show. It will be the last chance to see Regan perform with a full band in the city for some time.

“There’s always something nerve-racking about playing a home gig but the Róisín Dubh has become [comfortable],” she says. “I just love the sound in there… I’m really proud to be given an opportunity to play in my home town at any point.

“This will be the last show I’ll be doing in Ireland for a good while now, bar a few little charity gigs and bits and bobs. I hope people will be able to make it out because it’ll be a nice last hurrah for a little while as I then go into hiding to write the next record.”

Though Come As You Are only arrived at the end of May, Regan feels as though the album has been around for a long time. It is a full-sounding record and piecing it together was a learning process. It required a step forward from singer-songwriter beginnings.

“I think I was living with the songs for so long now that I had become very familiar with them,” Regan says. “I’m delighted with how it’s been received. It’s always kind of murky waters. You never know what’s going to come with the second album.

“I think production-wise the choices were different for sure. It’s a lot more guitar-centric rather than piano for example. And the songs are a lot more fleshed out with the idea of a full band sound. There’s, I guess, two tracks that are very reminiscent of my first album and that approach to songwriting.

Pictured: Niamh Regan…tour wraps up at the Róisín. Photo: Molly Keane