Shane Barry & the Night Post set for intimate Waterford gig

Waterford musician Shane Barry and his band The Night Post will take the stage at Luca Records on Michael Street for a special live performance on Thursday, October 15. 

The gig comes after Barry was recently named the Waterford winner of the Hot Press Local Hero competition for his original song, Later Than You Think. 

It has been a busy first year for Shane Barry & the Night Post, who formed in February and has since been steadily building their live presence. 

The band performed at the Kilkenny Roots Festival during the summer and released their debut single, Carousels, while work is now underway on their first EP (Extended Play), which is expected to be released in December. 

Before then, Waterford audiences will have an opportunity to hear some of the new material live at Luca Records. 

Barry and the band have already debuted several of the songs while supporting The Bluetones and Waterford group Omega Three, with the Luca performance set to offer another interpretation of the material in a full acoustic band setting. 

Barry is known for performing with large ensembles, sometimes featuring as many as 12 musicians with backgrounds spanning rock, bluegrass and rockabilly. 

The line-up features Conor Walsh on drums and vocals, Fintan Kavanagh on violin, Cian Dalton on double bass and Ger Madden on mandolin. 

Barry's songwriting regularly draws on both humour and personal experience, with his songs tackling everything from school days and family life to the realities of being in a band and the loss of friends. 

Among the subjects explored are teachers looking to be Jailed for Jesus and his young daughter's worries about starting "big school". 

Barry previously performed with The Distractions, and his latest project continues his emphasis on storytelling, memorable lyrics and strong hooks. 

The Luca Records performance will also have a life beyond the night itself, with the gig due to be recorded to tape with a view to material from the show appearing on a future release. 

The event is part-funded by Waterford City and County Council through the Night-Time Economy grant for live events. 

Shane Barry & the Night Post play Luca Records, Michael Street, Waterford, on Thursday, October 15, at 7pm. 

Tickets cost €7 in advance through LucaRecords.ie and €10 on the night.