Natalie Clark’s latest release, “Skin on Me,” is stunning. She will be on the New York stage on March 11 as part of this year’s Craic Fest.
By Colleen Taylor
The best of Irish music and film join forces every year at New York’s Craic Fest. Founded in 1998, the Craic Fest offers both a music and a film series. Over the past decade, it has become a useful platform for Ireland’s best burgeoning musicians and filmmakers. In its 18th year, the Fest promises to bring the talent and the craic, as always, with a varied lineup of new indie films and musicians. The Film Fest half of the series will take place this week, from tomorrow through Saturday, beginning with the premiere of the much-awaited Black 47 documentary, “Fanatic Heart.” The band will even reunite to answer questions following the showing. But for our purposes, the real fun begins on March 11, with the music half of the festival, which will feature Pat McGuire and Scottish singer Natalie Clark.
Most musicians move to New York—Pat McGuire got out of New York. Although a Big Apple native, McGuire relocated to Galway, where he’s been writing and performing original music, a career totaling 20 years. The lyrics on his original records have a flare for the details of a modern Irish life. For instance, some of his album titles include: “Big Brown Sofa” and “Hunger is a Good Sauce.” Still, McGuire is a New Yorker deep down, despite the Galway shipping address. He got his start with the Irish Queen of the Bronx herself, Eileen Ivers, with whom he toured as a vocalist. McGuire’s voice emanates that bluesy, New York classic rock star voice reminiscent of the Boss himself. His most recent release, “Hunger is a Good Sauce, Part II,” is full of energy and a familiar kind of sound. It’s the kind of music that belongs outdoors, or, at the very least, in a big open space. McGuire is a lovely balladeer as well, and sings some gorgeous rock love songs like “It Don’t Matter Anyway.” He’ll be taking the stage at the Mercury Lounge for the Craic Fest with the band the Samsonite Gypsies, made up of Danny Delepiere on guitar, Mem Nahadr on keyboard, and Geoff Blythe on saxophone.
However, the show at the Mercury Lounge will begin long before McGuire takes the stage. His opening act, Natalie Clark, is no opener at all, really. The Scottish singer/songwriter gave up a teaching career in the UK to move to California and pursue her singing career after great success with her EP, “Eagles,” which BBC Radio applauded. Her most recent release, “Skin On Me,” is stunning. Its modern semi-electro opening alludes to Highland bagpipes, and, like with McGuire, it elicits the open air. Clark’s voice is smoky, powerful, emotive. Her voice has a flare for drama, and it truly captivates. “Skin On Me” sounds energetic and lively but somehow melancholic at times—a fine line to walk, but Clark does it. On the other hand, her EP “Eagles” offers a softer touch. In these songs, such as “Weakness,” Clark flexes her lament muscles, at times singing almost acapella. Across this small collection of recorded music, Clark demonstrates a remarkable range, vocally and stylistically. For me, Natalie Clark is the real part of Craic Fest that you can’t miss. She is a star on the rise.
Find out more about Craic Fest at thecraicfest.com
