:Ultan Conlon
{{short description|Irish singer-songwriter (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=June 2020}}
Ultan Conlon (born 1980) is an Irish singer-songwriter. He is a native of Loughrea.{{cite web |title=Ultan Conlon |url=http://breakingtunes.com/ultanconlon |website=breakingtunes.com}} Conlon has performed live with John Martyn,[http://www.galwayindependent.com/entertainment/entertainment/bless-your-heart-%11-3rd-march-2010/ Galway Independent]{{dead|date=August 2023}} Mary Coughlan, Lisa Hannigan, Mark Geary, Roesy, Sabrina Dinan, David Kitt, and the Four of Us. Conlon plays and teaches classical guitar.{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Mattie |date=9 Mar 2019 |title=Longford Leader columnist Mattie Fox: New single could launch Ultan Conlon to a wider audience |work=Longford Leader |url=https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/news/368168/longford-leader-columnist-mattie-fox-new-single-could-launch-ultan-conlon-to-a-wider-audience.html |access-date=2023-09-15}}
Career
He and fellow Galwegian, John Conneely, formed the group UltanJohn in 2003.{{fact|date=August 2023}} His 2005 single, "Really Gone", featured John Martyn.{{cite news
| date = 17 Mar 2019
| title = Ultan's Martyn moment
| url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/2191958555
| work = Sunday Independent
| id = {{ProQuest|2191958555}}
| via = ProQuest
}} His song, "Ring Out The Old" featured in the British film, The Beholder. Conlon shared the stage with Eddi Reader, Jackson Browne and Shelby Lynne.{{cite web |title=Q&A: We chat to singer-songwriter Ultan Conlon ahead of his headline show in Whelan's this month |date=11 April 2018 |url=https://entertainment.ie/music/qa-we-chat-to-singer-songwriter-ultan-conlon-ahead-of-his-headline-show-in-whelans-this-month-251399/}}
His first studio album, "Bless Your Heart", was released in October 2009. In 2012, Conlon was a composer for the soundtrack for the film Songs For Amy.{{cite news
| last = Andrews
| first = Kernan
| date = Nov 27, 2014
| title = Ultan Conlon - 'Songwriting is the way I express myself'
| url = https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/74013/ultan-conlon-songwriting-is-the-way-i-express-myself
| work = Galway Advertiser
| access-date = 2023-09-15
}} His sophomore record Songs of Love So Cruel dropped in 2013.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
A review posted on Blogcritics described Conlon's 2018 album, Last Days of the Night Owl, as "an elegantly striking album, full of nuanced floating colors and velvety energy, along with the appealing voice of Ultan Conlon".{{cite web |last1=Radic |first1=Randall |title=Music Review: Ultan Conlon Releases 'Last Days of The Night Owl' LP |date=26 October 2018 |url=https://blogcritics.org/music-review-ultan-conlon-releases-last-days-of-the-night-owl-lp/}}
Conlon's fourth record There's a Waltz (2020) was produced by Grammy Award-winner Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek). Conlon met Watkins in LA in 2016, performing with him at Largo, a nightclub where Sean and Sara Watkins hosted the Watkins Family Hour. Watkins brought several musicians on board to accompany Conlon, including Don Heffington (drums); Sebastian Steinberg (bass, double bass); Gabe Witcher (fiddle); Rich Hinman (pedal steel); Sara Watkins (backing vocals); and Tyler Chester (B3, piano).{{cite web |title=Ultan Conlon Releases New Record There's A Waltz |url=https://ultanconlon.com/new-record-theres-a-waltz/}}{{better source|date=August 2023}}
Reception
"Sparks of the Night" was the first single and the official video was premiered by Americana UK where they said that Conlon's "clear, melodic vocal brings Roy Orbison to mind".{{cite web |last1=Frolish |first1=Andrew |title=Video Premiere: Ultan Conlon "Sparks of the Divine" |date=7 April 2020 |url=https://americana-uk.com/video-premiere-ultan-conlon-sparks-of-the-divine}} The album received airplay in Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 and the BBC in the UK. Hotpress Magazine described There's a Waltz as "a winning collection...songs of substance told with intelligence and wry observation".{{cite web |last1=Hayden |first1=Jackie |title=Album Review: Ultan Conlon, There's A Waltz |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-ultan-conlon-theres-waltz-22812375 |website=Hotpress.com}} On the week of 17 April 2020, RTÉ Radio 1 made Conlon's There's a Waltz their album of the week.{{cite web | website = spotify.com |title=RTE Radio 1 Album of the Week |url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/39doNkDCiY0HpWER5EQcqK?si=BS-Rb8aOTjGhA1EgG4nL9A}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- http://www.ultanconlon.com
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Category:Musicians from County Galway
Category:Irish male singer-songwriters
Category:Irish singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century Irish singers
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