Ireland music royalty, Mary Coughlan is set to grace our east coast when she brings her ‘Life Stories’ tour to Australia, bringing her acclaimed 2020 album to the stage throughout March and April, 2023.
Arguably one of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, Mary has often been dubbed as ‘Ireland’s Billie Holiday’, not only for her glorious husky voice, but as another legendary artist who has battled and overcome childhood trauma and near-death from alcoholism and drug addiction. After hitting rock-bottom and extensive periods in psychiatric hospitals and rehab centres, she literally pulled herself out of the dregs of a vodka bottle to confront the foundations of her problems head- on and sort out her life, and has been sober since 1993.
Mary has carved out a timeless and highly regarded career, with a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Her ability to connect so emotionally & empathically with both the song and her audience is testament to her inner strength, and to the power of transformation and redemption.
The stage is her home. To hear Mary sing is truly to be at the core of the human heart. Whether into folk, blues or jazz, no one can fail to be moved by the emotional depth, expression & power in her voice, forged from an extraordinary life.
Mary rocketed to fame in 1985 with her seminal debut album, Tired and Emotional. Seventeen years later, with as many albums under her belt, she is known as one of Ireland’s greatest soulful jazz and blues singers of all time, a true artist who has crafter a timeless and highly regarded versatile career with devoted fans worldwide.
She has lived through childhood trauma, alcoholism and drug addition to become a musical force like no other; redeemed and transformed through the creative power of music.
She embraces each song with empathy, courage interspersed with humour, emotions that reach way beyond the stage connecting with each and everyone in the audience.
Mary Coughlan’s ‘Life Stories’ tour will take her venues throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria, Sydney and regional New South Wales, Brisbane and regional Queensland, Canberra, Adelaide and Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to her headline shows, she will perform at Port Fairy Folk Festival (Vic) and Blue Mountains Folk Festival (NSW).
Joining Mary on stage will be Matt McMahon on piano, Brett Hirst on double bass and James Nash on guitar.
“While the comparisons have run the gamut from Holiday to Mathilde Santing to Janis Joplin, one thing is certain that Mary’s voice is her own.” – The Observer (UK)
Joining Mary on stage will be Matt McMahon on piano, Brett Hirst on double bass and James Nash on guitar.
“Mary Coughlan is still casting her earthy, Irish spells, as she has been doing for 35 years. The chief ingredient in her incantations is hardly unique: emotional truth should be a basic building-block of all singing and all art. Setting Coughlan’s espousal of this candour apart are the other spells with which she adulterates it and intensifies it.” – Sydney Morning Herald
CONNECT WITH MARY COUGHLAN ONLINE:
Official website: marycoughlan.ie
Facebook: /marycoughlandband
Twitter: @mary_coughlan4
Instagram: @coughlan804
Spotify: Mary Coughlan
TOUR DATES:
Friday, March 10
Golden Vine Hotel, 135 King St, Bendigo, VIC (18+)
T: 03 5443 6063
Doors open: 7.00pm
Show starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: $45+bf (GA)
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/mary-coughlan-ireland-life-stories-tour
March 11, 12, 13
Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC
https://portfairyfolkfestival.com/tickets/
Thursday, March 16
The Street Theatre (All ages)
15 Childers Street, Canberra, ACT
T: 02 6926 9688
Doors open: 7.30pm
Show starts: 8.00pm
Tickets: $49 (Reserved seating)
Bookings: https://au.patronbase.com/_StreetTheatre/Productions/MCLS/Performances
March 17 & 18
Blue Mountains Folk Festival, NSW
https://www.bmff.org.au/tickets
Sunday, March 19
Lizotte’s (18+)
31 Moore Street, Lambton, NSW
T: 02 4946 2066
Doors open: 8.00pm
Show starts: 9.00pm
Tickets: $55
Bookings: https://lizottes.com.au/live/shows/booking/3465
Thursday, March 30
Star Hotel (18+)
30 High Street, Yackandandah, NSW
T: 02 6027 1493
Doors open: 7.30pm
Show starts: 8.00pm
Tickets: $40.50
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=994593&
Friday, March 31
Burrinja Cultural Centre (All ages)
Wurundjeri Country, 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey VIC
T: 03 9754 8723
Saturday, April 1
Caravan Club @ Archies Creek Hotel (18+)
89-91 Archies Creek Rd, Archies Creek, VIC
T: 03 5678 7344
Doors open: 8.00pm
Show starts: 8.30pm
Tickets: $50 (GA); $60 (Reserved seating)
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?embed&eid=995105
Sunday, April 2
The Jazzlab (18+)
27 Leslie St, Brunswick, VIC
T: 03 9080 4398
Doors open: 7.00pm
Show starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: $50+bf
Bookings: https://thejazzlab.com.au/event/mary-coughlan-ire/
Thursday, April 6
Foundry 616 (18+)
616-620 Harris St, Ultimo, NSW
T: 02 9211 9442
Bookings: https://foundry616.com.au/
Friday, April 7
Foundry 616 (18+)
616-620 Harris St, Ultimo, NSW
T: 02 9211 9442
Bookings: https://foundry616.com.au/
Saturday, April 8
The Music Lounge (18+)
Cnr Crown & Kembla Sts, Wollongong, NSW
T: 02 4224 5999
Doors open: 7.30pm
Show starts: 8.00pm
Tickets: $40.00
Bookings: https://aumtco.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/92103
Sunday, April 9
Avoca Beach Theatre (All ages???)
69 Avoca Beach Drive, Avoca Beach, NSW
T: 02 4382 1777
Doors open: 7.00pm
Show starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: $50.00
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/mary-coughlan-live-in-concert
Wednesday April 12
The Gov (18+)
59 Port Road, Hindmarsh, SA
T: 08 98340 0744
Doors open: 7.30pm
Show starts: 8.00pm
Tickets: $50+bf
Bookings: https://thegov.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/9d471355-249a-4d8f-aecf-c71dd802faba
Thursday, April 13
Hope Island Jazz & Cabaret (18+)
10 Santa Barbara Rd, Hope Island, Qld
T: 0415 312 533
Doors open: 6.00pm
Show starts: 7.00pm
Tickets: $40/$45/$50/$55
Bookings: https://hopeislandjazz.com.au/tickets/mary-coughlan-251074#buy
Friday, April 14
Byron Theatre (All ages)
69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
T: 02 6685 6807
Bookings: https://byroncentre.com.au/whats-on/
Saturday, April 15
Brisbane Jazz Club (18+)
1 Annie St, Kangaroo Point, QLD
T: 07 3391 2006
Doors open: 6.30pm
Show starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: $40/$65
Bookings: https://brisbanejazzclub.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/92185