About

“An amazing show, I was blown away.”

— Business Post

Motherland Songs is a live music show journeying into the heart of Irish music and Americana. Irish singer Edel Murphy and band perform folk anthems and modern classics from such songwriting greats as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Nanci Griffith, Nina Simone and Kate Bush intertwined with traditional Irish songs & melodies in a revival of a shared Transatlantic heritage.

After extensive tours performing with hit shows 'Celtic Woman' and 'Riverdance', Edel Murphy and live band bring you through the Dustbowl of the Great Depression, into the homes of 1950s urban desperation, down streets of protest in the 1960s and into the tumult of the 21st century.

Motherland Songs is a historical jukebox of memorable female characters, from the teenage runaway of "She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles to Dolly Parton's infamous and misunderstood “Jolene”. Irish hit “No Frontiers” lovingly evokes Amelia Earhart, the US heroine of transatlantic flight whose plane touched down in the north of Ireland in 1932, completing the first flight across the Atlantic by a lone female pilot.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of timeless, soul-stirring anthems of hope from Ireland & North America.

Motherland Songs debuted in Ireland in May 2019 and the EP from the show, ’Songs of 20th Century Women’, was released in April 2021. The show is now preparing for new live performances in 2024/25 and new studio recordings.

WATCH

SHOWS

2023

Oct 16 - 19 RESER ARTS CENTER, Arts Northwest Booking Conference. Beaverton Oregon, USA.

2022
Oct 5 CIVIC THEATRE TALLAGHT, Dublin
Sept 23 CULTURE NIGHT, Dublin (Bewley's Café Theatre)
Apr 29 SOURCE ARTS CENTRE, Thurles
Apr 21 BELLTABLE, Limerick
Apr 15 VISUAL, Carlow
Apr 13 MERMAID THEATRE, Bray
Mar 8 GLÓR, Ennis
Mar 6 THE WHALE THEATRE, Greystones
2021
Nov 3 MILL THEATRE DUNDRUM, Dublin
Oct 23 PLAYHOUSE THEATRE (livestream with audience) Derry
Oct 22 BALOR ARTS CENTRE, Ballybofey
Oct 21 STRULE ARTS, Omagh
Sept 30 DRAÍOCHT BLANCHARDSTOWN, Dublin
Sept 24 CIVIC THEATRE TALLAGHT, Dublin
March 25 PLAYHOUSE THEATRE (live stream), Derry
2019
Nov 8&9 BEWLEY'S CAFÉ THEATRE, Dublin
May 24 BEWLEY'S CAFÉ THEATRE, Dublin

MUSIC

Edel Murphy - voice
Ewan Cowley - electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar, piano, synth, drum programming
David Doyle - cello (tracks 1, 2)
Anna Marcossi - cello (tracks 3,4)
Produced and recorded by Ewan Cowley
Additional home recording by all musicians in Dublin, Ireland
Mastered by Taylor Chadwick at Georgetown Masters, Nashville TN, USA
Released April 9, 2021

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PRESS

Testimonials

“An amazing show...Edel Murphy was stunning - the sharpness of her delivery was outstanding. The songs are acerbic and to the point and the backdrop of visuals was very powerful. I was blown away by it.”

Dick O'Riordan, Business Post

“A poignant and socially relevant journey over a century of music. Edel Murphy owns these songs and the stage. It was a very moving experience and the musical arrangements are masterful.”

Carl Corcoran, former RTÉ Lyric FM broadcaster.

“Edel Murphy is a fine singer…”

Niall Stokes, Editor - Hot Press

“Edel Murphy haunts and soothes with a voice that would silence angels.”

ArtsReview.com

“It is a rare performer that can bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your lips with the sweetness of her singing. Edel Murphy is such a performer.”