Irish music legend Phil Coulter is live streaming his new show Up Close and Personal with Phil Coulter On Saturday October 3.
The Town I Loved So Well songwriter will appear in concert, with special guests George Hutton and Geraldine Branagan, for three Intimate dates at Venue Theatre, Ratoath, from Thursday to Saturday, October 1-3.
As busy as ever, the 78-year-old refused to let the recent pandemic-related restrictions hold him back.
"When Covid hit, the music business fell off the edge of a cliff," he says. "Gigs were cancelled, tours were pulled, recording sessions were abandoned.
"When the stark reality hit home I figured I had two options. Either to sit in a corner feeling sorry for myself, complaining about the lockdown and blaming everybody from the government to the Chinese . . . or I could get creative and reinvent myself!
"For the past few months I have seized the social media bull by the horns. In order to keep a profile with my followers I have embraced the technology, live streaming on my Facebook page every Saturday from my Lockdown Lounge and posting a couple of new tracks every week.
"The response has been a revelation," he says. "We have had over one million reactions. For example, when I posted a short Town I Loved So Well tribute to my friend John Hume, it notched up 150,000 views."
And as for the Up Close and Personal gigs, they, Phil explains, "will be in front of a restricted socially distant audience, ten tables of four.
"On the third night we are live streaming the concert around the world. In an attempt to re-imagine our live performances this old dog has had to learn a few new tricks."
Phil has also picked up some new songwriting partners, so it's fair to say he’s been very productive during Lockdown
"In the same spirit I have been active on the songwriting front, writing with two of the hottest young talents around, Ryan Hennessy and Jimmy Rainsford from Picture This.
"It’s never too late for a fresh challenge!"
