He’ll Leith you smiling

TASMANIANS will get to know popular Irish-born singer-songwriter, author and playwright Damien Leith even better next week when he performs his most intimate shows to date.

It has been more than a decade since Leith gained national attention by winning the 2006 season of reality TV show Australian Idol.

Since then, he has nine albums and two novels to his name, and has toured extensively across Australia and beyond.

Tasmanian audiences will be treated to intimate, up-close-and-personal shows next week, when he presents An Evening With Damien Leith in Hobart and Launceston.

“I thought a show like this was a great opportunity for audiences to take a trip down memory lane as I sing a collection of songs spanning the past 11-plus years of my career,” Leith said.

“I’ll share stories, tell some jokes, take requests and — what I’m most excited about — I’ll also get to share some new works.”

The shows will feature Leith and his guitar or piano. There will be favourites from the nine albums, including Irish classics and songs such as Crying, Hallelujah and Night Of My Life.

“I’ll play both piano and guitar and chat about how certain songs came about, or some of the funny things that have happened since Australian Idol,” Leith said.

“The audiences will get to hear all their favourites and so much more.

“Performing solo has always been a favourite of mine because it is how I started out. I get to chat, change up the set, bounce off the energy of the audience and really get into the raw emotion of the songs.”

Damien Leith presents An Evening with Damien Leith at the Country Club in Launceston from 8pm next Friday (November 16), and at Wrest Point in Hobart from 8pm next Saturday (November 17).

Tickets for both shows are available from $40 from ticketmaster.com.au