Malarkey can’t wait to get his teeth into singing

Vampire Diaries star looking forward to Whelan’s gig

fter months away from home Vampire Diaries star Michael Malarkey is looking forward to spending some time with his family.

The British/american actor best known for his role as Enzo in the hit TV show has been juggling his acting roles with a burgeoning music career.

He plays Whelan’s tomorrow night in what will be his first trip back to Irish shores since he appeared in Irish television drama RAW (below).

Fans of the show may remember Malarkey as “Jojo’s asshole husband” who she brought back from her travels.

“I’ve actually been to Whelan’s before when we shot RAW and I’m looking forward to being back,” he told The Beat.

Malarkey like many Americans is proud of his Irish heritage and is promising a great night on his return to the Dublin venue – this time as a performer rather than a punter.

He shares Mid-western roots with Ohio band The National with whom comparisons have been drawn.

“I grew up not too far away from where those brothers are from in Ohio, maybe the similarities come from the way we talk – a guarded brooding Mid-western drawl.

“I’ll always take that comparison.”

Other influences include the late Michael Linkous of Sparklehorse.

Malarkey, who released debut album Mongrels (inset) in 2017, admits to being drawn towards a more melancholic sound but likes to leave it up to individual to take what they want from his music.

“I don’t let out to write in a certain mood it’s just whatever comes out and I guess it’s up to other people to interpret whether it’s sad or melancholic or whatever – our shows are definitely pretty celebratory.

“I don’t definitely don’t like shiny happy pop music so why would I make it?

“There’s nothing I hate more than that f ***** g song Happy by Pharrell,” he laughed.

So is he an actor or a musician first? “I see myself as a human being man with interests other than just surviving.

“Chronologically, I guess I was a musician first, growing up I played a lot – taught myself how to play guitar and played in a lot of punk and hardcore bands.

“Eventually I started acting took part in a play and fell in love with acting and took a one way ticket to London to study it.

“I love both, you know a lot of times with acting you’re often waiting around for work whereas with music you can generate work yourself.”

Malarkey’s next big project is a television drama for The History Channel based on the UFO culture that emerged from Roswell. He will star in Project Bluebook alongside Irish actor Aidan Gillen of Game of Thrones and Love Hate fame.

lmichael Malarkey headlines Whelan’s on Saturday 16 June 2018. Tickets are available via www. ticketmaster. ie