Two local treats at Deni concert

THE AUDIENCE at Wexford Arts Centre for the flamboyant American violinist and singer-songwriter Deni Bonet were also fed two surprise local treats in solo support acts Megan Kate Doolan and Rachel Grace.

Both sing their own songs and play guitars, but Grace is the more experienced performer. In ‘Scream Out Loud’ she has a terrific song that confronts the issue of mental health, an area few of our songwriters venture into, Jimi Cullen being a notable exception. That song contains a startling line about ‘no politics in suicide’.

She delivered a heartfelt song about her grandmother ‘Nancy’ and brought a neat bluesy undercurrent to the acerbic ‘Nice Knowing You’ before closing with a convincing version of Bob Dylan’s ‘To Make You Feel My Love’.

Earlier, the remarkably young Megan Kate applied her light and expressive pop voice to her melodically-captivating songs and proved she’s a natural and articulate performer very much at home on stage. Watch out for her.

All of which created a positive Wexford Arts Centre mood for bill-topper Bonet who has added her virtuosic violin skills to recordings with REM, Cyndi Lauper, and the Scissor Sisters. She was accompanied on the night by guitar-players, Matt and Bob, who also contributed occasional vocal harmonies. At times Bonet brought a furious rock energy to her classically-trained talent that was more Jimi Hendrix than Yehudi Menuhin. If you missed it, she will probably be back in Wexford early next year.

(by Jackie Hayden)