Out Today Sept. 15th
September 15, 2023 – Today, Mick Flannery releases his eighth studio album, ‘Goodtime Charlie’. Recorded in Cork City with long-time collaborator and producer Christian Best, this collection of fourteen tracks spans various genres, from Folk ballads to alt-pop and Americana. Notably, it marks the first international artist to release on ‘Oh Boy Records,’ the beloved Nashville label founded by John Prine.
Renowned for writing songs with fluency, expressing layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty. Mick’s latest offering – ‘Goodtime Charlie’ is no exception.
Writing for this album started pre-pandemic whilst touring in the USA in January 2020. ‘Give Me Up,’ written in Los Angeles with producer Tony Buchen and Australian musician, producer and songwriter Justin Stanley.’OKLA’ (“a love letter to a dead dream”) had been written in Nashville with writer Adam Landry.
Amidst lockdowns, Mick turned to virtual collaborations. His weekly online sessions with Ana Egge yielded three album tracks: “Neon Tonight” (“about a band waiting to go onstage, feeling nervous and excited”), “Machine” (“a song about an emotionally distant mechanic, who just loves driving, wondering why people lead such complicated lives”) and “Someone to Tell it To” (“a song about a journey and the gratitude of having someone traveling with you”). Another virtual collaboration emerged with rising star Tianna Esperanza (the granddaughter of Punk royalty Palmolive from The Slits), on the song “Old Friend,” this would be first of three duets on the record. The second, the folk-noir track, “The Fact.” Mick is joined by Valerie June, an American singer-songwriter whom he has previously shared the stage with on both sides of the Atlantic, most recently having Valerie as his special guest in Dublin at The National Museum of Ireland last month.
The third duet is the previously released ‘Minnesota’, addressing the relationship between individuals and their state. Where Anaïs Mitchell’s voice takes the lead. Their collaboration extended to a live performance of the duet at The Cork Opera House this past weekend. Joined by Anais’ band ‘Bonny Light Horseman,’ and arranged by Bryce Dressner for the RTE Concert Orchestra.
Consequently Goodtime Charlie has more collaborations and co-writes than on any previous records. “It sparks you out of your comfort zone,” Mick says, “It opens up new perspectives, you wonder ‘how would someone else do this?’ – the result is the best album of Mick’s already stellar career. Whatever the other voices add, whether on the record or in the writing, it creates a suite of songs that twist and turn surprise and engage like no others to this date.
“It’s more fun too,” Mick notes, “I don’t take myself as seriously as I did when I was 20. Back then, you’re all about yourself. I’m open to more fun now, trying things, hence, Goodtime Charlie.”
The song ‘Goodtime Charlie,’ the albums namesake sets the tone for a game of two halves. With ‘What They Say’, ‘Morning Rain’, the aforementioned ‘Give Me Up’ and ‘Neon Tonight’ lending to a free-spirited, 70’s feel. A nod to The Band and Van Morrison of the era. There is a nostalgia weaved through these songs that juxtapose the deep and soulful ballads that make up the other half of this epic piece of work.
Today also sees the premier of the official video for the recently released single “Young.” The song has been described as ‘an instinctive, soulful study of adolescence, free will and finding the energy to pick the important fights.’ Directed by Mark Logan from Dublin’s CLTV Films, who has recently directed music documentaries for Fontaines DC as well as Dublin’s famous ‘The Busk’, of the process Logan said:
“I believe we live in a time that is devoid of courage, the courage to stand up and speak out for what is right and what we believe in. I believe the youth have been deprived of such an important becoming. Instead they are lost in a sea of technology and isolation. From each other and themselves. In this film I’ve imagined the four distinct stages of one man’s life.”
Watch “Young”‘s music video
Mick embarks on a three month tour in support of the release of Goodtime Charlie. Starting at a sold out show in Ireland at Limericks Dolans Warehouse tonight, before heading across the Atlantic to perform at Nashville’s Americanafest as part of a North American tour. Mick will tour in Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and the UK before the year’s out.
Watch “Goodtime Charlie”‘s trailer
TRACK LIST
About Mick:
Mick Flannery is one of Ireland’s most acclaimed songwriters and singers. The award-winning, double-platinum selling artist has released seven studio albums, three of which have reached No. 1 status.
“Mick Flannery has a voice for the ages, a complete Master of his craft” cited by Clash Magazine, whilst The Sunday Times said he “conjures up exquisite story-telling.” His last album in 2021 consisted of a collection of duets with up and coming Irish artist Susan O’Neill. American Songwriter called ‘In The Game’ a “Sorrowful Masterpiece.” The record was nominated for the Choice Music Prize, and won the RTE Radio 1 song of the year two years in a row for tracks ‘Baby Talk’ and ‘Chain Reaction.’ The album was the biggest selling independent record in Ireland in 2021. Mick’s debut album ‘Evening Train’ is currently in development as a stage musical, due to be back on the stage later in 2024.
Mick Flannery’s songs are fluent in expressing layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty. Mick has built up a reputation over the past decade as one of Ireland hardest working musicians, touring extensively at home and in more recent years abroad as his songs have been reaching folks farther afield. Ireland’s best kept secret appears to be no more.
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UPCOMING TOUR DATES
September 15th – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick IE – SOLD OUT
September 21st – Americanafest -Nashville TN
September 22nd – Zanzabar – Louisville KY
September 23rd – The Ark – Ann Arbor MI
September 24th – Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto ON
September 26th – Le Poisson Rouge – New York NY
September 27th – Crystal Ballroom – Somerville MA
September 28th – Word Barn – Exeter NH
September 29th – Parlor Room – Northampton MA
September 30th – The Falcon – Marlboro NY
October 1st – NPR Mountain Stage – Blacksburg VA, USA
October 12th – The Empire, Belfast NI
October 13th – The Spirit Store, Dundalk IE – SOLD OUT
October 14th – The Spirit Store, Dundalk IE – SOLD OUT
October 19th – The Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo IE – SOLD OUT
October 20th – The Social Live, Donegal IE
October 21st – Sandinos, Derry NI
October 22nd – Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo IE
October 26th – DeBarras, Clonakilty, IE – SOLD OUT
October 27th – DeBarras, Clonakilty IE – SOLD OUT
October 28th – Connollys of Leap, Leap IE
October 28th – INEC, Killarney, IE
October 29th – Spiegeltent, Wexford IE – SOLD OUT
November 6th – Backstage, Munich DE
November 7th – Club Stereo, Nuremberg DE
November 8th – Ostpol, Dresden DE
November 9th – Prachtwerk, Berlin DE
November 10th – Nochtwache, Hamburg DE
November 11th – KGB Club, Langenberg DE
November 12th – Nachtleben, Frankfurt DE
November 13th – Blue Shell, Cologne DE
November 21st – GC De Wildeman, Herent BE
November 22nd – Paterskerk, Eindhoven NL
November 23rd – Bitterzoet, Amsterdam NL
November 25th – Sønderborghus, Sønderborg DK
November 26th – Vega, Copenhagen DK
November 28th -VoxHall, Aarhus DK
November 29th – Gimle, Roskilde DK
December 2nd – Lafayette, London UK
December 15th – Glor, Ennis IE
December 29th – Roisin Dubh, Galway IE
December 30th – Roisin Dubh, Galway IE
For tickets, visit: https://www.mickflannery.com/tour
