The West of Ireland and in particularly Co. Clare is the home turf of many talented, respected and indeed famous musicians. One such respected musician is Co. Clare native, Kate Purcell. Some of you may already be familiar with Kate from being resident entertainer at Dromoland Castle for a number of years. A residency Kate really enjoys in parallel with her touring & recording commitments alongside being mother of two young children!

"Independent Soul" is Kate's third album and will be released via her own label Dream Records. Unlike her previous releases, together with featuring some of her own co-written material with long time writing partner and best friend of over twenty years, Mary Fitzgerald, this album also contains Kate's versions of some of her favourite songs.

Kate has recently been on a three week tour in the USA, where she regularly gigs. Purcell's albums to date feature contributions by artists such as Tommy Flemming, Martin Hayes Charlie McGettigan, Steve Cooney, Brendan Begley and Tommy Hayes and this album is no different. Kate has been invited to guest on some of her peers projects also. Indeed, she duets with Tommy Flemming in his most recent album. She recently appeared in Vicar Street along with Paul Brady, Neil Hannon, Jack L and Lisa Hannigan as part of the "Gigs for Gaza" series there

A natural born singer, possessing a truly rich and moving voice, capable of captivating every ear and touching each spirit. Growing up in Feakle in County Clare her early musical influences were inevitably traditional/folk. However, she has a deep love for all music types siting influences in the most recent chapters of her career as including Alison Krauss, Sinead O'Connor, Jack Lukeman and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Her music has taken her across Europe, Hong Kong and as previously sited the USA. Kate Purcell has one 'of those' voices that simply 'needs to be heard'!

Press Reviews

SINGER, songwriter, guitarist Purcell is joined by a host of well known Irish musicians: Steve Cooney, Martin Hayes, Winnie Horan and others. But don't be fooled. This is more country style with no significant instrumental breaks. The guests mostly embellish the vocals, though there is some particularly enjoyable nylon string guitar and harmonica playing. It's fairly slow paced and includes

songs from Ewan McColl, U2, some traditional and much of Purcell's own co-written material. Imogen O'Rourke

Rock'n'Reel

County Clare native Kate Purcell calls on the considerate talents of Ireland's folk and traditional music fraternity on Independent Soul, her third album, including contributions from guitarist Steve Cooney, fiddlers Martin Hayes and Winnie Horan and accordion players Brendan Begley and Tim Eady.

Independent Soul is consistently appealing, Purcell's breathy and assured vocals adding much to a series of standards including The First True Ever I Saw Your Face' (credited here to one misspelled Ewan McColl-tut), a deliciously evocative Lili Marlene and a poignant and atmosphere 'Suspicious Minds'. She excels on the masterful and very personal reading of traditional song 'The Green Hills Of Clare, which speaks to emigrants everywhere.

Purcell and writing partner Mary Fitzgerald manage to pull a couple of treats out of the bag to close the album with 'All About Love' and 'This House Can Whisper', two originals that showcase their mellow blend of jazzy acoustic roots-pop. Seen McGhee

The Irish Democrat

KATE PURCELL's third solo album, is an eclectic and thoroughly charming mix of original material and a selection of some of her own favourite songs, spanning a variety of popular music genres.

I must admit to approaching the album with a degree of unease - largely down to the inclusion of Ewan McColl's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Although there are a number of fine versions in existence, McColl's love song has been done to near death on more than one occasion - the Celine Dion and Englbert Humperdink MoR monstrosities springing most readily to mind.

Unfortunately, my apprehension diminished not a jot when I saw that other of her personal favourites included Hans Leip's Lilli Marlene, popular with both Axis and Allied forces during the second world war.

By the time I'd learned from the accompanying blurb that Die Hard actor Bruce Willis counts himself as one of her biggest fans, I was ready for the worst. I needn't have worried.

The album kicks off with one of five fine original songs penned with best friend of twenty years Mary Fitzgerald. A slightly edgy love song, it provides an ideal curtain-opener to a collection of songs which showcase the songwriting and musical talents of both women.

The two friends are assisted throughout by a clutch of top-drawer Irish musicians: Steve Cooney (guitars), Martin Hayes and Winnie Horan (fiddle), Breandan Begley and Tim Eady (accordion), Mark Kinsella (harmonica), Jim Hornsby (dobro) Gavin Murphy (piano and keyboards) and Tommy Hayes (percussion).

The arrangements are uncluttered, understated and tight. Always subtle, they allow prominence to to be given to Kate's distinctively rich but mellow voice. They also succeed in creating a warm and intimate feel. It's a combination which, I am happy to report, lifts her interpretation of McColl's love song well beyond the clutches of MoR mediocrity.

There's only one traditional song on the album, The Green Hills of Clare. This is given a contemporary make-over, with some fine guitar and fiddle playing complementing the sweet and sonorous tones of Purcell's voice. The singer-songwriter's love of country music is apparent on the album's self-penned title track and on her rendition of Suspicious Minds, the latter featuring the excellent harmonica playing of Mick Kinsella.

However, the album's biggest, and for me, most pleasant, surprise is Purcell's version of the U2 song Bad. Stripped of any pomp-rock pretensions, it emerges powerfully reborn, filled with passion and the tension of a troubled love.

Overall, the cover versions turned out to be far better than I'd at first anticipated, though I'm still not partial to Lilli Marlene. However, there's no doubt that the album's real strength lies with the original Purcell-Fitzgerald compositions, their subtle arrangements and the excellent musicians who lent a hand in the production of a fine album. Let's hope that it's a partnership that continues to thrive in the years ahead. David Granville

No other debut album has caused such an audience reaction

Mike Harding - BBC Radio 2

"This Ennis-based singer completely enthrals with her album "Shadows Of You". What a voice! And, she is a gifted writer. She is a major, major new talent who will only get more famous as more people hear her magic. It is on Dream Records. Find it... Wow!

"This is wonderful. Music of the heart, intuition, ability, understanding and beauty".

Bill Margeson LiveIreland.com U.S.A

"To say her voice is pure is inadequate, when Kate Purcell gives herself to a song she moves into another dimension" - The Examiner

The Irish World 05/05/09

Kate's Mates

Independent Soul' is the latest release from Clare native, Kate Purcell.

By Shelley Marsden - 05/05/09

Her third album, released through Dream Records, it features material that was co-written with friend and long-time collaborator Mary Fitzgerald but also, for the first time, Purcell's own covers of some her favourite songs (including a take on U2's Bad).

If you've never heard of Purcell before, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Her voice is simply something that has to be heard to be believed, and her rich vocals are capable of moving the most heard-hearted listener.

Highlights include a gorgeously stripped back version of Ewan McColl's The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, followed by a traditional-sounding take on Patsy Cline's I Fall To Pieces (with Brendan Begley on vocals), making gorgeously subtle use of the accordion. A tricky song for any singer, it showcases her powerful voice to perfection.

A highly-respected performer, Purcell's albums have always included contributions by artists like Tommy Fleming, Martin Hayes, Brendan Begley and Charlie McGettigan.

Album no.3 continues to open its arms to fellow-musicians (Brendan Begley, Winnie Horan, Tim Eady and many more). Purcell duetted with Tommy Fleming on his latest album, and

appeared at Vicar Street in Dublin with Paul Brady, Lisa Hannigan, Neil Hannon and others for its 'Gigs for Gaza' series.

Growing up on the fertile terrain of Co Clare (in the small village of Feakle) and surrounded by people like fiddle virtuoso Martin Hayes - he was her neighbour - you could say Purcell's path towards Irish folk was pretty much pre-destined.

Yet as well as reflecting her Irish influences (The Green Hills of Clare is the singer's own composition), Purcell also developed a love over the years for contemporary styles, particularly

blues and American country from artists like Alison Krauss and Mary Chapin Carpenter and her music spans these genres - an attractive mix of the traditional and the contemporary.

Check it out. Shelley Marsden