Sean Rea

The sun has come out in my part of the world at last, and it’s so good.This last few weeks have been so sweet, I got a bit lazy. So please let me catch up a bit, here goes, I have been playing all round Ireland with a new guy, Mr. Gary Raymond. He is a great percussion man, and very cool dude,may I add. The man has great time, and feel  to burn. Gary got my music back on track so fast, its like I never missed a beat, lol yea baby!

The news just gets better,the weekend of the 13th 14th 15th will see guest guitarist Stephen Housden of THE LITTLE RIVER BAND sitting in with us for a few shows. Stephen is a real world class player with so much great music to his credit,I would like to invite you all to be there if your in the area this  weekend. 

Between trips to Belfast for a STIFF LITTLE FINGERS birthday bash,and Dublin for Enda Reilly’s CD launch things have been a lot more exciting! I was so happy to be asked to play a gig in Strabane at their unplugged session.they raise a lot of money for good causes,and the people there luv to party! Met some very talented guys there and i will tell you about them later. Well that me for now it’s 5:30 and I’m off to sleep,Belfast later this morning and I must get my beauty sleep.

All the best from Donegal

SEAN. 

Let me tell you about Michael McGinty, hes a very talented upright Bass player I have just begun working with .I had my first kitchen session with him last night he played his way through my music like he wrote it himself.Its the first time I have had fun rehearsing in so long. I will be working with him this Sunday in Roddens Bar, Buncrana from 6pm to about 8:30. So I would like to personally invite you to join us and let me show you how much talent this guy brings to the table! 

Whats happening  on the radio is so cool , the “Days of Shadow, Days of Sun “Cd continues to get steady airplay.Caroline  on Highland Radio  seems to be working overtime, she is the best in the Northwest. Gerry Anderson was plugging “Rainy Days in Belfast” a few days ago on his morning show and I am getting ready for a Great BBC Ulster program on May 13th at 3pm with Ralph Mclean, if you cant  get the station get us online.I will be performing live and discussing recent invite to play the ARDS Guitar festival as well as my first showcase in Dublin at the Cobblestones  on the 18th of May.That’s an afternoon gig starts around 4pm and I  am playing with Enda Reilly who is launching  his new CD at the gig & Ronan Stone these guys are both my friends from IMRO and very talented. Any of you from that part of the world I would like to personally invite you please come out for Tea & Cake………………….. 

On the Avalon guitar front Stephen McilWrath is lending me his L310 Amazaque & Spruce Jumbo for the BBC Show on the 13th. How cool is that! when the company director lends you his guitar. Whoa !  As my  new Avalon’s are not ready for the road yet. And speaking of ready for  the road  Stephen Housden Lead guitarist of The Little River Band will be knocking around Donegal and the Avalon guitar factory next week.if we are playing  anywhere I will let you know.  HEADS UP there is a 50th birthday party for Brian ex of Stiff Little Fingers in the Duke of York on the 27th May in Belfast looking forward to tearing that one up. Loads of talent that night too many great names to drop here. Thanks to Jack Forgie favorite ex punk of the month! 

I know a songwriters website without music is a bit retarded but believe me I am trying to get some music up here as soon as possible don’t let that hinder you from downloading the albums on itunes:)

I look forward to hearing from you and hope you are soaking up the sun, and although life seems to be two steps forward one step back so is the Cha Cha so baby lets dance! 

Best to you from Donegal, 

Sean

Sitting in the kitchen this morning, coffee in one hand ,my head in the other. It seems to me like since the Belfast Nashville gigs, things have been a bit nuts. and I’m not sure how I feel about it and all the changes that it’s put me through. But,life has not been boring anyway,but god damn……………………..Here it goes.

I played the Black box, a very cool venue in a back street of Belfast not far from the docks,and rocked the place. It was a great feeling and cool to open for guys like Chris Difford, you know from Squeeze. He and Benny Gallagher another Great song writer from the old Apple Record days along with a great local guy Bap Kennedy. They did an in the round thing that went very well. I Have to say one of the best audiances I can recall they almost had as much fun as I did.

I Met Steve McilWrath from Avalon Guitars, there at the show that night. Avalon builds these amazing acoustic guitars in Northen Ireland, maybe the best I’ve ever heard. And I know what i’m talking about. I already play an amazing selection of guitars on stage. They include, a Rickenbacker Shilo 6 string acoustic, Guild JF50 , 6 & 12 string, a Guild JF30 6 string & a Martin Shenandoah 12 string. Anyway to say I was impressed would be an understatement. I spent a few days getting to know them and toured the factory. I met some great guys, you know, the eat ,sleep and breath guitar types. I loved the work they were doing and the sound of the guitars was awesome! Then the best part,I was fortunate enough to be offered an endorcement deal.        “Yea baby” I can’t wait to be on the road and playing them for you. Seems good songs go a long way. lol, thats on the plus side:)

With Gordon my sidekick and guitar Guru not feeling well and back in Dundee for awhile, things were getting tough and then giging with stand in bass players;and hired guns. Things got tougher.The line up changing ever time I turned around. the last time my line up had been solid was on the Gerry Anderson Tour just before NewYears. But it has given me a chance to meet some cool new people and players, so thats been a plus+ But starting over and over is a drag:( All the work and time seems to go down the shitter and thats the part that sucks.BIG TIME.

My main goals are promoting the new CD release and working on the new tracks for my next CD. The new release [Days of Shadow, Days of Sun.] has been going quite well,with air play on BBC Radio Foyle, Radio Ulster, U105, and Highland Radio. which is no bad for the new kid in town.As they would say in Dundee.. I would like to let you know I’m doing an interview on the Ralph McClean show on BBC Radio Ulster on May the13th my best day of the year..( Thats my Daughter Jaimes Birthday!).It should be a blast, as Ralph has been giving the album a lot of play and has been more than kind with his praise. So please join me for that drive time show. The new tracks for my next album are about half way through recording and 5 new songs are in the can but I wish it was a bit further along.

Heads up! ,the [Rainy Days in Belfast] Super single will be up on itunes soon and I invite you to give it your attention. You know I would luv to hear what you think of the music and any thing you feel about the great musicians that play with me on these new realeases.Your feed back is welcome and I look forward to getting to know you better..

Thanks for dropping by, All the best from Donegal.

SEAN REA

Hello everybody and welcome to the new website, where you can see Sean’s thoughts in his personal blog, check out the pics of all the gigs, add comments about the the new album or just generally chat all things Sean Rea related. so give us your thoughts on the new site and enjoy………