Tickets on sale tomorrow for Villagers gig in Kilkenny

Dublin has a long and legendary tradition of writers, and since Conor O’Brien adopted the name Villagers, the singer-songwriter-instrumentalist-dramatist has joined the club with a rich, deep and diverse body of work.   

Critically acclaimed, Villagers have been awarded Ireland's Choice Music Prize, nominated for UK's Mercury Music Prize and Conor has been awarded two prestigious Ivor Novello's for his songwriting.  

Villagers sixth studio album, That Golden Time, underlines O’Brien’s unwavering commitment to a uniquely nuanced, literate and melodic fusion of folk, pop and rock that has won awards and accolades from peers such as Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, Damon Albarn and Guy Garvey. 

No less intense than its more feverish predecessor, the exquisite new album unfurls O’Brien’s trademark melodic flair, his gift for simultaneously vivid and subtle arrangements and lyrics that couch his hopes, fears and dreams in richly absorbing poetry.

That Golden Time takes its name from the fifth track, which doubles as the album’s lead single.

“I wanted the warmth of the record reflected in its title,” O’Brien explains.

“The song also touches on a theme that keeps cropping up, of romanticism versus realism. How can you have aspira-tional ideas about yourself and the world around you, whilst being confronted with a harsh, cold reality? The friction interested me, as well as a lingering feeling that there was a time when things were better – but perhaps that time never existed.” 

Villagers will play Kilkenny’s Set Theatre on Wednesday, December 11, with tickets going on sale tomorrow at 10am. 

For more info, and to book tickets, visit set.ticketsolve.com