Singer Mary Black notices Laois musician and invites him on tour

Singer songwriter Mary Black noticed a unique voice emerging from Laois, and has asked a Timahoe man to join her on the opening leg of her Irish tour.

Timahoe musician Kevin Quigley, frontman of Kevin Quigley & The Great Ideas, took to the stage in Kavanagh's Bar and Venue in Portlaoise on December 23.

Following this highly successful gig, household name Mary Black invited the Laois man to join her on stage.

Mr Quigley is the frontman of six -piece band Kevin Quigley & The Great Ideas, who have played notorious stages such as Whelan's, The White Horse, and Coughlan's.

With a style similar to industry giants such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, this is just the beginning for the Laois folk rock musician.

Pictured: Laois musician Kevin Quigley, frontman of Kevin Quigley & The Great Ideas

“I haven't had the chance to play in Laois since this time last year, so it's great to get home for a gig,” said Mr Quigley.

The musician first got into music at the age of 13, and attributes his passion to his family, along with Timahoe National school  for nurturing young talents in the arts.

“When I was 13 I first picked up a guitar, and I started writing a few tunes with the two or three chords I knew,” Mr Quigley laughed.

“I was 16 when I played my first ever gig, I caught the bug and started playing pub gigs from about 18. I moved to Berlin and played over there for about 6 months, before I moved to Cork with my partner Ciara about six years ago," he explained.

“People often make a comparison between ourselves the E-street band, when our whole band plays together we have a big sixties band kind of vibe,” he said.

"I met most of them through college, when I first moved to Cork I started studying music in CSN. It was there I met my drummer John, guitarist Rían and backing vocalist Carl.

"We met our violinist Muireann through another band member, the same with our bass player Ernest. They really are a great tribe,” Kevin explained.

Above: Kevin Quigley & The Great Ideas at Kavanagh's Bar and Venue, December 2024.

When asked about the uniqueness of a violinist playing in a rock band, Mr Quigley said that he enjoys having violin as an element to surprise audiences.

“It just happened- I had asked Muireann to come in and play with us in a venue in Cork," Mr Quigley explained.

"I had asked her to come in and join us for three songs at the end of the gig, and it just sounded so cool. It felt so right that we asked her to stay on with the band,” he said.

Mr Quigley has released three singles within the past year, all produced by himself. The musician played many of the instruments used himself, and was grateful for the help he received from his band.

His first single ‘Fading Away’ was a Covid-19 lockdown project, something he created to ‘use time constructively’.

“I was still learning how to produce music at the time, so ‘Fading Away’ was a bit of a trial run,” he explained.

Pictured: Kevin Quigley performing

“A recurring theme in most of my songs is hope. I always say that it’s better to write about human struggle and conflict, but it doesn’t have to be serious, it could even be a funny song. But it’s good to speak about human nature, and all that goes along with it,” Mr Quigley said.

“I would definitely say that hope, struggle and perseverance can be found in most of my songs, I never like to leave people without hope,” he said.

Mr Quigley’s most recent single is called ‘No Pain’, which was released this October. The band performed mostly originals at their Kavanagh’s gig, along with a few well-known covers too.

Kevin has recently captivated audiences at the iconic INEC in Killarney and the Royal Theatre Waterford. His performances were met with rapturous applause, as listeners hung onto his every word, deeply moved by his raw talent and heartfelt storytelling.

The crowd erupted in cheers when he was invited by Mary Black to join her on stage, solidifying his position as a beloved and exciting new voice in Irish music.

2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Mr Quigley, with the artist set to work with legendary producer Christian Best at Monique Recording Studio, a collaboration that promises to elevate his sound to new heights.

Rumours are swirling about an epic gig at the iconic Upstairs at Whelan's – a true testament to his growing success.