New Yorker Ben de la Cour to play north Mayo venue

New York’s Ben de la Cour plays his only west of Ireland gig in an upcoming tour throughout the British Isles in the NCF, Ballina, on Sunday, April 5.

The acclaimed songwriter was nominated for a Grammy for his 2023 album Sweet Anhedonia, and in January he performed at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre as special guest to the great Lucinda Williams.

His Irish tour dates in April follow LonesomeHighway.com voting his 2025 performance at Kilkenny Roots festival as their gig of the year.

A natural storyteller, Ben de la Cour weaves evocative stories of desperate characters with his signature 'Americanoir' sound, shining a glaring light on the human condition.

His latest release, New Roses, received four stars from MOJO magazine and was named album of the month.

New Roses is a razor-sharp album full of what he calls 'night songs' – haunting, impactful pieces that feel like the witching hour.

His previous album, Sweet Anhedonia, felt like 'the American heartland witnessed through the window of a car going 80mph', according to American Songwriter.

Raised in Brooklyn, de la Cour lived in London, Cuba and across the United States before making his home in the American south over a decade and a half ago. Drawing on inspiration from writers and musicians alike – Townes Van Zandt, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Cave, Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen, James Baldwin and Carson McCullers among them – de la Cour’s gothic folk songs are as heartbreaking as they are beautiful.

For ticket information relating to his Ballina gig, log on to https://thencf.art/events.