Kieran Leonard
Encyclopedia
Kieran Leonard is a British
singer-songwriter and musician of Irish descent, who performs as a solo artist and with his four piece band he refers to as 'The Horses'.
He is particularly known for his poetical songwriting, and compelling live performances. There is a clear social and political awareness in his writing and an abundance of literary and cultural references, as exemplified by his singles 'Jerusalem' and 'Harold Pinter is Dead'. He has had critical comparisons to Bob Dylan
, Kurt Cobain
and Leonard Cohen
, all of whom he cites as influences.
's band Dirty Pretty Things
, Mark Morriss
and The Bluetones
, and Billy Bragg
.
In November 2008, Leonard began hosting a vaudevillian evening of live folk and blues music in London
which quickly developed into a weekly Sunday night residency, 'The Gaslight', held at the Hideaway Bar in Tufnell Park
. The Gaslight saw performances from musicians such as Billy Bragg
, Carl Barât
, Drew McConnell
, Jon McClure
(Reverend and The Makers
), Lee Mavers
(The La's
), The Lost Brothers & Kyle Falconer
(The View)
, among others.
As well as the artists appearing at his 'Gaslight' residency, in 2008 and 2009 Kieran Leonard played alongside The Clash
's Mick Jones
and Peter Doherty
.
In April 2009 Kieran also hosted and curated an evening of Literary influenced songwriting, in a historic bookshop-gallery space in London's renowned Cecille Court. The night was entitled 'Pages and Plectrums' where Leonard and guests performed songs and explained the writing influences behind them.
Kieran's first demos "Scapegoat" were recorded at Konk Studios London (engineered by Dougal Lott) and mastered at Abbey Road Studios
. It was produced by Carl Barât
(The Libertines
, Dirty Pretty Things
) and mixed by Chris Sheldon
(Radiohead
, Foo Fighters
), and was released on Wise Wolf Records. Each of the EP's four songs had its individual release date, the night of the full moon
every month beginning 4 October 2009.
This unusual schedule for single releases around Full Moons garnered some media interest, and in particular led to Kieran being invited by Tim Shaw
, to perform a live acoustic performance on two of the single release nights for Absolute Radio.
Kieran also travelled to New York in 2010 for the CMJ Festival, where he toured and performed extensively. He performed at the Filmore East during this trip.
In August 2010 Kieran was invited to support 'The Libertines
' at their reunion concerts at the Kentish Town Forum.
Kieran released his debut single 'Jerusalem' in December 2010, it was well received critically and commercially, particularly noted for its timely response to the protest marches and occupations occurring across London at the time.
In early 2011 'Jerusalem' was used in the soundtrack for Ridley Scott
's latest documentary film 'Life in a Day', further exposing this song to a global audience.
Throughout the Spring/Summer of 2011 Kieran began touring France and Belgium playing to his developing fan-base in Europe. A highlight of this tour was performing at Le Trianon in Paris, he then returned to play Lyon and Bordeaux in May. Kieran was followed on these tour dates by music documentary film-makers 'Gin in Teacups' who documented life on tour and his performances, they have to date released several 'Kieran Leonard Tour Diaries'.
In June 2011 Kieran was invited to support Bob Dylan
, amongst other Irish acts, at the 'Feis Festival' in Finsbury Park
London. In his performance Kieran showcased new material from his Debut Album, which he had been writing and recording throughout 2011.
Kieran Leonard's debut record is anticipated for release in the winter of 2011.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
singer-songwriter and musician of Irish descent, who performs as a solo artist and with his four piece band he refers to as 'The Horses'.
He is particularly known for his poetical songwriting, and compelling live performances. There is a clear social and political awareness in his writing and an abundance of literary and cultural references, as exemplified by his singles 'Jerusalem' and 'Harold Pinter is Dead'. He has had critical comparisons to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, all of whom he cites as influences.
Career
In 2008, he was brought to public attention as a support act on extensive tours of the UK and Ireland, opening for Carl BarâtCarl Barât
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is an English musician, actor and author. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and recently debuted a solo album, but is best known for being the co-frontman with Peter Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines.-Early life:Carl Barât was...
's band Dirty Pretty Things
Dirty Pretty Things (band)
Dirty Pretty Things were an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had...
, Mark Morriss
Mark Morriss
Mark James Morriss is an English singer-songwriter. He is the lead singer for The Bluetones, and is the older brother of bandmate Scott Morriss. He is also pursuing a solo career....
and The Bluetones
The Bluetones
The Bluetones were an English indie rock band, formed in Hounslow, Greater London, in 1993. The band's members were Mark Morriss on vocals, Adam Devlin on guitar, Scott Morriss on bass guitar, and Eds Chesters on drums. A fifth member, Richard Payne, came on board between 1998 and 2002...
, and Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
.
In November 2008, Leonard began hosting a vaudevillian evening of live folk and blues music in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which quickly developed into a weekly Sunday night residency, 'The Gaslight', held at the Hideaway Bar in Tufnell Park
Tufnell Park
Tufnell Park is an area of north London, England which straddles the border of the London Borough of Islington and the London Borough of Camden.-Origins:...
. The Gaslight saw performances from musicians such as Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Carl Barât
Carl Barât
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is an English musician, actor and author. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and recently debuted a solo album, but is best known for being the co-frontman with Peter Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines.-Early life:Carl Barât was...
, Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed and fronted by frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood, and he speaks Spanish fluently...
, Jon McClure
Jon McClure
Jon McClure, known as the Reverend, is lead singer and frontman of Reverend and The Makers and ex-vocalist of 1984 and Judan Suki. He claims that the name "Reverend" became his moniker because "I'm a big mouth and always running on at people"....
(Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend"...
), Lee Mavers
Lee Mavers
__notoc__Lee Anthony Mavers is an English musician from Liverpool, England. Mavers was the songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist in The La's and is perhaps best-known for the hit "There She Goes" in the late 1980s....
(The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
), The Lost Brothers & Kyle Falconer
Kyle Falconer
Kyle Francis Falconer is the lead vocalist with Scottish band The View. Along with the other band members, Falconer hails from the Dryburgh district of Dundee...
(The View)
The View (band)
The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop, folk, and acoustic in their music....
, among others.
As well as the artists appearing at his 'Gaslight' residency, in 2008 and 2009 Kieran Leonard played alongside The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
and Peter Doherty
Pete Doherty
Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
.
In April 2009 Kieran also hosted and curated an evening of Literary influenced songwriting, in a historic bookshop-gallery space in London's renowned Cecille Court. The night was entitled 'Pages and Plectrums' where Leonard and guests performed songs and explained the writing influences behind them.
Kieran's first demos "Scapegoat" were recorded at Konk Studios London (engineered by Dougal Lott) and mastered at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
. It was produced by Carl Barât
Carl Barât
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is an English musician, actor and author. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and recently debuted a solo album, but is best known for being the co-frontman with Peter Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines.-Early life:Carl Barât was...
(The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
, Dirty Pretty Things
Dirty Pretty Things (band)
Dirty Pretty Things were an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had...
) and mixed by Chris Sheldon
Chris Sheldon
Chris Sheldon is a record producer, particularly of rock music, based in London, UK. He has produced or mixed records for the Foo Fighters, Garbage, Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize and Pixies amongst others...
(Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
), and was released on Wise Wolf Records. Each of the EP's four songs had its individual release date, the night of the full moon
Full moon
Full moon lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.Lunar eclipses can only occur at...
every month beginning 4 October 2009.
This unusual schedule for single releases around Full Moons garnered some media interest, and in particular led to Kieran being invited by Tim Shaw
Tim Shaw
Tim Shaw may refer to:* Tim Shaw , British radio personality* Tim Shaw , American football player* Tim Shaw , Australian after dinner speaker and television personality...
, to perform a live acoustic performance on two of the single release nights for Absolute Radio.
Kieran also travelled to New York in 2010 for the CMJ Festival, where he toured and performed extensively. He performed at the Filmore East during this trip.
In August 2010 Kieran was invited to support 'The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
' at their reunion concerts at the Kentish Town Forum.
Kieran released his debut single 'Jerusalem' in December 2010, it was well received critically and commercially, particularly noted for its timely response to the protest marches and occupations occurring across London at the time.
In early 2011 'Jerusalem' was used in the soundtrack for Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
's latest documentary film 'Life in a Day', further exposing this song to a global audience.
Throughout the Spring/Summer of 2011 Kieran began touring France and Belgium playing to his developing fan-base in Europe. A highlight of this tour was performing at Le Trianon in Paris, he then returned to play Lyon and Bordeaux in May. Kieran was followed on these tour dates by music documentary film-makers 'Gin in Teacups' who documented life on tour and his performances, they have to date released several 'Kieran Leonard Tour Diaries'.
In June 2011 Kieran was invited to support Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, amongst other Irish acts, at the 'Feis Festival' in Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park is a 46 hectare public park in the London Borough of Haringey. Officially part of the London area of Harringay, it is also adjacent to Stroud Green, the Finsbury Park district and Manor House. It was one of the first of the great London parks laid out in the Victorian...
London. In his performance Kieran showcased new material from his Debut Album, which he had been writing and recording throughout 2011.
Kieran Leonard's debut record is anticipated for release in the winter of 2011.