Up Close & Personal: Villagers – {Awayland}

A Hot Press production, Up Close and Personal is a series of live events and programmes in which artists talk about their own classic Irish albums. The first six broadcasts feature interviews and performances from Gemma Hayes (Night On My Side, 2002), Mary Coughlan (Tired and Emotional, 1985), Damien Dempsey (Seize The Day, 2003), Tim Wheeler of Ash (1977, 1996) Conor O’Brien of Villagers (Awayland, 2013) and Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny (Planxty, 1973).

The series is produced in association with Aidan Shortall of Up Close and Personal Promotions and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The public interviews took place at The Grand Social, Dublin in the winter of 2021. This show features Conor O'Brien being interviewed by musician and broadcaster Paul McLoone and performing several songs from Villagers' Choice Music Prize-winning album, {Awayland}.

Since the release of Villagers' debut album, Becoming a Jackal, in 2010, Conor O'Brien has established himself as one of Ireland's most celebrated musical talents – having scored two Ivor Novellos, a Choice Music Prize and two Mercury Prize nominations over the course of his remarkable career. Villagers' latest album, Fever Dreams, was released in August 2021.