John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivateaudiences around the world.As an artist his music appeals to listeners across many genres and generations. His vocal style has aunique almost sean-nós like quality and his performances shimmer with the magic realism thatpermeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy toroguish, irreverent humour. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure.A native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and a source of hugecreative influence throughout his career. John’s music is inspired by and encapsulates Irish traditionalmusic in its contemporary form – a reflection of Ireland today.A two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad act John is one of the most accomplishedsongwriters in Ireland. With an extensive back catalogue beginning with the 1997 album The Wells of theWorld, his songs have been covered by Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane and many others.Twelve albums later in April 2021, John released his first independent album in 20 years, 100 SnowWhite Horses.
In October 2022, John released ‘In Another Light’ a career spanning album recorded live at the RightHere Right Now Festival recorded at Cork Opera House in November 2021.
In Another Light is a career spanning album, the songs ranging from 1983 right up to John’s most recentrelease in 2020. This album is a result of a live concert with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra in November 2021 as part of the Right Here Right Now festival.Every person involved with the concert experienced these songs in a different way. For John and Pauline,who have been performing these pieces for years, it meant learning them anew, in collaboration with theorchestra. For the orchestra, playing newly orchestrated pieces brings new challenges and excitement.For the audience members, they could sit back and experience these well known and much loved songs as they have never heard them before.The resulting recordings are a perfect marriage of true lyrical and melodical brilliance of the songs, liftedby the perfect accompaniment of a professional orchestra.There is a true sense of family and community around this album, how many people does it take to put ashow of this scale on a stage? How many people does a musician such as John meet on his journey? Wewant to welcome everyone into this community, experience these songs with us, hear these tracks thatyou know and love, In Another Light.
... glorious technicolour hues that transcend linguistic boundaries; world music for a new world. Irish
Times
John Spillane, startlingly alive to the breath of nature, is among the last of the great bards. 100 Snow
White Horses is a balm to soothe sore souls... 9/10
Hot Press
John writes catchy, heartfelt folk-pop songs with the bonus of actually meaning something. The Sunday
Business Post
John's songs are the heart and soul of our island and they'll be sung around the world for as long as
there is song.
Damien Dempsey
well-structured, melodious folk songs that resonate with specific, acutely observed Irish storylines. (100
Snow White Horses, 2021)
Tony Clayton Lea, Sunday Business Post
I sing John Spillane songs everywhere I go. John has been my favourite songwriter for the past ten years.
Christy Moore
The talented and inspired Cork singer songwriter John Spillane is a much loved musician whom the
people of Cork have taken to their hearts.
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
John Spillane is a Singer Songwriter from Cork, but he is a fellow who has touched my heart big time withhis music.
Páidí Ó Sé
The real bard of Cork. Patrick Galvin
Inspired by the bardic tradition, Spillane penned his 12th album in gratitude to patronage found on the
road...this is perhaps Spillane’s best set of songs since Will We Be brilliant or What? In 2001. (100 Snow
White Horses, 2021)
Steve Cummins, Sunday Times
100 Snow White Horses is a rich, molten cauldron of emotional blissed-out balladry blessed with poetic
intimacy and a collection of story-songs that begs immediate listening. A masterclass of eloquent
romanticism delivered by a poet of song.
Folk Radio UK