Fionn Regan

Fionn Regan
Regan performing at the Summer Sundae Festival in 2010.
Background information
Born	1981 Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland
Genres	Folk, folk rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, percussion
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Bella Union, Lost Highway, Heavenly, Heffa
Website	fionnregan.com

Fionn Regan is an Irish singer-songwriter and artist from Bray, County Wicklow, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his Mercury-nominated debut album, The End of History. In 2010, Regan released his second album, The Shadow of an Empire, with a third, 100 Acres of Sycamore, appearing in 2011. Regan cites Bob Dylan and Neil Young as influences.

Overview

Regan's early releases included the single, "Little Miss Drunk" a 7", and two EPs titled Hotel Room, Reservoir, which were released on a small indie label, Anvil Records [1]. He also self-released a 'tour only' EP called Campaign Button. Following these releases, in 2006, Regan signed to former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde's independent record label, Bella Union, in the UK, resulting in Regan's debut album The End of History being released on 7 August 2006 to major critical acclaim. A leader of the new 'brit' folk movement, The Guardian saying "Folk has a new Pied Piper"

Following his UK success, Regan was subsequently signed by the American label Lost Highway Records. The End of History was released in the U.S. on July 10, 2007.

The End of History was produced by Regan himself (mixing the album with Simon Raymonde). Mojo magazine gave the album four stars in a review that dubbed the disc "a debut that oozes rare confidence, startling maturity and originality".^{[citation needed]} The album received a slew of 4 and 5 star reviews from publications including The Times and The Guardian

Regan has toured worldwide and played many festivals around the world including the Glastonbury Festival, XPoNential Music Festival in Camden, New Jersey, Electric Picnic (Ireland), Summercase and Benicassim (Spain), Bestival (Isle of Wight) ACL (Austin, Texas) Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (San Francisco).^{[citation needed]} and Laneways Festival Australia

Fionn was invited to perform with Lucinda Williams on her 2007 tour. Williams saying at the Irving Plaza NY concert that Fionn is “his generation’s answer to Bob Dylan”

Fionn was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazines prestigious music portfolio

Regan was nominated for two Meteor Music Awards (Best Male and Best Newcomer) in 2006^{[citation needed]} and The End of History was nominated for Irish Album of the Year at the Choice Music Prize. and was one of the twelve shortlisted albums for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize Album of the year.

Fionn Regan was nominated for the 2008 Shortlist Prize, the U.S. equivalent of the Mercury Prize

In July 2008 Regan had the honour of being invited to perform as part of a live concert film "Liam Clancy: Live The Bitter End NYC" A very special Liam Clancy concert, where Fionn shared the stage with Liam Clancy, Tom Paxton, Shane McGowan and the incredible Odetta (this was the last filmed performance of the late Odetta)

The single "Be Good or Be Gone" has been used in the television dramas Grey's Anatomy, Nearly Famous, and Skins. His song "Put A Penny In The Slot" has been offered as an iTunes Free Download of the Week.

In 2008 Regan recorded a follow-up album to The End of History with producer Ethan Johns (son of the legendary 60's producer Glyn Johns) for the Lost Highway label, who refused to release it. The album remains unreleased and Regan has referred to this album as "The Red Tapes"

The following year (2009) Regan retreated to Co. Wicklow Ireland to record what would become The Shadow of an Empire without any record label involement or intrusion. Jeff Barrett of Heavenly Records was one of the first to hear the completed album and quickly signed him up

Regan released his second studio album, The Shadow of an Empire, to critical acclaim on February 8, 2010 Achieving Mojo**** Uncut**** Q**** Sun***** Hotpress**** Financial Times**** The Telegraph**** The Guardian **** The Independent**** Mail on Sunday****

The Welsh actor Rhys Ifans has a tattoo of Regans' lyrics "Be good or be gone"

Ellie Goulding and Andrea Corr have been quoted in the press saying they are fans of Regans music

In 2009 Regan was invited to speak and made an honorary member of the Trinity College Literary Society the chairman saying “In his music, Mr. Regan has done more than many artists to erode the boundaries between music and literature, with his lyrics always possessing the most beautiful poetry"

In 2010 Regan gave a special performance in Dylan Thomas’ boathouse in Laugharne, Wales

Regans song “Put a Penny in the Slot” was selected to be included on a special compilation album created by IASCA and FMC in partnership with Culture Ireland to present the gift of music from Ireland to dignitaries HRH The Queen and President Obama and their international press corps travelling with them during their individual visits to Ireland in 2011.

100 Acres of Sycamore (2011)

Regan released his third studio album, 100 Acres of Sycamore, in August 2011, with the track "Dogwood Blossom" featuring prominately in Shane Meadows' TV drama This Is England '88.

Regan performed at the Eurosonic Festival in 2012 when Ireland was the "Spotlight Country".

Discography

Regan at XPoNential Music Festival in 2007

Albums

• The End of History (2006)
• The Shadow of an Empire (2010)
• 100 Acres of Sycamore (2011)

EPs

• Slow Wall (EP) (6 October 2000) (under the name Bilbo)
• Reservoir (EP) (10 February 2003)
• Hotel Room (EP) (15 March 2004)
• Campaign Button (EP) (2005)
• Home Recording Sampler

Singles

• "Little Miss Drunk" (22 July 2002)
• "Be Good or Be Gone" (5 February 2006)
• "Protection Racket" (November 2009)
• "For A Nightingale" (July 2011)

Compilation appearances

• "Getting Better" (Mojo Presents Sgt. Pepper...With A Little Help From His Friends, Mojo, 2007)
• "Put a Penny in the Slot" (Acoustic 07, V2 Records, 2007)

External links

• Official website
• Fionn Regan on Myspace