Irish folk act Hibsen today released their second single Eveline, available on all major streaming platforms from that date, and which forms part of an album of 15 songs inspired by James Joyce’s Dubliners.
About Eveline
Eveline is based on the short story of the same name from James Joyce’s Dubliners. It tells the story of a young woman who has fallen in love with a sailor called Frank. Her mother has passed away and she lives alone with her father who can become violent, especially when he has been drinking. Frank asks her to move to Buenos Aires with him and after weighing up the pros and cons, she decides to go. She writes two letters – one to her father and one to her older brother – and then leaves for Dublin port with Frank. Just as they are about to board the ship, Eveline becomes overwhelmed by the crowd and by the huge decision she is about to make, she becomes separated from Frank and then the story ends …
Eveline was produced by Alex Borwick at Black Mountain Recording Studios and in addition to Gráinne (vocals) and Jim (guitar), the recording features Laura Ryder (piano), Shay Sweeney (drums), Alex Borwick (bass) and the string quartet Musici, which was founded by Beth McNinch. Strings were arranged by Cormac Curran.
Bloomsday Festival album launch sponsored by Irish Life and Aviva
The release of Eveline follows on from Hibsen’s debut release Araby, which came out on 3rd March. Both tracks form part of an album of 15 original songs that were written by Jim Murphy and Gráinne Hunt and which were inspired by each of the short stories in James Joyce’s Dubliners. The album will be launched as part of the Bloomsday Festival with two concerts at Smock Alley Theatre on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June respectively.
Titled ‘James Joyce’s Dubliners interpreted in song’, the concerts will entail a musical performance of the full album by an ensemble of 10 musicians, including the string quartet Musici. In addition, Frank McNally of the Irish Times will provide expositions of and recite selected passages from Dubliners at various points during the performance.
The concerts are kindly sponsored by Irish Life and Aviva.
Tickets for each concert are €20 (concession €18) and are available from the Smock Alley website here.
