Damn Honey by Simon Fagan

About the artist

Debut album “Outside Looking In” – Out Now

Album Of The Week – RTE Radio 1

Best Performance – International Songwriting Competition

“Infectious and accomplished” – Hot Press

“I love it when I hear something this compelling and recognize it on a first listen“ – Huffington Post, USA

“Good honest song writing” – Dropd.ie 9/10

Simon Fagan is not our typical Irish singer songwriter. Blending elements of gospel and folk with acoustic rock Simon and his band produce a big Americana sound.

His debut album, ”Outside Looking In” manages to capture the emotion of Simon's live set, combined with compelling harmonies and intricate arrangements. It includes live favourites “Damn Honey” and “Water’s Edge”; and the International Songwriting Competition winning gem “Never Really Cried”.

“Outside Looking In” sees a change in direction from Simon’s debut EP “Hired And Fired”, moving away from brass heavy arrangements and focusing more on acoustic-based rock, with elements of gospel and folk to give it a big Americana feel. Co-produced by Fagan and Martin Quinn (Juliet Turner/Ham Sandwich) the album carries lush string arrangements and features the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Brought up in Navan in a family of six boys, Simon’s musical career started at the tender age of 5 when he joined the church choir before being sent to school on a music scholarship to St Finian’s College in Mullingar. From there he went on to study Music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and later Orchestral Trumpet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

After graduating Fagan spent a couple of years singing with a number of bands in both Glasgow and Dublin before going solo in late 2007. It was then that he started writing music closer to his roots and has since opened for both Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson and performed lead vocals at the Beatle’s ‘Love’ Concert in the National Concert Hall.

2009 saw the release of Fagan’s first EP, also co-produced with Martin Quinn, this EP showcased his musical training. Filled with brass and wind arrangement, including a clarinet solo in the title track “Hired and Fired”. While touring this EP, Simon appeared on close to 30 radio shows around Ireland including Today with Pat Kenny and the Weekend Blend on Newstalk. While travelling to the UK for a 14-date tour in June of that year, he also appeared on 9-prime time BBC radio shows.

The UK not being exotic enough for this young Meath man, he decided to take his band on a tour of Egypt, where he witnessed first hand the corruption and hypocrisy that stifles this once great African nation. While performing sold out shows in Sharm El Sheik, Dahab and Cairo, Fagan visited Bedouin tribes, travelled through deserts and got a locals view of Cairo. Whilst performing at the famous Cairo Jazz Club, he was invited onto both Nile TV (10m viewers) and Nile FM to talk about his experience and perform his music.

On his return from Egypt, Simon put his focus on writing and recording his debut album. Released in May ’10, ‘Outside Looking In’ and named RTE Album of the Week. Since it’s release Simon has toured heavily throughout Ireland, including; two headline shows in Cork for Guinness Arthur’s Day (Old Oak & Pavilion); supports to The Saw Doctors, Ocean Colour Scene and Jerry Fish; and toured in the UK, US and Canada.

An Irish tour kicks off in Limerick on Thursday 17th February, with dates in Dublin, Cork, Killarney and Galway to follow. Simon is also planning a UK tour in April to coincide with the release of the 'Music Xray Compilation - Great Tracks by Independent Acts' album. Due for release through Flicknife Records (Universal) in the UK, where Simon’s track ‘Damn Honey’ will be the second single promoted to UK radio.