Three of a kind for Blarney’s Mick Flannery as new single drops

While we wait patiently for the arrival of formidable Cork artist Mick Flannery’s new album, he has kindly graced us with yet another excellent single.

The new track, entitled ‘The Rebel’ marks a welcome reunion between Flannery and long-time collaborator, Ennis native Susan O’Neill.

The pair last collaborated on their acclaimed 2021 album ‘In The Game’ with debuted at No. 1 on the Irish Independent Albums Chart and became the year’s biggest-selling release in Ireland by a non-major label.

This new track, ‘The Rebel’, is the third to be unveiled from Flannery’s forthcoming double album ‘The House Must Win’, originally due for release last week, but now pushed back to 22 May.

The single forms part of the narrative behind ‘The House Must Win’, which is currently running as a sold-out stage production up in Dublin. On the track, Flannery takes on the role of Luther, while O’Neill voices the character of Grace, a siren figure.

Reflecting on her latest collaboration with Flannery, O’Neill, aka SON, described the process of almost having to get into character for her part in the song.

She said: “It’s lovely to share a vocal on ‘The Rebel’ and to be part of this cool album. There is anger and frustration in Grace’s words—they were a fun challenge to portray while recording the song. I was encouraged to really growl into it by the producer and arranger Liam Robinson. Thanks to Mick for having me on this.”

‘The House Must Win’ is a double album comprising 20 songs that span the full story of Flannery’s stage ongoing production. This collection of songs has been in the works for over 20 years, with reimaginings of songs from his 2005 debut album ‘Evening Train’ mixed in with ten new songs and orchestrations.

The album features an array of special guest artists invited to join on the many duets and ensemble pieces on the record. Alongside Tabitha Smyth’s solo performance, Flannery is joined by Grammy award winner Anaïs Mitchell on the first single ‘Rising Tide’; Portland songwriter Jeffrey Martin; Canadian multiple Juno award nominee, Jenn Grant; and Mercury Music Prize nominee, Lisa Hannigan, together with West Cork folk singer Marybeth O’Mahony, longtime collaborator Yvonne Daly, and Flannery’s brothers Brian, David, and Eamonn Flannery make their recording debut alongside him on ‘Take It on the Chin’, one of the iconic songs from ‘Evening Train’.

Flannery has also just announced two album release shows at Vicar Street in Dublin on 25 and 26 June. These shows will feature the full band from the record and an array of special guests to be announced soon.