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THE IRISH TIMES ****4 stars
‘…beautifully engaging piece of work that gets into places other biog-style DVDS can’t manage…all the more fascinating for avoiding the usual cliches of music film-making…a detailed work that is much in keeping with Turner’s own approach to music.’
In 2004-2005 cult Irish musician PIERCE TURNER recorded his 7th studio
album in Woodstock and embarked on a unique tour of Ireland,
playing people’s pianos in their own parlours and front rooms.
This is the song for the year.
Colin Murnane’s documentary follows the acclaimed
Pierce Turner from his homes in Wexford and
Manhattan to the Woodstock studio and to venues
as contrasting as The Public Theatre Manhattan and
the Headon’s parlour in Birr, County Offaly.
With story cameos from late legends Rory Gallagher
and John Steinbeck, The Song For The Year documents
a remarkable year with a remarkable artist.
The Song For The Year was made from Colin’s back
bedroom in Greenwich London, and includes
contributions from Tony Clayton Lee (The Irish Times),
Jackie Hayden (Hot Press), Martin Mills (Beggars Banquet)
and filmmaker Jim Sheridan who credits motivation
for My Left Foot to a Turner gig in the late 1980s.
IMPORTANT - important - IMPORTANT - important
The Song For The Year DVD is currently only available as PAL for Ireland and UK. A United States NTSC version would prove too expensive for you to buy at the moment…currency markets and such. I hope to address this in early 2008 and may attempt a screening in NYC.
If you would like to be kept informed please email hank@hankwicklow.com
WHAT PIERCE FANS SAID AFTER THE FILM INSTITUTE SCREENING
To: colin Murnane – the song for the year – pierce turner DVD documentary: Congratulations on what you’ve created. We all enjoyed the wry sections…the New York manager spotting how Pierce could keep all the readies from the parlour gigs…the woman of the house’s conviction about where Pierce should play in her domain…you captured perfectly the growing tension in Woodstock… These insights elevate the documentary above a simple tribute. Well done and good luck! (JOHN REYNOLDS)
To: colin Murnane – the song for the year – pierce turner DVD documentary: Colin, well done on the film yesterday - we really enjoyed it. Thankfully, our appearance in it was brief and not nearly as embarrassing as we had feared! Best of luck with it. (MIKE AND LIMERICK BOYS)
To: colin Murnane – the song for the year – pierce turner DVD documentary: Wanted to say I really enjoyed the preview as did my husband and friend, if I didn’t already think Pierce to be great I’d be investigating him further after this film! Well done and good luck with the final cut! (CLARE IRWIN)
To: colin Murnane – the song for the year – pierce turner DVD documentary: It’s really good and strikes a lovely balance… looks great and natural. Let me know when the DVD is out! (MARTIN BRIDGEMAN)
all content copyright Hank Wicklow
If you would like to be kept informed please email hank@hankwicklow.com