Paul Noonan (Bell X1) & Jim Lawler (Saso)

at the Church of St Catherine and St James, Donore

Presented by cwb.ie

Paul Noonan is a songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the frontman of the Irish group Bell X1 and is a long time resident of Dublin 8 so who better to play a very special concert on Thursday May 8th.at one of the most stunning buildings in D8 as a centrepiece of this years Culture Date in Dublin 8 festival.

Paul will be joined by a solo set from Jim Lawler of SASO. SASO are Jim Lawler (composer / multi instrumentalist) and GRAMMY Award winning producer/engineer, Ben Rawlins who share a unique artistic relationship as a writer and producer partnership. Their music has soft tones, dark electronics and an unrushed pace which offer a slow-motion perspective on fast-forward culture.

"Living around the corner for the past 16 years, I pass the church a lot while walking the dog - and have long thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to do a gig in there...”. So I’m excited to be doing so, and to have my friend Jim from Saso (also of the parish!) do a set too." - Paul Noonan

As well as Bell X1 Paul performs as a solo artist and collaborator on a variety of musical projects - Printer Clips, a record of simply recorded duets with the likes of Joan As Policewoman, Martha Wainwright & Lisa Hannigan and more recently HousePlants, with the electronic musician Daithí. Over the last couple of years Paul has been touring as part of a unique trio with Lisa Hannigan and Gemma Hayes, sharing their songs and stories with audiences across Ireland.

From humble childhood beginnings as second flautist in the Lucan Concert Band (Yup!), Paul has also featured as contributor to records by Gemma Hayes, The Frames and The Cake Sale, a record for Oxfam. A keen and natural collaborator, he curated and directed the Starboard Home and Imagining Ireland projects in association with The National Concert Hall in Dublin.

Between these collaborations, Paul Noonan has been performing intimate solo shows around Ireland, playing songs from across the body of work that he has created over the past 25 years. He’s also a qualified and practicing music therapist, working with older adults living with dementia and with children in areas of social disadvantage.