Eamonn Flynn forges his own brand of Irish soul. The Dublin-born singer-songwriter/pianist got his start with The Commitments, a hit film about an Irish soul band, and has since worked with American blues and R&B stars Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Evelyn Champagne King, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters), The Ray Charles Project, and many more.
Flynn's new quartet DUBLINESQUE brings his deep soul and gospel roots together with the Irish music traditions he was raised on.
"Dublinesque is my attempt to recreate the kind of parties we had in my parents' house, growing up in Dublin," explains Flynn. "There'd be neighbours and friends, and it would always end up as a sing-song/jam session. Everyone would participate - if you couldn't hold a tune, you'd perform a 'recitation' or tell a joke!
"There was never any delineation between genres of music - whether it was Irish tunes and ballads, soul music, or a Beatles song," he emphasizes.
The band brings together three talented Bay Area Irish traditional musicians: fellow Irishman Félim Egan (The Black Brothers) on accordion, local favorite Darcy Noonan on fiddle, and from the Basque Country, Spain, Hector Bragado on banjo. They are also sometimes joined by special guests. Previous guests have included Glide Memorial Choir, Maria Muldaur, Mary Black, Róisín O, Michael Black, Shay Black, Autumn Rhodes, Margaret Graham, and dancers from the Kennelly, Dillon, and Whelan Schools of Irish Dance and the Cooley-Keegan Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí.
"This is my chance to play with some of my favorite musicians and recreate those parties!" says Flynn.
Flynn's latest of three solo albums is 2022's 'Anywhere But Home,' celebrating Dublin from his San Francisco pandemic perspective. Featuring playing by John Doyle, Micheal McGoldrick, Mick McAuley, Athena Tergis and ,James Macintosh, it received praise and widespread airplay in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. Dublinesque are currently working on a new album for Little Village Music, due out October 2026.
"Flynn's songwriting moves with true emotional register across history, folklore and poetry…with grit and true Dublin savvy.” Deirdre Cronin - Irish Music Magazine
"Dublinesque played a creative mix of Irish music and storytelling that entertained the crowd from start to finish. The musicians are at the top of their craft and the packed house left our venue in pure Irish bliss.” United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco
"The well is not dry; Flynn is the bard to continue the canon of songs for Dublin, because every generation needs its memories and melodies."
Seán Laffey - Irish Music Magazine