County Derry artist to support Snow Patrol on upcoming tour

County Derry based artist Sister Ghost have been invited to support Snow Patrol on two Arena show dates on their upcoming tour. 

The Feeny based artist and band will be performing at the Dublin 3 Arena on February 25 and the Belfast SSE Arena on February 27.

On opening for Snow Patrol on their arena tour Shannon O'Neill said: “I can't wait to open for Snow Patrol in Dublin and Belfast next month - it's going to be a lot of fun! I still remember going to the first Ward Park show in 2007, where I never would have thought an opportunity like this would come along years later, so I'm honestly very excited and honoured to be on the bills. It's also a huge gift to get to play the same stages where I've seen so many of my favourites play over the years (Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure and Black Sabbath to name a few). Roll on February!”

Following the recent release of her debut album ‘Beyond the Water’ the single ‘She’s Wild’ is released on Friday, January 24 across all digital platforms.

Speaking about the new single, She’s Wild, Shannon commented: “This is about allowing your wildness, or almost like a joyful rage out of you. We are still living in a patriarchal and white supremacist world that tells anyone in the margins, to be quiet, be docile and dull their spark, so this song is like a f*** you to that. It's the opening track on my album Beyond The Water, and that's because I wanted it to open like someone kicking your door in saying “either shut up and listen, or join in!”

With a background playing in bands from the age of 12, O'Neill saw Sister Ghost as an opportunity to do things her way for the first time. She began writing and demoing in her attic - singing and playing everything herself on an 8-track recorder.

Playing noisy, spectral art-rock with a pop & literary heart, Sister Ghost marshals a diverse set of influences in a singular way - from the 'Seattle sound' to the likes of Sonic Youth, Veruca Salt, Patti Smith and Kate Bush. Sister Ghost built a reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most rousing new rock acts, winning Best Live Act at the NI Music Prize in 2019. O’Neill has also been recognised for mentoring and encouraging other female and gender expansive musicians to perform in the Northern Irish scene, having set up the Girls Rock! NI chapter in 2016.

After making some serious noise with her recent singles “I Bite Back”, “Dark Matter” and “Drain You”  Irish artist Sister Ghost released her long-awaited debut album ‘Beyond The Water’.

Her lyrics are a mixture of highs and lows, of the lessons life shoves in our face and what we do with that. This album should take you on a little tour, with love, heartbreak, death, but mostly growth and resilience. Tinged with wistfulness and nostalgia at points but also looking forward. Of frustration and pain, to wonder, and the wistful curiosity that travels and goes through young adulthood.

Sister Ghost has had press in The Guardian, garnered high profile support slots with the likes of Fontaines DC, We Are Scientists, Ratboys, Shellac, Pussy Riot and more, as well as airplay on KEXP Seattle, RTÉ 2FM, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 1.