Aoife O'Donovan

I'm sorry I've waited so long to write this review. I go to about 12-20 shows a year. Finding the best new and rising musical talent is a passion for me. I heard AOIFE O' DONOVAN'S debut solo album FOSSILS in June 2013. I was not familiar with the artist but I was blown away by the album and immediately sought to see her live. I had missed the MERCURY LOUNGE (one of my favorite 250cap clubs in NYC) show by a couple of days and the only opportunity in my area was THE LONGWOOD GARDENS near Philly. First off- the gardens were amazing. If I were a tree I would want to live there. The outdoor music venue was impressive as well- but the most amazing experience that day was AOIFE herself. She is a world class singer- songwriter and the musicians accompanying her where first rate as well. She had amazing stage presence and did a masterful job playing all my favorites from the FOSSILS album. The wheels of music success can turn slowly but I want to go on record and say that AOIFE O' DONOVAN will be a household name within a few years. You can still catch her at intimate clubs but that window will close soon- don't miss out!

Took a group of relatives to the show. Willie Watson put on a great show. He has a distinctive and powerful voice and a solid guitar and clawhammer banjo backup style. Aoife has written a bunch of great songs and has superb vocal delivery. Her band was very talented; we thought the guitar player in particular had some great sounds and technique. Unfortunately, we were fairly close to the stage and his amp was turned up so loud that whenever he was playing we could not really hear Aoife's vocals. There were a few times where he did not play and we were able to hear her beautiful voice clearly. A number of folks around us had the same experience.

Sound was great. Awesome show, packed house on a Wednesday night.

The sound was terrible. Way too loud for Aofie material. Guitar player was very annoying, adding only distorted outer space noise. Drums overwhelmed everything.

The Fletcher Theatre at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts is a great venue! It is a perfect place for an intimate performance, and Aoife O'Donovan's quiet but powerfully soulful style was awesome in that setting! I really enjoyed seeing her in concert here.

Aoife's voice alone could drown out the most severe personal storm, when accompanied with her own subtle guitar, Jake's teasing bass, and Robin's creative percussion, all the world's problems melt from view for a time. Beyond technically solid, well-mixed music, they left any of their own baggage backstage and gave a performance every member of the audience could find something personal in. If this was "...just another town along the road." (Browne), no one there will ever know. Thanks to all, for taking the time to learn their art, and share it with others.

Incredible concert. The acoustics were perfect. The sound level was just right, not too loud. The performance was great. Aiofe was so personable, and it was amazing how good just three instruments sounded with her beautiful vocals.

The Lincoln Theater is an intimate setting that was the perfect venue for O'Donovan and Pikelny. At times it felt like I had four friends over to the house for a concert. The music was great and overall the show was fantastic. I can't wait for them to come back next year!

I loved the show. It was nice to see them only one week into the tour. The show was fresh, Aoife's voice was clear and strong and Noam's banjo was amazing! If you are a fan of acoustic music, your really need to see them.

Amazing so much sound can come from four people. Amazingly talented musicians playing in a wonderful space.

I went into this as a fan of Aoife O'Donovan and came out a big fan of all four musicians involved. Noam Pikelny is an astonishing banjo player, and the other gentlemen, Barry Bales on Bass (Alison Krauss and Union Station) and Shad Cobb on Fiddle (John Cowan Band) were as good at their craft as anyone I've seen. My only possible complaint would be only two songs from Aoife's brilliant album, "Fossils", but it's a minor complaint, as all the material was brilliant and enjoyable. I was also able to meet all the musicians and get autographs, and they were very personable and generous with their time. Great experience!

What a fantastic night! A cd release party for Aoife with special guests Tift Merit and Sarah Watkins. Everyone sounded great and it was a joy to be there!

Great to see her in a small venue before she blows up.

I really enjoyed Aoife O'Donovan's performance, I have heard her before and I love her voice but I didn't know that she is such a gifted performer. She knows how to entertain. I loved how she created a very intimate feeling in the concert. The songs were rich and full of memories and colors, delicate and strong at the same time. A real pleasure! Music that goes deep in your soul, thank you for the experience!

All the musicians were very good. Unfortunately the miking was not ideal, and much of the time I couldn't hear Aoife nearly enough. (I didn't understand most of the words she was singing.) Sometimes the lead guitarist was also not adequately miked.

Whether you're a fan of Crooked Still or an appreciator of lyric-driven, vocal-focused indie rock, Aoife's burgeoning solo career should be of interest to you. Backed by talented instrumentalists, she delivers original songs and a few well-chosen covers in a beautiful voice. Be on the lookout for her first full-length later this year!

Aoife has a beautiful voice and a captivating stage presence that just draws you in. Her smile alone is worth the price of admission.