"A quietly storming solo return...it's spookily brilliant." - 8/10 Uncut
"A profound and touching response to these dark times... It's a record that might just be one of lockdown's most perfect creations: as intimate and stark a reflection of the period we're living in as Springsteen's Nebraska was of the early 80s." – Classic Rock
"Sheehy's first solo album in 10-plus years has paid off handsomely...the alluring intimacy of his plaintive deep vocals over minimalist instrumentation shines throughout." - Vive Le Rock
"Distance may indeed bring beauty into perspective, but I highly recommend you get up and close and intimate with this." - Folk Radio UK
"It carries both sureness and profundity, with an internal logic compelling the listener to remain and return, to reach ever-closer to the proffered mysteries at its heart." - Bucketful of Brains
"We spend so much time and energy boggling at the obscurity in which great songwriters from previous eras had to go about their business, when there are artists right now in the same situation whose work we should be shouting about from the rooftops. Michael's one of those artists." - Pete Paphides
By his own account, Michael J Sheehy has pissed away two or three careers. His first band Dream City Film Club were signed to Beggars Banquet towards the end of last century and despite early promise they crashed and burned after recording their second album. Sheehy then released three critically acclaimed solo albums with Beggars Banquet and toured Europe and the USA with the likes of Kristin Hersch, Tindersticks, Ed Harcourt and Bauhaus front man Peter Murphy.
Despite a few bumps along the road, he has continued making music as a solo artist and as part of the rock band Miraculous Mule as well as one half of psychedelic electronic duo United Sounds of Joy. In 2020 he released his critically acclaimed solo album 'Distance Is The Soul of Beauty', his first in a decade.
‘Distance is the Soul of Beauty’ is an intimate, reflective collection of songs that were recorded at home during late night hours under the COVID-19 enforced lockdown and sung in hushed tones while Sheehy’s wife and child were asleep. Lyrically inspired by the writings of French philosopher Simone Weil and English medieval
mystic Julian of Norwich as well as Sheehy’s battle to maintain sobriety in a world gone mad, these songs are personal yet leave plenty of space for the listener to project their own feelings and interpretations on to. Sheehy cites the Velvet Underground’s eponymous third album, Suicide’s gentler moments and his lifelong love of Elvis Presley as musical touchstones.
This gig celebrates the launch of a brand new EP on South London record label Dimple Discs.
Sun Oct 5 2025
8:30 PM (Doors 7:00 PM)
£16.50
All Ages
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Michael J. Sheehy & The Hired Mourners with special guest Suzanne Rhatigan
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Michael J Sheehy
Blues
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Suzanne Rhatigan
Alternative Folk
£16.50 All Ages
"A quietly storming solo return...it's spookily brilliant." - 8/10 Uncut
"A profound and touching response to these dark times... It's a record that might just be one of lockdown's most perfect creations: as intimate and stark a reflection of the period we're living in as Springsteen's Nebraska was of the early 80s." – Classic Rock
"Sheehy's first solo album in 10-plus years has paid off handsomely...the alluring intimacy of his plaintive deep vocals over minimalist instrumentation shines throughout." - Vive Le Rock
"Distance may indeed bring beauty into perspective, but I highly recommend you get up and close and intimate with this." - Folk Radio UK
"It carries both sureness and profundity, with an internal logic compelling the listener to remain and return, to reach ever-closer to the proffered mysteries at its heart." - Bucketful of Brains
"We spend so much time and energy boggling at the obscurity in which great songwriters from previous eras had to go about their business, when there are artists right now in the same situation whose work we should be shouting about from the rooftops. Michael's one of those artists." - Pete Paphides
By his own account, Michael J Sheehy has pissed away two or three careers. His first band Dream City Film Club were signed to Beggars Banquet towards the end of last century and despite early promise they crashed and burned after recording their second album. Sheehy then released three critically acclaimed solo albums with Beggars Banquet and toured Europe and the USA with the likes of Kristin Hersch, Tindersticks, Ed Harcourt and Bauhaus front man Peter Murphy.
Despite a few bumps along the road, he has continued making music as a solo artist and as part of the rock band Miraculous Mule as well as one half of psychedelic electronic duo United Sounds of Joy. In 2020 he released his critically acclaimed solo album 'Distance Is The Soul of Beauty', his first in a decade.
‘Distance is the Soul of Beauty’ is an intimate, reflective collection of songs that were recorded at home during late night hours under the COVID-19 enforced lockdown and sung in hushed tones while Sheehy’s wife and child were asleep. Lyrically inspired by the writings of French philosopher Simone Weil and English medieval
mystic Julian of Norwich as well as Sheehy’s battle to maintain sobriety in a world gone mad, these songs are personal yet leave plenty of space for the listener to project their own feelings and interpretations on to. Sheehy cites the Velvet Underground’s eponymous third album, Suicide’s gentler moments and his lifelong love of Elvis Presley as musical touchstones.
This gig celebrates the launch of a brand new EP on South London record label Dimple Discs.
"A profound and touching response to these dark times... It's a record that might just be one of lockdown's most perfect creations: as intimate and stark a reflection of the period we're living in as Springsteen's Nebraska was of the early 80s." – Classic Rock
"Sheehy's first solo album in 10-plus years has paid off handsomely...the alluring intimacy of his plaintive deep vocals over minimalist instrumentation shines throughout." - Vive Le Rock
"Distance may indeed bring beauty into perspective, but I highly recommend you get up and close and intimate with this." - Folk Radio UK
"It carries both sureness and profundity, with an internal logic compelling the listener to remain and return, to reach ever-closer to the proffered mysteries at its heart." - Bucketful of Brains
"We spend so much time and energy boggling at the obscurity in which great songwriters from previous eras had to go about their business, when there are artists right now in the same situation whose work we should be shouting about from the rooftops. Michael's one of those artists." - Pete Paphides
By his own account, Michael J Sheehy has pissed away two or three careers. His first band Dream City Film Club were signed to Beggars Banquet towards the end of last century and despite early promise they crashed and burned after recording their second album. Sheehy then released three critically acclaimed solo albums with Beggars Banquet and toured Europe and the USA with the likes of Kristin Hersch, Tindersticks, Ed Harcourt and Bauhaus front man Peter Murphy.
Despite a few bumps along the road, he has continued making music as a solo artist and as part of the rock band Miraculous Mule as well as one half of psychedelic electronic duo United Sounds of Joy. In 2020 he released his critically acclaimed solo album 'Distance Is The Soul of Beauty', his first in a decade.
‘Distance is the Soul of Beauty’ is an intimate, reflective collection of songs that were recorded at home during late night hours under the COVID-19 enforced lockdown and sung in hushed tones while Sheehy’s wife and child were asleep. Lyrically inspired by the writings of French philosopher Simone Weil and English medieval
mystic Julian of Norwich as well as Sheehy’s battle to maintain sobriety in a world gone mad, these songs are personal yet leave plenty of space for the listener to project their own feelings and interpretations on to. Sheehy cites the Velvet Underground’s eponymous third album, Suicide’s gentler moments and his lifelong love of Elvis Presley as musical touchstones.
This gig celebrates the launch of a brand new EP on South London record label Dimple Discs.
Share With Friends