Shannon McArdle Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 01:33PM Clint Newman is insanely talented and patient, and I hope I tell him and Bob Van Pelt often enough how very grateful I am to be making this record with them. A Touch of Class is almost there, and we'll get it out to ya later this year. That's a promise.
Shannon McArdle Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 01:31PM Come see us at Rock Shop in Park Slope on June 25th! We're playing with the very talented Brett Saxon. Early show, as it's a school night! 8 pm.
Shannon McArdle Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 07:12AM I am beyond elated that Drogheda's own writer/director, Mr. Darren Thornton is using a song from my previous release, Fear the Dream of Axes, in his upcoming film, "Mad Mary", to be released in Ireland through Element Pictures summer 2015, and everywhere else son after. Rumor has it "Freighted Sky" will appear not once, but TWICE in the film! Thank you, Darren for thinking of me, and for being so supportive of my music. Here's a wee bit on the man himself, who is director and co-writer of "Mad Mary". He's one to watch, and one to catch up on if you've never experienced his work.
Darren established the award-winning Calipo Theatre Company in 1995. He has directed numerous stage productions during his tenure as Artistic Director. Recent productions include ‘Chatroom’ by Enda Walsh, ‘Pineapple’ by Phillip McMahon and the original stage-production of ‘Ten dates with Mad Mary’ by Yasmine Akram. He made his television debut directing the IFTA award-winning ‘Love is the drug’ in 2004, a six part comedy-drama series for RTE. His first short film ‘Frankie’ won the Prix UIP award at the Berlin film festival in 2008 and the European Academy Award for best short film in the same year. His second short film ‘Two hearts’ also won the Prix UIP award and was nominated for a European Academy Award in 2011. In 2003, Darren established the Sharp Focus film project; a teenage film initiative that runs annually, Sharp Focus enables young people from the North and South of Ireland to work with established filmmakers on the production of original short films that explores the legacy of conflict within their communities.
A few comments regarding the film from Darren himself: As with all of the best comedy, the film is very much grounded in the absurdities of real life. One of the things that interest me most as a director, is the challenge of creating an identifiable, nuanced world and bringing a central character into that world that struggles in a way that an audience can relate to. In this film, we want the relationships to feel real and not superficial, we want the friendships to be always teetering on the verge of collapse and the romance to feel raw and tender.
Shannon McArdle Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 10:43PM Thank you, Michael Robbins, for allowing me to make a song out of your pretty poem. Michael's new book of poetry, The Second Sex, comes out in September, and you'd be best advised to buy yourself a copy.
Shannon McArdle Monday, July 14, 2014 at 03:33AM 
The new country record is coming along slowly at least, if not steadily. I am thrilled to have been asked by Michael Robbins to put his poem "Country Music" to music. I like to think I've done it justice, though it has already been intimated by Michael (by "intimated", I mean explicitly and verbosely uttered) that "she doesn't seem to have put much effort into it".
"Country Music" is a poem in Mr. Robbins' new collection coming out this fall, entitled The Second Sex. It promises to dazzle the shit out of you. In fact, just earlier this month during a visit to San Diego, I lent twin Philip my prized promo copy, and it damn near did not make it back to Brooklyn. "Country Music" the song will appear on the new record, but I promise you a sneak listen before then. Clint Newman is on engineering duty for the recording (as well as many other duties) while Bob van Pelt will man the bass later this month. Thanks once again, gentlemen.
http://m.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2014/07/07/140707po_poem_robbins