HOME TOWN… Clara Tracey
ENNISKILLEN-BORN musician Clara Tracey returns to Fermanagh later this month to perform at the Ardhowen theatre.
Clara, who is based in Paris, recently appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, and spoke this week of her delight to be returning home.
The Queen’s university graduate, and the daughter of Patsy and Carmel Tracey, has spent the last three and a half years living in Paris.
Clara graduated in Law and French and recently completed a Masters in International marketing at Smurfit business school.
But, it his her pursuits in music that are bringing her back to her home town.
Clara is bringing her ‘Soundtrack’ show to the Gallery Bar in the Ardhowen Theatre on Saturday June 14.
“To be honest it feels quite surreal to be coming home to play a gig in the Ardhowen.
“When I think of my poster being up around the town it’s like I’m making it up,” she told the Fermanagh Herald.
“It’s no secret that music was almost my first and foremost love but it’s easy to let rationality and probability, not to mention expectations get in the way.”
For ‘Soundtrack’, Clara said that it showcases ‘the songs, genres and artists that I would hear growing up and think ‘I need to learn how to play that immediately’.’
“It’s like looking through the kaleidoscope of music I have listened to and loved, from Debussy to Piaf to Nina Simone, a multi-coloured mix of Irish, French, classical and jazz.
“It also features some of my latest songs and compositions that are born from these inspirations such as ‘The Ballroom of Romance’, (named after a certain dance hall in Glenfarne) which has smokey old school jazz influences. I also like the ‘film’ concept that Soundtrack implies.”
The performance, including special guests, takes place in the Gallery Bar at the Ardhowen Theatre from 9pm on Saturday June 14.
“I see this show ‘Soundtrack’ as being my baptism solo performance in Ireland and I can’t wait to keep writing, performing and of course recording in the very near future,” Clara concluded.