Cathy Davey can't wait to soak up Foyle Maritime Festival atmosphere

The Meteor Ireland Music Award winner’s last Derry gig was six years ago in the Millennium Forum at the City of Derry Big Band and Jazz Festival during a promotional tour for her third album, “The Nameless”, which debuted at No.1 on the Irish Album Charts, the Independent Release Charts and the iTunes Charts on its first week of release.

Davey’s alternative rock fans will hear her perform her new single ‘The Pattern’, live for the first time when she takes to the stage for a free concert in the Festival Village, Queen’s Quay, on July 14th at 6pm.

But first, Davey plans to do a sweep of the Foyle Maritime Festival, soaking up the atmosphere on the LegenDerry Eye big wheel and a visit to The Phoenix tall ship which is scheduled to drop anchor at McFarland Quay on the day of her concert, offering free guided tours up until Sunday, July 17.

She continued: “I can’t wait to play SOAK’s hometown; I love SOAK but I won’t get to see her as we are playing very different places. There are loads of things I’d like to see during this Festival so I’ll be there a day early. I really want to see the Phoenix; I just love tall ships.”

Davey, who lives on a farm in Co Kildare and keeps horses, including two recently acquired rescue horses after relocating from Dublin, is a vegetarian who follows a vegan diet part of the week and is also keen to check out the Wild Foodie Cycle taking place during the Festival.

She confesses: “I’m not a huge music fan, I am more into foraging for mushrooms. That’s why it’s very hard when people ask, ‘What are your influences?’ I never listen to podcasts!”

While her last album in 2010, “The Nameless”, received rave reviews from Ireland’s music critics, Davey candidly admits that six years on, she doesn’t have any prior expectations about the response to her new album which will be released in the autumn.

“The mind doesn’t travel that far ahead for me as I’m so busy with other things. When you’re younger you become fixated about what people think of you, how you’re received and your credibility. When you get older and life’s happenings occur, your perspective becomes a thing of beauty… I am happy enough and that’s fine,” she declares.

Davey hasn’t been gigging extensively recently while in the studio working on her new album which is why her north west fans are in for an exclusive when she performs some of her new material live for the first time at the Foyle Maritime Festival on July 14.

Food is a recurring theme for Davey who played an intimate set recently at Loam, a Michelin-star restaurant in Galway – a far cry from the stages she has graced at Electric Picnic and South by South West Texas.

Describing the Loam experience as her highlight of the year to date, Davey said: “I agreed to this small gig mainly because it’s a Michelin star restaurant and it came with a meal for two. Loam is fantastic as it is all very natural and ethically sourced food. I have just been doing little bits and pieces to stay in touch with how to play music live!”

Davey – who was once described by a journalist - lazily she feels – as “Ireland’s Bjork” – said she’s impressed by the Foyle Maritime Festival programme, reflecting Londonderry’s moniker as ‘Music City’ and its reputation as an international visitor destination.

“I haven’t spent enough time previously to soak up the atmosphere but, I do intend to rectify that next week. I am going to spend two days in the city and I will have a lot more to tell you the next time!” she declares.

Jacqueline Whoriskey, Festivals and Events Officer with Derry City and Strabane District Council and main organiser of the Foyle Maritime Festival, said the council is delighted with the calibre of the local and visiting artists performing at this year’s event which coincides with the Clipper 2015-16 Round The World Yacht Race Homecoming leg.

She added: “Festival-goers are in for a real treat with the range of live music performances in this year’s programme. As well as both Cathy Davey and Four Men and a Dog performing in the Festival Village on Thursday, July 14th, we also have The Riptide Movement plus support from Paul Casey at Ebrington on Friday, July 15.

“Kila, Balkan Alien Sound and The Booka Brass Band will also be performing in the Festival Village on Saturday, July 16 and that’s not including Seo Linn, one of the highlight gigs of the Festival, who will be bringing their incredible energy to the Guildhall stage for the LegenDerry Finale celebrations and Clipper Race prize giving on Wednesday, July 13.”

For further information on all the music highlights and full Festival programme, visit www.foylemaritimefestival.com