Keith Shackleton on July 26th, 2010

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Villagers is the nom de musique of Dun Laoghaire poet and songwriter Conor O’Brien. His debut album “Becoming A Jackal” (out now on Domino) is on the shortlist for this year’s Mercury Prize, garnering rave reviews from heavyweight press and topping the charts in his native Ireland. O’Brien stilled a garrulous media audience at the Mercury nomination ceremony with a stunning solo rendition of the title track (available for download right here). His charming, lyrical collection of  well-crafted songs joins “Sigh No More” from Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling‘s “I Speak Because I Can” on this year’s list – a strong roots-based presence in the UK’s most prestigious music award**.

||| Download: “Becoming a Jackal”

||| Live: Villagers play tonight at It’s a School Night at Bardot (RSVP-only), and at the Hotel Cafe on Tuesday.

** – save for the execrable back-slapping industry bun-fight that is The Brits, of which we shall not speak.

– By Keith Shackleton