Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter singing in Athlone this week

By David Flynn

Two American singer-songwriters have based themselves in Athlone this week as they perform on their Irish music tour.

Scout Willis, daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, will be performing with Kelley Swindall in Athlone venues as well as in Dublin, Sligo and Drogheda.

Scout and Kelley will be playing tonight (Tuesday) in Athlone pub Peddler Mac's. Tomorrow (Wednesday) they are in Whelan's, Dublin, before returning to Athlone to play in Sean's Bar on Thursday night.

They are due to be in Sean's again on Friday afternoon, and, later that night, will be performing in Nuts Corner in the town.

US native, author, and musician Mary Helen Hensley, who is a well-known chiropractor on the Dublin Road in Athlone, has been a friend of Scout Willis for many years.

Mary Helen introduced Scout to Ireland, and encouraged her to come to Athlone to perform her music.

"I wanted Scout to come here, and she said her friend, Kelley was doing a UK tour. I was like, 'how about making Athlone your base for an Irish tour?'" explained Mary Helen.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, Scout Willis said this was a "boots on the ground" tour, in which she hopes to build up an Irish fanbase.

"Now that I'm here, I love it so much. I want to explore all of here and have a fanbase and a reason to come back," she said.

"For so many years, Mary Helen was telling me that everyone is so kind and so real here and that Irish people truly love music in a way not many around the world do."

Kelley Swindall is a country, folk and blues artist who writes and sings about life and death. "Death is life and that's the thing, we can't separate the two," she said.

Kelley has recently toured with Steve Wickham of The Waterboys.

Following their Athlone and Dublin performances this week, Scout Willis and Kelley Swindall will be on stage in Drogheda on Saturday and in Sligo on Sunday.