Athlone singer songwriter to perform first local gig
Jack Tiernan (19) from Bealnamulla, Athlone will perform his first local gig in the Tuar Ard Arts Centre in Moate on Friday week, March 10.
The local singer-songwriter first started getting interested in writing and performing his own music during lockdown in 2020. He then released his first single, 'It's Okay' in May 2020 which was for a collaboration with Pieta House.
Jack has grown an impressive following on social media, amassing 40,000 followers across all platforms to date with a focus on Tik-Tok and Instagram. One song which he performed a cover of on Tik-Tok, 'I Don't Know You Yet' by Alexander 23 was shared by the artist. “It was a good experience and pushed the video a bit more,” said Jack.
He studied music in secondary school and amazingly his former music teacher at Athlone Community College, Katie Gallagher, will be a support act at Jack's show in Tuar Ard Arts Theatre.
Jack left school when he was in fifth year to pursue music opportunities abroad. He worked as an entertainer in a resort in Kos, Greece for a six-month period. “It opened my eyes and broadened my audience,” he explained.
Jack said that the experience enabled him to expand his music and he was performing all genres. The young singer-songwriter describes his music as “honest” and said he draws from past experiences that he or his family members have been through.
He first performed during lockdown for a virtual show organised by The Soundhouse in Dublin. Jack performed his first live gig in February 2022 in The Soundhouse. “It was very daunting. It was a proud moment for myself, people buying tickets to listen to my music.”
Jack's latest single, 'You' was recently released and can be found on all major streaming platforms.
Speaking about his plans for the future, the former Athlone Community College student said: “I'd like to do bigger gigs and hopefully make it as a musician. If I never made it but was still able to busk on the street I'd be happy. I do a lot of my busking on Shop Street up in Galway.”
He said that a lot of people just walk past and don't pass any heed at all but just getting to perform his own songs is humbling. “They're still hearing what I'm singing.”
Jack's music influences include Dermot Kennedy, Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Clinton Kane and James Arthur. He said that Dermot Kennedy is a huge inspiration for his music and probably the main reason he is pursuing a career in the industry.
The singer-songwriter is preparing to release three more singles later this year and hopes to start working on an album next year. Jack is the son of singer Sandra Hewitt and John Tiernan, both from Athlone.