Ray Lamontagne

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Tonight/Tomorrow 8pm 54.80/49.20/44.20 01-6771717; Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo Sun 8pm 35 0818-300000

The type of artist who couldn’t talk his way out of a paper bag if his life depended on it, the reclusive, monosyllabic Ray LaMontagne makes Thomas Pynchon come across like Simon Cowell. What makes up for his quiet nature is the music, which is as introspective as one might imagine, but comes infused with the man’s selfless spirit and non-aggressive intensity.

A self-confessed misfit and oddball (he says the pivotal change in his life occurred at 4am some years ago when his alarm clock woke him up to the sound of Stephen Stills singing Tree Top Flyer), LaMontagne is nonetheless gaining more and more commercial ground as the years pass by.

It’s true – who needs to be like Robbie Williams when your music is so good?

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Electric Picnic Friday/ Saturday/Sunday, Stradbally Estate, Co Laois