Mary Coughlan

Mary Coughlan is arguably one of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers – a true artist who has carved out a timeless and highly regarded career and a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Described as ‘Ireland’s Billie Holiday’, Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism and drug addiction to become a musical force like no other. She is unique in blending the whisky-blurred, smoke-seared, husky notes and laconic wit of Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee, and deep, down and dirty blues singers back to Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith, with the sardonic, bitter-sweet defiance and despair of Piaf. It’s all delivered in a delicious and unapologetic Irish drawl. Sceptical, rueful, mournful and melting, ardent for love – a voice which wraps itself around Cole Porter and Jerome Kern, Elvis Presley and Joy Division.