Villagers

Villagers are an Irish group fronted by Conor J. O’Brien. They form in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland in 2008 and remain active. The line-up includes Tommy McLaughlin and Conor J. O’Brien. Their sound sits within folk, indie folk, indie rock and singer-songwriter music.

History

Conor J. O’Brien forms Villagers after the breakup of his previous band, The Immediate. He also spends time as a guitarist in Cathy Davey’s band, which shapes his approach because he has not previously played with anyone outside The Immediate. After the songs begin to take shape, he brings in friends to perform them under the Villagers name.

The band gives its first live performance as a support act with The Chapters at Whelan’s in November 2008. At that point they have rehearsed together only twice and have seven songs, all written by O’Brien and taught to the rest of the group.

Early releases and touring

Villagers release their debut EP, Hollow Kind, in February 2009. The four-track record consists entirely of songs written and performed by O’Brien and draws comparisons with Bright Eyes and Sparklehorse.

The band tours after the EP and performs with a number of acts, including Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, Bell X1 and Tindersticks. They also appear at several festivals in 2009, including Oxegen, Indie-pendence, Electric Picnic and Latitude. Other live appearances include support slots for Bell X1 at Live at the Marquee in Cork and a headline performance at Hard Working Class Heroes. They also perform on the seventh series of RTÉ Two’s Other Voices and at The Music Show in Dublin’s RDS.

Albums

The debut single, On a Sunlit Stage, is released in October 2009. In 2010 the group releases Becoming a Jackal, which reaches number one on the Irish Albums Chart and the Irish Indie Albums Chart and stays at the top of the indie chart. The album is shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Their second album, Awayland, follows in 2013.

Other activity

Villagers represent Ireland at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen in January 2010 and take part in fundraising efforts after the Haiti earthquake that year. Conor J. O’Brien says he wants the songs to remain playful and surprising, and he explains that the name Villagers is chosen because it does not offend the songs.