The Graceless Age - The Ballad of John Murry

John Murry was on the cusp of greatness with his highly acclaimed album The Graceless Age (2013) when, addicted to heroin and creatively exhausted, he washed up on Irish shores a broken man. Now, he is ready to retrace his steps back into the dark heart of American life to face his difficult childhood, traumatic assault and resulting years of opioid addiction. Director Sarah Share (If I Should Fall From Grace) follows John’s journey from near death to redemption and a new zest for life and art through his outstanding music.

Screening:

Friday 23rd August, 3pm, Belltable, Limerick

Followed at 4.45pm by:

In Conversation:

Zara Hedderman in Conversation with John Murry & Sarah Share:

John Murry is a half-Cherokee American musician, singer-songwriter, and composer known for his deep, resonant vocals and dark, poetic lyrics. Often compared to artists like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, Murry’s music delves into themes of trauma, loss, and resilience. His critically acclaimed debut album, The Graceless Age (2012), produced by Tim Mooney, was a raw, haunting exploration of his troubled past, with the track “Little Colored Balloons” standing out as a harrowing account of his near-death experience. Murry's subsequent albums, A Short History of Decay and The Stars Are God’s Bullet Holes, further solidified his reputation as a powerful storyteller, blending gothic Americana with a stark, emotional intensity. His journey from Mississippi to County Clare, Ireland, and his struggles with violence and personal turmoil, are poignantly captured in the award-winning documentary The Graceless Age – The Ballad Of John Murry. On September 20, 2024, Murry is set to release A Little Bit Of Grace And Decay, an original soundtrack in collaboration with Michael Timmins, offering stripped-back versions of his earlier works and new material inspired by his life story.

Sarah Share has extensive experience and over 20 years of documentary filmmaking across a range of genres including the multi award winning 'If I Should Fall from Grace’ – the Shane MacGowan Story which had a theatrical release by Buena Vista Ireland. Won audience prize at New York Film Fleadh and played at numerous other festivals around the world. Sundance Channel US, DVD/Video for US, Europe and Australia. Sarah works regularly with Ireland’s foremost Producers and has just finished a recent 3x1 hour documentary series for Tile Films on Ireland’s lost DNA.

Zara Hedderman is a freelance Dublin-based arts and music journalist whose work has been featured in a variety of publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, The Irish Times, The Quietus, Aquarium Drunkard and more. She is a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio One’s culture show Arena and host of The IMRO Podcast, where she has interviewed a number of acclaimed Irish artists including Junior Brother, Villagers and M(h)aol. Hedderman worked alongside broadcaster Ray Cuddihy and musician and producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy on the online music series Live From Guerrilla Studios which featured live performances from John Francis Flynn, The Bonk, Elaine Malone, Maija Sofia and specially commissioned videos by Rising Damp, PostPunk Podge and Silverbacks. This livestreamed series quickly fostered a sense of community online during Lockdown and the experience further deepened Hedderman’s passion for platforming independent artists and Ireland’s incredibly vibrant DIY and underground musical scenes.

And on Friday evening at 8.00pm

Concert:

John Murry in Concert at The Commerical - Friday 23rd at 8pm