"A seamless combination of folk, blues, jazz and gospel, now stand as beautiful, larger-than-life compositions"

"Song Bird" The Songs Of Eva Cassidy - Matinee Performance

Performed by Niamh Strong and accompanied by her band.

Saturday 20th Feb 2027

St Augustine's Church, Place Street, derry, BT48 6PS

Doors - 1.30pm / Starts 2pm

Price - £16.50 +bf

www.evacassidy.org

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Due to the intimate nature of this performance, this is a fully seated event.

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Think of a beautiful tapestry woven with vibrant colours—that’s the best way to describe the stunning voice of Niamh Strong.

Blues, soul, jazz—these are the elements that best capture her extraordinary vocal style.

Niamh first picked up a microphone at just nine years old, when her father was jamming with fellow musicians. She sang a blues run that left everyone astonished, and it was immediately clear she had a natural gift.

Born into one of Ireland's most musical families, The Strong Family, Niamh is the daughter of legendary blues singer Rob Strong and sister of Andrew Strong, who famously played Deco Cuffe in the film The Commitments.

At 18, Niamh began her first collaboration with two other young musicians. Together, they wrote several original songs, four of which were selected for her first demo. That demo caught the ear of New York music lawyer John Polinsky, who arranged two showcases in the city—at Arlene's Grocery and The Cutting Room. Both events were a huge success, attracting A&R representatives from major record labels.

Niamh ultimately chose to work with Robert E. Pineda of Ray Charles’ company. She travelled to Los Angeles to record one of her original songs and shoot a companion video. Ray Charles himself once said she had “moments of genius” in her voice.

Over the next decade, Niamh toured extensively with her brother Andrew, performing backing vocals and stepping into the spotlight at festivals and arenas across Europe, the USA, Australia, and Canada. This wealth of experience gave her the confidence to return to her own dream—pursuing a solo career.

In March 2018, she completed her album Niamh Strong Sings Eva Cassidy—a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest singers in the world and one of her own biggest influences.

Niamh Strong on Channelling the Late, Great Eva Cassidy

"The first time I heard Eva Cassidy sing is a day I’ll never forget."

I was in a flat in Rathmines with friends, chatting about music, when we suddenly stopped mid-conversation. A voice had captured us all. It was Eva Cassidy, singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow live at The Blues Alley. The black-and-white clip was stunning—her guitar playing effortless, her voice giving me goosebumps.

The very next day, I bought her album Songbird, which I played everywhere I went. I began researching her and admired her refusal to be manufactured. She only sang what she loved, turning down record deals if they tried to box her in.

Eva had a gift for making any song her own. Even Sting has said that Fields of Gold “isn’t his song anymore” after Eva recorded it. That inspired me—showing me that with enough passion and creativity, you can transform any song into something uniquely yours.

Over the years, I wanted to give something back to her legacy. That led me to record a 10-track album of songs Eva had performed, blending blues, soul, jazz, and folk—just as she did.

When I began to visualise my tribute show Remembering Eva Cassidy in my journal, I had no idea how quickly it would come to life. Soon I was performing it for audiences, and the response has been incredible. The show is intimate and deeply emotional—sometimes people even shed tears (the good kind).

I’m not Eva, but I like to think that her spirit is present at every performance. Meeting people from Maryland, her birthplace, at a recent Waterford show was a special moment—they couldn’t believe they were seeing a tribute to her in Ireland.

The connection I feel to Eva’s music runs deep, and I’m grateful to be part of the “Eva gang.” I’m looking forward to bringing this beautiful show to audiences all year and sharing the emotional power of her songs.

Description supplied by the event organiser.