BIO
"...Brunnock's beautiful clear crispness and clipped tones match exquisitely and expertly arranged melodies, driven home with truthful and a heart-filled soul. You know he means it when he sings."
In 2000, Michael Brunnock moved to New York from his hometown of Kells, County Meath Ireland.
He had spent the 90’s working as a Maths Teacher playing in the vibrant musical atmosphere of that decade in Kells, Navan and Dublin, singing, playing guitar and bass, in bands eventually forming ‘Little Palace’ in 1996.
The success of their debut E.P. Beekeeper set a path that Michael was determined to follow.
The Red Lion, on Bleeker Street NYC is where you would find Michael, performing every late Tuesday night, a residency for the following decade, when he wasn’t on the road.
The Red Lion was a late night hub for many artists and players after their own shows.
Musicians resident and touring, would show up for the late night slot and share the stage.
“I was in awe of many of the musicians who would come and share the stage at the Lion.
I built a great band in this way. It made me a better musician and built my confidence and belief in myself as a singer/songwriter.”
Discovered here by David Byrne (Talking Heads) in 2010, Michael went on to win a David Di Donatello 2012 (Italian Oscar) in the Best Song Performance category for ‘If It Falls’.
The soundtrack was written by David Byrne, Lyrics by Bonnie Prince Billy, sang by Michael in the movie ‘This Must Be The Place’ starring Sean Penn.
Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the movie won 5 Italian Oscars in 2012, including best soundtrack mixed by Patrick Dillett.
Michael has performed solo and with a band all over the US and Europe.
His album releases include ‘So I Do’ (2007), ‘Live in NY’ (2011), and ‘The Orchard”(2012), reissued 2016.
Since 2016 Michael has written for plays and sound tracks focusing back in his native Ireland.
His sense of Irishness increased over the years as an expat.
“A desire to understand myself and my history inspired me to connect to historical figures such as Roger Casement. He and I share a birthday separated by exactly 100 years”
His body of work, writing songs inspired by Casements poetry and written word drew the attention of County Meath Arts Office, and The Arts Council ( Ireland ) commissioned Michael to respond musically to the “Decade of Centenaries Inititive, a commemoration of the period between 1913-2023 in Ireland, the 1916 rising, the war of independence and the civil war.
This body of work is soon to be released.
