A rarity pulled out of the bag for Sound of Belfast 2023: two of Ireland’s finest in a venue half the size they’re used to - a very intimate evening in The Sunflower with Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra and Clara Tracey.
Dublin Underground-cirtcuiters Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra consists of singer songwriter Sarah Deegan, drummer Danni Nolan, guitarist Sarah Michelle, and bassist Julie Hough. The group came together after meeting through the gig circuit of Dublin’s underground music scene. Influenced by the likes of Cocteau Twins and Lush, Deegan’s quick-witted and intimate songwriting strikes a balance between irony and sincerity, unmistakably so on anti-Valentine hit I Didn’t Love You When I Said I Did And I Don’t Now, PCRO have supported Pillow Queens, Just Mustard, The Backseat Lovers, Silverbacks and M(h)aol. In 2022 they sold out two headline shows in Dublin’s Workman’s Club and Sin É. Recent festival performances include Ireland Music Week, Primavera Pro Barcelona and Electric Picnic.
Born in Fermanagh and based in Belfast, Clara grew up in a musical and theatrical household, falling in love with the piano at an early age. She discovered her passion for writing songs in whilst living in France, where her earliest solo performances took place in intimate Parisian jazz cafes and the French language still inspires and permeates her sound. On returning to Ireland, she played with Aoife Nessa Frances, Maija Sofia and Paddy Hanna. As well as performing internationally, playing solo shows in Montreal, Paris, London, and New York. In 2022 she was one of three winning artists on the John Richardson French Residency.