A NEW documentary that reveals the struggle unsigned musicians face on tour will get its first screening in Dublin next month.
The ‘Back to Basics Tour’ documentary made by father and son production company, Clifford Clifford Productions (CCP), follows three songsters as they take on a self-funded and booked 17-show tour of the country over three weeks.
The trio of Ian N Brennan, from Finglas, Monaghan musician Barry Jay Hughes and Greg Clifford, from Inchicore, put together the tour last year, and the documentary shows what belief and determination can achieve.
Dave Clifford, the father half of CCP, says the film captures the struggles that ensue within an unsigned music scene and the self-motivation required to persevere and survive.
“A film like this has never been produced before, thus giving it an edge and making it newsworthy,” he explains.
“The tour aesthetic was one of grassroots DIY graft, with an emphasis placed on pure, honest and stripped back acoustic performances.
“Identifying and working sensibly within limitations and parameters was imperative throughout, both in bringing the tour to fruition and film to life. The whole project was created void of any funding.”
Last year, Ian N Brennan spoke to Northside People before embarking on the tour.
“I thought we should just get a three-man tour going, something nobody really is doing, just three singer songwriters,” he said at the time.
“There’ll be no headliners, no main star, just three lads with music going around the country, going back to basics and what it’s all about.”
Ian’s hometown of Finglas is featured in the film as is Greg Clifford’s Inchicore and home of St Pat’s, Richmond Park. Greg, the son half of CCP, who holds a masters in contemporary composition, describes the documentary as “a modest yet important original film”.
“It not only documents new music and live performances but also reveals humour and traits indigenous to the people of Ireland in the various counties we visited,” he adds.
“The documentary offers a true, unfiltered representation of Ireland and captures a snapshot in time of Irish society within this cultural context.
“Ultimately, it serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring independent musicians in Ireland. It gives the unsigned scene a voice.”
Clifford Clifford Productions work primarily on videos with Ireland’s leading musicians and spoken word artists. The ‘Back To Basics Tour’ is their debut documentary. It gets its first public screening on November 6 in the Sugar Club at 7.45pm.