Best of the Hudson Valley's 2019 Best Vocalist/Best Artist and SongwriterUniverse's Best Song of the Month Winner, Ian Flanigan "inspires a nostalgic sentiment akin to wistful escapism... emotional without being weepy, vulnerable without being pitiful, and conceptual while still remaining relatable" (Gallagher, SUNY editorial). Flanigan's sound--an eclectic blend of progressive folk-pop and percussive fingerstyle--is reminiscent of the road less traveled, paved with poignant lyrical truths of his past.
Flanigan is a celebrated Kerrville New Folk Festival finalist, Emerging Artist for Falcon Ridge Folk festival, alumni of the Dripping Springs Texas Songwriter Festival, and Hope Rocks Artist of the Year. Flanigan has had the pleasure of sharing stages with John Fogerty, Grace Potter, Tedeschi Trucks, Corey Glover, Bob Schneider, Sean Rowe, The Pedrito Martinez Group, Session Americana, Chris Knight, and Dwight Yoakam.
Sounds Like: John Martyn, Ray LaMontagne
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His most recent release, Give Me Color receives accolades both internationally and regionally, marking the success of a milestone collaboration with three-time Grammy winner and Hudson Valley local, Justin Guip (co-producer, engineer, percussionist). "Quite honestly, I can't remember when an acoustic guitar took my breath away, and it's safe to say that has never happened within the first 10 seconds of hitting play on a track before." (Praise for Give Me Color, Amelia Vandergast of A&R Factory).
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Best of the Hudson Valley's 2019 "Best Vocalist/Best Artist" and SongwriterUniverse's "Best Song of the Month Winner," Ian Flanigan "inspires a nostalgic sentiment akin to wistful escapism... emotional without being weepy, vulnerable without being pitiful, and conceptual while still remaining relatable" (Gallagher, SUNY editorial). Flanigan's sound--an eclectic blend of progressive folk-pop and percussive fingerstyle--is reminiscent of the road less traveled, paved with poignant lyrical truths of his past.
"Imagine Tom Waits as a member of Mumford & Sons playing songs by the Lumineers, with a hint of Chris Stapleton. That's my impression of Flanigan, whose smoky barroom voice provides contrast to the melodic plea he unleashes with an urgency. Overall, Flanigan offers the kind of optimism that is hard-won after losing on the kind of bets that alter the trajectory of a life--bets you make on yourself, bets you make on others, bets that fail to deliver more often than they come through" (John Barry, Poughkeepsie Journal).
Local to upstate New York, Flanigan's songwriting features his rich, husky voice and evocative lyrics highlighting the rural landscape of his compositions. Each song serenades the unity of life and an affinity for atonement--a sound that's provocative, and familiar. Flanigan is a celebrated Kerrville New Folk Festival finalist, Emerging Artist for Falcon Ridge Folk festival, alumni of the Dripping Springs Texas Songwriter Festival, and Hope Rocks Artist of the Year. Flanigan has had the pleasure of sharing stages with John Fogerty, Grace Potter, Tedeschi Trucks, Corey Glover, Bob Schneider, Sean Rowe, The Pedrito Martinez Group, Session Americana, Chris Knight, and Dwight Yoakam.
Ian's arrangements and compositions have been described as "rhythmic, engaging, compelling and very creative" (Bob's Music Box), while his voice has been praised time and time again as having a "great depth and richness" (Podcart), as well as "unique and powerful" (Argentina TOP/VIRAL HITS) with a "smoky Waits vibe... leaning towards pop folk" (Austin Town Hall).
His most recent release, Give Me Color receives accolades both internationally and regionally, marking the success of a milestone collaboration with three-time Grammy winner and Hudson Valley local, Justin Guip (co-producer, engineer, percussionist). "Quite honestly, I can't remember when an acoustic guitar took my breath away, and it's safe to say that has never happened within the first 10 seconds of hitting play on a track before. The distinctive choppy chords broke into vibrant finger strumming mesmerism which introduced Ian Flanigan's reverberant whisky-soaked vocals in 'Give Me Color.' The nostalgic tonality of the track offers plenty of aural escapism while the lyrics set up sweet semantics which doesn't resonate as saccharine due to the sheer authenticity that they were penned with. Any fans of Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder definitely won't want to let Ian Flanigan's talent, passion, and propensity to weave aural alchemy on a fretboard pass them by" (Praise for Give Me Color, Amelia Vandergast of A&R Factory).