Hank Wedel, “What Happens in Cork”

"Clearly loved by his peers for his generosity, Hank is very happy to share his stage."

-The Irish Examiner 

With songs inspired by good time artists including The Lovin' Spoonful, Grateful Dead, and Richard Thompson, Hank Wedel brings comradery to his music and his fans in both recordings and shows. His new album, the 10-song “What Happens in Cork” –released August 25— was produced by Declan Sinnott (Christy Moore). The album features 9 songs written by Hank, and one song written by Declan. Guest artists on the album are a who’s who of players especially from the Cork County scene. 

"There are a few reasons I decided to give the name, '"What Happens in Cork,'” says Hank. “First, I find myself saying ‘it’s what happens in Cork,’ when I explain nightly events in Cork City and County. I’ve heard it said, ‘if you love Cork, it has a way of keeping you,’ and ‘if you marry a Cork woman, you’ll end up living there…’ ‘Cork City is the only city in Ireland that hasn’t forgotten what it is.’”

When Hank saw an image by Cork’s longtime music photographer, “Murphy Kie” of Hank hamming it up like a warrior with his guitar versus soldier statues at Cork’s Elizabeth Fort, “What Happens in Cork” became his slogan, (future) podcast, and this collection of songs! 

Hank recorded “What Happens in Cork” at Declan’s studio in The Hills of Bandon, Co. Cork during the global lockdowns from 2020 into 2023.    

Hank Wedel was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA 1963, raised in New York City and Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland. Based in Cork City, this guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter/recording artist/band leader has performed thousands of gigs from The North Pole to The Canary Islands, all over The USA and Europe as well as recording/releasing albums and singles of his own material, solo or with bands "Princes Street," "Open Kitchen," and "Small Town Talk."  This year 2024, Hank celebrates 50 years of living in Ireland, 40 years of being based as a musician in Cork City and 30 years of a Monday Night residency with mandolin supremo Ray Barron at Charlies Bar, Cork City. In his time Hank has performed onstage with Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Kila, Philomena Begley, and Bono.

(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow

Hank Wedel’s Summer Single, “(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow is available on all streaming platforms. The song is produced by Declan Sinnott (co-founder Horslips, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Moving Hearts). 

"(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow" is based on an 18th Century Irish folk song, by Edward “Pleasant Ned” Lysaght (1763-1809).  The original version is about the debauchery, bad behaviour and fun reported in Mallow during the latter half of the 18th Century when the local warm water spa became a major attraction to the town. 

 

Hank Wedel's version is updated, and features Declan Sinnott (producing, guitar), Greenshine’s Mary Greene and his niece—actress/dancer/singer Clodagh Mai both on vocals. The single is an updated version of the old song.  Hank says, “Mallow had a hot springs spa supplying warm water bathhouses. It was something of an Irish ‘Sin City’ for a while with all kinds of carrying on…” Mallow is also the Irish hometown of Hank’s mother. “In her time, the 1950s, Mallow was a bustling rural town, the railroad crossroads of Southern Ireland with a sugar factory, a chocolate factory and other agricultural manufacturing industries.”

 

Hank and friends dressed as 1750's Rakes when they made the video in September 2021. The project made national headlines in Ireland, as the video features performers from several performing County Cork towns--Doneraile's Art for The Heart Performance Troupe, dancers from Mallow's renowned "Centre Stage" performance school, the Cork City-based Aatma Indian Dance Troupe, well known Irish actor Martin Lucey, and members of Hank's circle of family and friends. In addition, Clodagh Mai singing and dancing and representing the youth of Mallow in the second verse, Hank’s wife Eileen (who was born and reared in Mallow) walks down the street with Hank at end of the video.

 

The video and song tie together all of Mallow’s history from the 1750s to his mother’s time, and then his years growing up in the 1970s and ‘80s. “The video looks towards a hopeful future, like a ghostly vision I had of where my life had brought me.”

 

Hank is planning a multi-part podcast later this year to explore the song’s travels through time and space, which includes the music in a famous fight scene in John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara classic “The Quiet Man,” the theme song of the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish (U.S.) Football Team, in Indian culture—Krishna as a mischievous youth….. 

 

“(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow” launched this year’s Mallow Arts Festival, July 20-24, with a concert at Mallow’s Hibernian Hotel Ballroom.   

 

Hank plans to release a new ten-song album produced by Declan Sinnott, which will include “(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow,” and his 2021 singles “Poe Park 2am” and “The Time We Share.”  Stay tuned for more information.

 

Hank Wedel was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA 1963, raised in New York City and Mallow County Cork, Ireland.  Now based in Cork City, this guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/recording artist/band leader has performed thousands of gigs from The North Pole to Lanzarote from Oklahoma to Azerbaijan, solo or with bands Princes Street, Open Kitchen, Small Town Talk.  Hank has a 28-year Monday night residency at "Charlies," in Cork City with mandolin maestro Ray Barron... Hank has performed onstage with Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Kila, Philomena Begley and Bono.
 

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“Poe Park 2 AM,” New Song by Hank Wedel

 

­ ­ The Public can finally listen to Hank Wedel’s “Poe Park 2 AM” now on all streaming media!   https://streamondistro.lnk.to/PoePark2am   “'Poe Park 2 AM' is about my ate-night romp at the Poe Visitor’s House, Bronx, in the 1990s, hoping the legendary writer might pass the torch," says Hank.       The song’s been played in both the UK and USA, including on Larry Kirwan’s Sirius XM Radio show and Iain Anderson’s BBC show.     Hank Wedel's working with Irish producer Declan Sinnott, well known for his work with Irish folk singer legends Christy Moore and Mary Black. “Poe Park 2 AM” will be on Hank’s upcoming album, tentatively titled “The Rakes of Mallow.”  Look for a fall release. Musicians on “Poe Park 2 AM” include Mary Greene on backing vocals, Hank’s “Open Kitchen” bandmates James O'Sullivan on harmony vocals and Brian Carroll on percussion. Hank plays acoustic guitar and sings on the track with Declan on slide guitar and orchestrating all the rest in production.   Born in Dayton, Ohio (1963), Hank was raised in New York City and in Mallow, Co. Cork. Based for many years in Cork City, Ireland, the singer-songwriter-guitarist has performed thousands of gigs throughout the world, from the North Pole to Lanzarote (in the Canary Islands), from Maine to Sao Paulo and from Oklahoma to Azerbijan in The Caspian Sea.  He’s played solo and with various bands, most notably “Princes Street,” “Open Kitchen” and “Small Town Talk” Over the years, he has been a regular visitor to NYC,  performing at well-known Irish venues as well as songwriting showcase venues downtown.    Among the artists Hank’s performed with are Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Kila, Philomena Begley, Bono and Christy Moore... Christy covered Hank’s song “Listen” and made it the title track of his best selling album on Sony Records in 2009.   Hank and Irish mandolin maestro Ray Barron have reconnected live in Cork City, finally, now in the 27th year of a Monday night residency at Charlies Bar.     On St. Patrick’s Day 2002, in the wake of September 11, Hank and his band Open Kitchen were invited perform his song entitled “New Yorkers” on the Observation Deck of The Empire State Building.  In 2007, Hank made a special guest appearance on “AzeriStars,” a TV show in Baku, Azerbaijan with world-renown Mugham singer Gulyanag Mammadova singing Hank’s song, “Maiden’s Tower.”   In 2012, Hank released a single entitled "Mighty Fine." The track was his first ever digital release and it reached No. 4 on the Irish iTunes Singles Chart within two weeks of release. Hank’s 2016 album “Living In The Land of Love,” produced by Christian Best is available across all streaming platforms.   Poe Park 2AM  (Wedel) IMRO   Verse 1 Feeling' The Heatbeat of The City sittin' down on Poe's front porch Chillin' out the pulse of the city, yeah hopin' that Poe would pass the torch but the caretaker growled (get outta here!) and away we did crawl Under the gate with my guitar and 'all...       Verse 2 Strollin' down The Concourse she had her shows in her hand Strollin' down The Grand Concourse I could not understand why The Caretaker growled and away we did run. All we were doin' was havin some havin some fun...     Instrumental Break   Bridge: You know The Bronx is so battered So bloodshot so torn But Poe Park can be mellow at 2 .... in the morn!       Verse 3: Feeling' The Heatbeat of The City sittin' down on Edgar Allen Poe's front porch Chillin' out the pulse of old New York City, yeah... Hopin' that Poe would pass the torch but the caretaker growled (get outta here!) and away we did  fly... FLY...HIGH!    C Hank Wedel (IMRO)

“The Time We Share” Summer Single from Hank Wedel

Hank Wedel is releasing “The Time We Share,” a perfect summer single for 2021. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/23rLwM4v20qbHadQH1W91J?si=8e8ae44cb0714f7b

Written by Hank Wedel with Brian Carroll and Ronan O’Snodaigh (Kila), the song is produced by Declan Sinnott, and will appear on Hank’s upcoming album. This production features backing vocals from Mary Greene and Ellie Shine, and saxophone from Hank’s long time Dutch musical partner Andre van der Hoff.

“The Time We Share” is the second single from Hank Wedel this year and the follow up to “Poe Park 2AM” which received extensive airplay in Ireland, The UK, Europe, and North America.

Hank Wedel was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA, in 1963. Raised in New York City and Mallow County in Cork, Ireland, he is now based in Cork. This songwriter/vocalist/guitarist/ recording artist/bandleader has performed thousands of gigs from The North Pole to Lanzarote, from Oklahoma to Azerbaijan, solo or with bands.

His regular shows have been with his bands--Princes Street, Open Kitchen, Small Town Talk, and a 25 year Monday night residency at "Charlies," in Cork City with mandolin maestro Ray Barron. Hank has performed onstage with Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Kila, Philomena Begley and Bono. His song “Listen” has been covered by Ireland’s “Dylan”--Christy Moore, on the album, LISTEN.

The Time We Share
(Wedel-Carroll-O’Snodaigh)

Well it’s great to see ya
‘cos we heard you were dead
You came back to life
You got out of your bed

It’s great to see ya
or is that your ghost?
We heard ya left us
Burnt toast

I whisper nothing
sing softly on your ear
try not to cut short
the evening that’s here
Shallow as it might be
The moment is clear
I couldn’t want anything more

It’s all about the time
we share

Well it’s great to see ya
Are ya gonna stay?
Are you here for the dark night?
Are you leaving at the break of day?
It’s great to see ya
Yes, it’s true
It’s great to see ya
It’s great to be near you

It’s all about the time
we share

c2021 by Hank Wedel, Brian Carroll, Ronan O’Snodaigh, All Rights Reserved