Upbeat folk-rock from US singer Brett Newski

Playing an upbeat fusion of folk and indie that brings to mind the Violent Femmes and Billy Bragg, US singer Brett Newski comes to Monroe’s Live this Saturday, April 25.  The Milwaukee native is fresh from playing shows in Vietnam, South Africa and across Europe. When he takes the call, Brett and his sound-engineer Dan are having a day off in Austria.

“I think we’re 22 dates in,” he says. “We started in Germany in mid-March and have been pretty much playing every night. We’re enjoying the couch time now!”

When he comes to Galway, Brett will be joined by Limerick rockers Fox Jaw. How did he make that connection?

“We met at Vantastival [in Dundalk] last year,” he says. “I caught their set and I was really pumped about it, I really like alternative guitar rock. We were sitting on a couch the next morning, drinking coffee and we got along. We stayed in touch and they helped me put the Irish tour together.”

Brett’s an honest-to-goodness troubadour, playing over 200 shows a year around the world. When did he start this adventure?

“I’ve been touring fulltime for about three years,” he says. “I moved to Asia when I was 24,  and I lived in Vietnam for two years, I’m 28 now. I met a South African guy in Vietnam, and he ended up having me out there.

“That put some gas in the tank, and I got a taste for touring and travelling hard. I just kind of got addicted to it so I kept going.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht and City Tribune