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In 2019, Brendan Cleary’s life restarted. After years of struggling with addiction, the world came crashing down. It was the beginning of the road back to finding his voice again.Playing hotel bars and restaurants, Brendan slowly felt his way back to the songwriter he had always been at heart, connecting with audiences through stories of his struggles and victories. His hard work paid off: Brendan has since been named a finalist in the New Hampshire Music Collective Songwriting Competition, has appeared on NHPR’s The Folk Show with Kate McNally, WSCA’s The Button Factory Soundcheck, and Maine Public Television’s 207 to discuss his story and music. In 2025, Folk legend Tom Rush invited Brendan to tour across the United States as his accompanist.
This December, Brendan releases his debut studio record, Soundbox: an intimate portrait of a songwriter rediscovering his voice through failure, love, and recovery. He joins Wilf at The Burren for a year-end release show celebrating two voices from Cambridge’s songwriting scene.
https://brendanclearymusic.com/home
Wilf is a Boston-based singer-songwriter whose introspective music blends droning indie folk with traditional ballads. Often using alternate tunings, his songs carry an ominous quality that, paired with poetic lyrics, attempt to transfer personal ruminations onto the audience for self-reflection. His debut EP, Pity, releases November 13, 2026, and draws inspiration from artists including Ethel Cain, Elliott Smith, and Slowdive. The EP dissects the transition into adulthood, examining feelings of stagnation and self-pity.
https://www.instagram.com/wilf000
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The Burren, 249 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144-2966, United States
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