Last year, Josh Okeefe‘s highly anticipated debut album Bloomin’ Josh Okeefe finally dropped. While his music, and even the way he looks and dresses, has a charming Greenwich Village vintage feel, his songs are incredibly current and powerful. As Glenn Kimpton mentioned in his album review, tracks such as ‘We’re all the Same’, with its critical yet straightforward message, couldn’t be any more relevant than it is right now. He concludes:
Bloomin’ is a great debut from Josh, full of enduring songs ranging from the comic to the tragic. The arrangements are as simple as it gets, played in the old style with just picked or strummed acoustic guitar and some harmonica accompanying the strong vocals. It’s a confident approach and certainly the correct one; these tales and commentaries need no more touches to help them soar and it takes a wise and considered hand to leave them be.
That all said, Josh loves playing the old songs as well. We recently shared a video of him performing McAlpine’s Fusiliers which tells of the Irish labourers who migrated to Britain to help rebuild London after the Blitz.
Today, we have another to share…it’s one you’ll maybe know…I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day, a song that’s been covered by the likes of The Dubliners, The Pogues, Jeannie Robertson, and Archie Fisher. According to Archie Fisher, it’s “an Irish narrative ballad that has been shortened to an Aberdeenshire drinking song”. Read more about the song and its origins on Mainly Norfolk.
Instead of Jock Stewart, we have Josh Okie…
Josh Okeefe is certainly not a man you’ll meet every day so don’t miss his UK tour, details below.
Josh Okeefe UK Tour
August 4, 2021 – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, UK
August 5, 2021 – Harelequin Fayre, UK (SOLD OUT)
August 7, 2021 – Camp Kin Festival, Kelmarsh, UK (SOLD OUT)
August 8, 2021 – The Prince Albert, Stroud, UK
August 11, 2021 – Derby Market Place, Derby, UK
August 13, 2021 – John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, UK
August 14, 2021 – The Folklore Rooms, Brighton, UK
August 15, 2021 – Bedford Esquires, Bedford, UK
August 19, 2021 – The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham, UK
August 20, 2021 – Victoria Hall, Settle, UK
August 21, 2021 – The Globe, Newcastle, UK
August 22, 2021 – Hug And Pint, Glasgow, UK
August 26, 2021 – Green Note, London, UK
August 28, 2021 – Wokingham Festival, Wokingham, UK
August 29, 2021 – Kings Lock Marquee, Middlewich, UK
August 30, 2021 – Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, UK
August 31, 2021 – Liverpool Irish Centre, Liverpool, UK
Tickets and more details: https://www.joshokeefe.com/tour