RTÉ Folk Awards winner John Francis Flynn is on tour in the UK now. Watch his recent live performance of My Son Tim for Other Lives, taken from his solo debut album I Would Not Live Always.
At the end of July last year, John Francis Flynn delivered his solo debut album I Would Not Live Always, described by Folk Radio’s David Weir as “…without a doubt one of the most deeply affecting folk debuts of recent years.” He went on to take Best Folk Singer and Best Emerging Artist at the RTÉ Folk Awards at Vicar Street, Dublin.
For the album, John pullled together a highly-skilled lineup of musicians, featuring regular collaborator Ultan O’Brien of County Clare on fiddle (Skipper’s Alley), Consuelo Breschi (Varo), sean nós singer Saileog Ní Ceannabháin, keyboardist Phil Christie (The Bonk/O Emperor), drummer/composer Ross Chaney and Brendan Jenkinson (on production duties and additional instrumentation).
In our interview, John was asked about the increased interest in Ireland’s traditional music:
“It was a very underground thing, not that we were thinking that it was as such. Traditional Irish folk music hasn’t been mainstream in Ireland for a long time. I’d always played it, but when I started playing songs it was encouraging to find other musicians that weren’t necessarily from a trad background singing songs as well. Many bands started out of that. But I don’t know how far we actually thought that would take us. We weren’t setting up bands to take over the world or anything like that. We didn’t think many people would be interested; we were just doing it for the craic. I suppose when people started really taking notice of Lankum that opened the doors for everyone else to say, ‘actually maybe this is a goer, perhaps we can do something here.’”
They are now doing something here…so don’t miss him. Here he is performing My Son Tim live for Other Lives back in December. With Ultan’s fiddle taking the lead towards the end, the band create an unforgettable euphoric finale. Who wouldn’t want to see this lot live?
John Francis Flynn Upcoming Tour Dates
Wed, Jan 26th – Folklore, Brighton
Thurs, Jan 27th – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
Fri, Jan 28th – King’s Place, London
Sat, Jan 29th – The Phoenix, Exeter
Sun, Jan 30th – Rough Trade, Bristol
Tues, Feb 1st – Fusion Arts, Oxford
Wed, Feb 2nd – The Adelphi Club, Hull
Thurs, Feb 3rd – Yellow Arch, Sheffield
Fri, Feb 4th – Celtic Connections – Glad Café, Glasgow
Sun, Feb 6th – The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
Mon, Feb 7th – The Crescent, York
Wed, Feb 9th – Castle, Manchester
Thurs, Feb 10th – Venn Street Social, Huddersfield
Fri, Feb 11th – Leaf, Liverpool
Sat, Feb 12th – St Mary’s, Chester
Sun, May 1st – Vicar Street, Dublin
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