‘Sonny’s Dream’ is the first single from Daoirí Farrell‘s upcoming fourth album, ‘The Wedding Above In Glencree’, due for release on 24th February. Making a special guest appearance, Jerry Douglas‘s dobro lends the track a gorgeous Transatlantic feel, while Daoirí’s bouzouki and Manus Lunny‘s guitar add subtle shades of brightness. Along the way, Pat Daly, also on harmonium, chips in a subtle dreamy fiddle solo, all underpinned by Trevor Hutchinson‘s upright bass.
Farrell self-produced the album, the arrangements are exceptional, and I’d venture to say this may well be his best yet. The setting suits Farrell’s vocals, a gifted storyteller and singer, he knows how to bring a song to life, and he does that spectacularly here.
Written in 1976 by Ron Hynes from St. John’s in Newfoundland, Canada, the song tells of the hopes and dreams of a young boy whose lot in life is to work the family farm and support a lonely and ailing mother while an absent father remains at sea. Perhaps a parallel to be drawn with the familial and enforced ties that bind many of us in contemporary society. “I first heard Ron’s version of the song five or six years ago from Dublin guitarist Tony Byrne,” says Daoirí.
Maybe it’s that beautiful fireside warmth you get with a Transatlantic set like this, but I’ve never heard Daoirí Farrell sound so good, which is why I’ve no hesitation in making this our Song of the Day.
This album was made possible with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland.
Daoirí Farrell UK Tour Dates
Wednesday 19 April – Cramlington Folk Club
Thursday 20 April – Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax
Friday 21 April – Folk at the Meadows, Belper
Saturday 22 April – Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch Leisure Centre
Sunday 23 April – Temperance, Leamington Spa
Thursday 27 April – Calstock Arts Centre, Cornwall
Friday 28 April – Pound Arts, Corsham
Saturday 29 April – Devoran Village Hall, Falmouth
Sunday 30 April – Topsham Folk Club, Devon
Tuesday 2 May – Quay Arts, Newport, IOW
Wednesday 3 May – The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford
Thursday 4 May – Rope & Tackle Arts Centre, Shoreham by Sea
Friday 5 May – Kings Place, London (Daoiri Farrell Trio)
Saturday 6 May – Forest Arts, New Milton
Sunday 7 May – Hitchin Folk Club, Hitchin, Cambs.
Tuesday 9 May – Norwich Arts
Wednesday 10 May – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
Thursday 11 May – Cast, Doncaster
Daoirí is joined on the album by a stellar cast of musicians that includes Manus Lunny (guitar, bouzouki and bass bouzouki), Paddy Kiernan (5-string banjo), Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes and whistles), Pat Daly (fiddle and harmonium), Trevor Hutchinson (upright bass), Robbie Walsh (hand pan and bodhran), Alan Doherty (whistles), Geoff Kinsella (tenor banjo)and a special guest appearance on ‘Sonny’s Dream’ by internationally renowned bluegrass dobro player, Jerry Douglas.
Pre-Order it here: https://ffm.to/theweddingaboveinglencree