Johnny Whalley

Faustus have long shown they can use three voices with very different characters, in just about any combination, to present their pick of English traditional songs. With this album, their musicianship has been given more room to shine, producing music that is true to its roots, relevant to today and, above all, ridiculously enjoyable.

Daoirí described True Born Irishman as a continuation of his first album but the choice of songs, the intricacies, and energy of the arrangements, the quality of the recording all go to make it so much more…a force to be reckoned with on the Irish music scene.

Set in the beautiful scenery of the Purbeck Hills, Purbeck Valley Folk Festival pulled off another great year with a superb line-up including Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band, The Goat Roper Rodeo Band, Rory McLeod, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Villagers, Boo Hewerdine and more.

With his new album, True Born Irishman, out this month, Johnny catches up with Daoirí Farrell to talk about his new album, songs, playing, influences – Liam Weldon, Christy Moore, Frank Harte, Len Graham – and the vibrant Dublin music scene.

Johnny shares some his favourite moments from Fairport’s Cropredy Convention this year including Steeleye Span, Gryphon, Ralph McTell, Demon Barbers, Brìghde Chaimbeul and many more…not forgetting Fairport Convention themselves of course.

One of the highlights of this year’s FolkEast Festival was Ushers Island whose lineup reads like an Irish traditional music hall of fame: Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle.

Johnny shares some of his highlights and interviews from this year’s Wickham Festival including Blazin’ Fiddles, Mawkin, Skerryvore, Saltfishforty, Mischa Macpherson Trio, Lynched, Ewan McLennan and more.

Johnny shares his highlights of this year’s Tiree Music Festival which included Skerryvore, Sharon Shannon, Trail West, Breabach, Skippinish, Flook and more.

With a second album promised for November, Daoirí Farrell is a voice that’s going to be hard to avoid during the rest of this year. Give The First Turn a listen now, it should convince you avoiding him is the last thing you’d want to do.

Johnny shares his further highlight from Gate to Southwell featuring Eddi Reader, The Teacups, Kíla, False Lights, The Jeremiahs, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, Ange Hardy, Jackie Oates Trio, Mawkin, The Moulettes and more.

In part 1 of his review of this year’s Gate to Southwell Johnny shares his highlights which kick off with a North American flavour: Bob Dylan’s 75th birthday concert, Hayseed Dixie, The Ooks of Hazzard, The Corn Potato String Band, Flats and Sharps as well as Canadian singer Meaghan Blanchard and Acadian trio Vishtèn.

Johnny shares with us his experience at Skerryvore’s Oban Live featuring: Wolfstone, Julie Fowlis, KT Tunstall, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Skipinnish, Capercaillie, Hunter & The Bear & more.