Ben Troy’s debut album

Monaghan singer Ben Troy has released his debut album. The young man from Magheracloone, near Carrickmacross, has gone for a mix of original and traditional songs as he steps into the album limelight.

Lending major support to Ben is Derek Ryan from Carlow. “It has always been an in interest of mine to one day help develop new and exciting talent on the Irish country-music scene. When I first heard Ben’s voice, I knew he was the talent I was looking for. His vocal tone and delivery on country classics are some of the best I’ve ever heard, offering an unexpected maturity for a singer of his age,” says Derek.

Two songs from Derek’s pen are included on the album, the title track Gravity and another called Original.

Ben blends styles from Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire, to traditional country numbers such as Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Never Again Will I Knock On Your Door, Three Wooden Crosses, and He Stopped Loving Her Today.

Ben, a regular guest in the Phil Mack Country Shows in the UK and Ireland, will launch his new album this Thursday 27 April, in Inver College, Carrickmacross. He is a past pupil of the school and his special guest will be his mentor Derek Ryan.

Willoughby Brothers are Sligo-bound

The Willoughby Brothers take their concert show on the Sligo Park Hotel on Friday 5 May. The tour coincides with the release of their new album, which was officially launched in the Ashtown Park Hotel, Gorey, on 8 April.

The Sligo concert is in association with the North West Hospice. Tickets are €25 and are available from the hotel reception on the night or by calling 087 633 5450. The show starts at 8pm.

Good advice from Eddie Carey

Eddie Carey has wise advice for everyone in the title of his latest song, You Can’t Take It With You When You Go.

In his mid-20s and from Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, Eddie has been steadily building a profile on the circuit over the last two years.

While he has a wide appreciation for different genres of music, American country and Irish country are closest to his heart. He lists George Jones, Gene Watson, Big Tom and the late Gene Stuart as his main influences.

JD Promotions is handling his diary and can be contacted on 078 84 033 323.

Matthew is Crazy for Country

Connemara singer Matthew O’Donnell (pictured below) is being tipped as one of the singers to watch in 2017. The young man from way out west on the Atlantic coastline has just released his new single, Crazy for Country.

The song was composed by Seán and Tommy Moran from Castlerea. Seán, who was the long-time drummer with the Mike Denver Band, is also taking over the management diary for Matthew.

“I have been hugely impressed with Matthew since the first time I heard and saw him perform. He is very good at creating a rapport with people, and audiences take to him in a special way. He is very much in the easy-going, west-of-Ireland style, and I think he is going to be a major name on the circuit in the times ahead,” says Seán Moran.

The new song was produced by Brian Kerrigan in Harmony Studios in Letterkenny.

Keeping it in the family

Jason Moyles has released his debut single. Hailing from Ardagh near Ballina in Co Mayo, Jason is the third brother in the family to go down the country road. Trevor and Stuart have been well-known names on the circuit over the years and now Jason is going all country too. The brothers are first cousins of popular country star Gerry Guthrie, from Ballina.

The Happiness of Having You marks Jason’s impressive debut. This is a Charley Pride song from years back, which was a sizeable hit for Meath man Jim Tobin in the late 1970s.

Jason is hoping that it will provide a platform for him to expand his base. He is currently gigging across Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Donegal. He hopes to have his debut album ready for launch later in the year.