Antrim singer Johnny Brady will host his first weekend festival of dancing in the Allingham Arms Hotel in Bundoran from 7 to 9 March.

Two years down the road since his launch on the country circuit, Johnny and the band look forward to welcoming many of their friends and dancers to the seaside town.

One of the new breed of country singers to join the circuit, Johnny sees the response to the extraordinary demand for tickets to see Garth Brooks in Dublin this summer as a massive endorsement of the growing appeal of country music.

“I have always been a big fan of Garth Brooks since he came on the circuit in the 1990s. The response to his Croke Park shows is truly amazing. Nothing like this has ever happened in Ireland before. It has to be great for country music and it is only going to get bigger and bigger after him.

“It is especially going to suit a lot of the younger artists who are into what some may term more modern country, but I think it will just make country music cool for everyone. It is phenomenal to sell over 400,000 tickets in a few hours. No wonder it is making entertainment and news headlines around the world,” reflects Johnny.

Back in the studios again, Johnny has just released his latest single, I Want Crazy.

“It’s an American song in the progressive country mould. These songs have a special appeal for many of the younger people coming to country dances, especially in the northern areas where the music is booming.

“I am also putting the finishing touches to a more traditional type of country song, Have We Reached The Bottom Yet, written by Sean Moran from Castlerea. Sean is the drummer with the Mike Denver Band and I am very pleased with how this song is shaping up.”

The new album is due out in a few weeks. Some of it is being recorded with Jonathon Owens in Granard and the rest with Matt Curran (of the Derek Ryan Band) in Ballyronan, Co Derry. Johnny is also featuring as a mentor on the current series of Glór Tíre on TG4.

“My finalist is Barry Devlin from Stewartstown in Co Tyrone. He’s a talented singer and I hope he has a good future ahead in showbiz,” says Johnny.

Apart from his regular weekend shows, Johnny and the band are preparing for a trip to Scotland next week.

“We are doing three Scottish tours this year and we love playing to audiences over there. They have a special liking for a lot of the Irish acts who come over on tour.”

The members of the band are Noel McGuinness, Connie Doherty, Christopher Dolan, Padraig Ellison and James Cooke, while management is taken care of by Brendan Donnelly and Linda Murphy.

Later in the year, Johnny is doing a number of guest spots on some overseas promotions, including the Nathan Carter Beat in The Heat in Spain at the end of September and also with Nathan during his weekend in Killarney.

Meanwhile, the focus is on the trip to Scotland and the big weekend in Bundoran on their return.

“I am delighted there is such interest in our weekend in the Allingham Arms,” says Johnny.

“We are pleased to have Robert Mizzell and his band as guests on Friday night, 7 March, and the Davitts Country Band from Wexford on Saturday night. Barry Devlin and his group are doing the Saturday afternoon show. We are on Friday and Saturday nights as well as the Sunday afternoon show. Bundoran here we come.” CL