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Celtic Fringe: 'The mighty Quinn'
By JAMES McKEEFRY
Brendan Quinn, Country and Irish Deep Cove Records.
AS a child I would look forward each year to our family holiday deep in the heart of Co. Derry — staying with my father’s family and marvelling at the country way of life that was quite alien to a lad from Carrickfergus by the sea.
Maghera, Magherafelt, Swatragh and Upperlands were names that I loved to practice saying and to hear the rich deep Derry accent of my cousins was always a joy.
Two-stroke Derry — as it is sometimes called in reference to the insistence of Unionists to label the county Londonderry and the refusal of Nationalists to address it as anything but Derry — holds great memories of seeing my first showbands and country and Irish bands.
And so I must admit to feeling extra proud whenever I meet with or am able to write about entertainers from my daddy’s county.
One of them is Brendan Quinn — a well-respected artist for the last few decades, from his early days with The Bluebirds to present-day performances on stage with his sons James and Stephen.
If you are keen to hear recordings of Brendan with the Bluebirds then look out for Irish Showband Years on the Outlet label on 01232 322826.
Last year at a major concert in Birmingham some of the audience were losing interest as not all of the artists on stage were playing country and Irish. That is, until Brendan came on stage as a surprise guest.
He and James were playing at the Ceol Castle in Birmingham later on that evening. Standing on stage, playing left-handed guitar Brendan broke into two country and Irish standards and I watched as the audience reconnected with what was happening on the stage.
Like a true professional Brendan held that audience in the palm of his hand and they were so disappointed to see him leave the stage.
I’m also delighted to say that Brendan, James and Stephen, along with their band, will be sharing the stage at our 10th Midlands Irish Music Festival on Saturday, April 2 with another Derry legend Sean Wilson.
Brendan has resurrected his career mainly through coming back to the fore with his son James — who grew up listening to his daddy playing and is now one of the top young artists on the scene in Ireland.
Brendan was born in Magherafelt as one of 14 children. The son of a blacksmith, he entered the trade for a year upon leaving school at the age of 15, before subsequently trying his hand at welding.
At the same time he was playing guitar with local band Robin and the Breakaways — entertaining in nearby ballrooms, parish centres and Orange halls.
As the last dance of the evening approached Brendan and the lads must have been thinking hard whether they should play Faith of Our Fathers, The Soldiers’ Song or God Save The Queen.
In the summer of 1967 at the height of Flower Power Brendan and the band decided to hit the road as full time professionals.
Later on the Breakaways’ lead singer emigrated to Canada leaving Brendan with the job of being both guitarist and lead singer.
With the assistance of a very young Arty McGlynn he recorded his first single — the Kris Kristofferson classic Help Me Make It Through The Night.
This was followed in 1971 with It’s Four In The Morning and then Behind Closed Doors was playlisted on Tony Blackburn’s Radio One show.
In 1975, Brendan formed his new band The Bluebirds and a meeting at the Wembley Country Music Festival with promoter Jim Halsey led to two major tours of America.
In 1981, Brendan moved his family to Vancouver in Canada, where he was immediately signed up for an eight-week stint at the famous Blarney Stone Club in the city’s Gastown.
That eight-week tour lasted for four years and it was 1985 before Brendan returned to Magherafelt.
Soon he was hosting Make Mine Country for the BBC and after 25 years of performing Brendan decided in the 1990s to come off the road.
He disbanded The Bluebirds but formed a casual band, Kickin’ Mule, with Arty McGlynn and when the mood took them they played from time to time for fun. Now Brendan is back on stage with sons James and Stephen to the delight of his many loyal fans — and attracting new fans each time he takes to the stage or releases a new album.
Country and Irish comes with a marvellous booklet outlining Brendan’s career and featuring several photographs tracing his journey through the world of music.
The album opens with a Johnny McCauley medley then moves onto It’s Four In The Morning before treating us the poignant ballad Grace.
My favourite has to be The Hustler — which is a cross between The Gambler and A Boy Named Sue.
Not forgetting the land of his birth, Brendan takes us to Leitrim, Tipperary, Arranmore, Dublin, Athenry, Dungarvin, Glenfarne, Mayo, Derry and Clare, as well as delighting us with country standards The Cowboy Rides Away, To Daddy, Don’t Close Your Eyes, Bonaparte’s Retreat, Angeline and a tribute to both Merle Haggard and Jim Reeves.
As January fades into a memory and Christmas seems so far away why not treat yourself and order this album.
There can be only one thing better than listening to this album and that is joining us in April to see Brendan and his sons live on stage.
You don’t have to come from Derry to enjoy a night in the company of the county’s finest.
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