THE JOHNNY QUINN MACS: John McSherry, Brendán Quinn & Francis McIlduff

John has been a major figure in Irish music for over 20 years. He is a composer, producer, arranger, and established studio session musician of world renown, having recorded and performed with artistsincluding Sinéad O’Connor, Rod Stewart, Nanci Griffith,Gary Kemp, The Corrs and Clannad. A founder member of top traditional bands Lunasa, Tamalin, Donal Lunny’s Coolfin, and Irish-American super- group the olllam, John has produced a string of critically acclaimed and innovative albums, both solo and collaborative.

Brendán has toured the world as a singer-songwriter and traditional accompanist for many years. Hugely influenced by his love of Irish music and the Irish language, his ability to convey the stories of strangers and his own experiences through song has created his distinctive, captivating style.

Francis McIlduff, a member of the legendary McPeake musical family from Belfast, was immersed in traditional Irish music from an early age. He debuted with the family band Clann McPeake in the1980’s, and has gone on to play with leading outfits includingAlias Ron Kavana, Afterhours, Sin É andmore recently At First Light, the band in which Francies and John first created the “double pipes” soundthat has become their trademark.

Before adopting the name The Johnny Quinn Macs, the trio released the albumFÉILE LIVE in November 2023, as various artists under their individual names. Wanting to keep their sound as authentic as possible, they opted to record in Redbox Studios, the working home of good friend and musicalcomrade, Dónal O’Connor. Playing live as a trio, the album was recorded in sixteen hours and mixestraditional and modern tunes with Brendan’s contemporary songwriting. With “dualling” uilleannpipes, soaring whistles, interweaving harmonies, rock steady bodhran and guitar grooves, the tunes and songs are delivered with a confidence, energy and drive that only a live approach can create.

Since then The Johnny Quinn Macs have become firm favourites at gigs and festivals on both sides of the Irish Sea. In 2025, having appeared at London’s Jazz Café on St Patrick’s Day, they return to England for appearances at Folk East (August 16), Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith (October 3), Belper Folk At The Meadows–a concert that will also be streamed on Live To our Living Room (October 4), and Hartlepool Folk Festival (October 6.)