Cathal Murphy

One of those “bolts from the blue” happened on Saturday night over at Hartlepool. Sandwiched between the jubilant rocking of Liverpool’s Jupiter Blues Band and the more studied, but equally explosive Ariel Posen came this slight young Irishman Cathal Murphy who just possessed this sort of quiet authority,  which, during a short 5 or 6 number set managed to control the room at Hartlepool Supporters.

Here’s what Bandcamp have to say about him:-
Cathal Murphy is a Belfast-based singer-songwriter who blends soulful vocals with expressive song writing and uplifting guitar.Part pop, part blues – Cathal’s style is one of reds and yellows. The young musician’s love of blues can be instantly identified in his music. His songs champion clever, intuitive acoustic and electric guitar solos which allow his undeniable instrumental skill to shine.Echoes of the soulful skills of Stevie Ray Vaughan are paired with modern, alternative-pop synth sounds to create upbeat, emotive tracks that have a weight behind them.
Hailing from Camlough, near Newry, Cathal has been raised on Irish traditional music – a passion passed down through his family from his Great Grandad. From playing in the living room to concerts at local venues, Cathal’s upbringing was punctuated with unforgettable live music. He began playing at 8 years old and by 10, was a national champion.Cathal plays and writes as part of contemporary Irish folk group Cuig, recording two albums and touring across Europe and the US. One of the tracks, ‘Carry On’, was used by Aer Lingus on an online advert and has racked up more than 650,000 views.
At just 20 years old, Cathal is now going out on his own, relishing the freedom to express himself through his thoughtful, personal songwriting and uplifting guitar playing. Cathal writes his songs as if he was playing to an empty room. His writing shows an innate ability to project a range and depth of feeling, in a way that is frank and imaginative.Drawing on his love for blues, Cathal performs live in a trio format. The expressive energy of his live show is immediate, with the band able to improvise and make the audience feel something different every single time they play.

The folk roots, I didn’t know about, but they are apparent when you hear him and don’t forget, Pat McManus came through from Mama’s Boys years ago after he and his brothers dominated the irish Folk scene some 40 years ago. As for the rest, take it from me, it's not just hype,  this is a talented, engaging young man who's going to make a big mark.

These clips are the band, Cuig (Cathal on persussion), modern twist on Irish folk -
Patient Zero - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont … e=emb_logo
New landscapes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMUod35g0MM