Folk artist John Smith plays Coughlans, Cork on 20 October and 21 October, and The Grand Social, Dublin on 22 October we asked him the BIG questions . . .
John hails from Devon and has long had links to Ireland, not least thanks to his long-standing touring relationships with Lisa Hannigan and Cara Dillon. As a session musician he has played guitar with artists as diverse as Joan Baez, David Gray, Joe Henry, Lianne La Havas, and Tom Jones.
"As long as I have been touring and releasing records, Ireland has been the real touchstone. My audience has grown from those first bar gigs, fifteen years ago, to headline shows across the country," he says.
"I feel so fortunate to have found a place in this musical country where I can play my songs to the best audience in the world.
"The support I've received from radio and media has been so generous and instrumental in making the whole thing work. I can’t wait to get back there and sing these new songs to people I haven’t seen in three years."
Tickets for John's Cork (€20) and Dublin (€16) shows are on sale now from John's website.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I’m a very good chef. I’m useless at sport. Cats freak me out.
How would you describe your music?
It’s nice if you like that sort of thing.
Who are your musical inspirations?
The big ones are Ry Cooder, Nick Drake, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, John Renbourn. I can’t go too far without listening to Gillian Welch or Emmylou Harris.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Reef at Torbay Leisure Centre in 1998. They blew my tiny mind.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Bad by Michael Jackson.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Talk To Me Of Mendocino by Kate & Anna McGarrigle.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Curl around me like a fern in the Spring." John Martyn, Go Down Easy.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s a scary thought. Can I have an album please? Astral Weeks by Van Morrison.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Don’t Google me, you’ll be there all day. All my social media is thejohnsmith and my website.
