Brandon and his band set for tour of Ireland in April
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caithness entertainer Brandon McPhee is looking forward to visiting Ireland for the first time since the start of the pandemic as he and his band prepare for a four-night tour of the Emerald Isle this spring.
Brandon (25) recalled how Ireland had begun to feel almost like a second home for them until Covid-19 caused the cancellation of all live dates.
The five-piece group returned to the stage for a number of concerts in the run-up to Christmas, travelling to the Isle of Skye, Aboyne and Oldmeldrum as well as playing at venues in Caithness and Ross-shire.
Now they are gearing up for a trip across the Irish Sea for appearances in Cavan (County Cavan), Mitchelstown (County Cork), Moate (County Westmeath) and Granshaw Presbyterian Church, near Belfast, on successive nights from April 6-9.
“It'll be great to get going again after so long," Brandon said this week. "We are always made to feel very welcome in Ireland – it almost became a second home, we were over there so much.
“It'll certainly be great to go back and bring the Scottish culture to Ireland. It'll be a variety of songs and accordion tunes in different styles."
The talented accordionist and singer and his backing musicians are embracing the opportunity to tour again after the Covid disruption that began in 2020.
“It would have been the busiest year we'd ever had, and overnight it was all cancelled,” Brandon said.
He and the band concentrated on recording album tracks and playing virtual concerts when it was impossible to arrange live performances.
A six-date Scottish tour, originally planned for February this year, was rescheduled for June 22-27 because of uncertainty over Covid restrictions.
The Brandon McPhee Experience will now be staged at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Wednesday, June 22, followed by dates in Stirling, Brechin, Langholm and Musselburgh over the next four nights before finishing off at Aberdeen's Tivoli Theatre on Monday, June 27.
Details are on www.brandonmcphee.com
Brandon added: “We just can't wait to get back out. It has been a long few years, it has been a hard few years, but we just want to get going.”
Brandon presents his TV programme on Spotlight (Sky 365, Freesat 500). It goes out on Thursday at 4pm and Wednesday at 3pm.
His latest album, Heedrum Hodrum, was released in November on the Pan Records label.
Related stories:
- WATCH: Brandon McPhee 'really proud' of grandad as New Year video proves a hit
- Caithness musician Brandon McPhee set to tour after Covid lockdown
- Brandon says online concerts 'will never replace the real thing' as he prepares to go back on stage
