McTell us a story, Ralph

Some say touring is a young man’s game, but nobody seems to have told legendary English singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Ralph McTell.

The Farnborough, London native, 78, is marking 50 years on the road with a nationwide tour of Ireland which will see him perform on Leeside this weekend.

McTell, who holds a long-standing and deep affection for the Emerald Isle, will be performing the 13 new songs from his upcoming album ‘From There to Here’.

The album is an evocation of Ireland, its music and culture through the McTell’s words and music, featuring performances by some of Ireland’s most celebrated actors and musicians.

“Over my writing career I have written and recorded a number of songs that reflect my affection for Ireland, and I wanted to celebrate that by inviting some of my Irish musician friends to take part in this special recording,” said McTell.

The ‘From There to Here’ tour kicked off last week and will run until 11 November, finishing in Dublin.

Known for his virtuoso guitar style, McTell is primarily a prolific and gifted songwriter with a style that invites listeners into a unique world as he weaves a narrative that is both significant and poignant.

He made his debut in 1968 with the album ‘Eight Frames a Second’ and in 1974 the release of ‘Streets of London’ earned him an Ivor Novello Award. In 2002 he was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Ralph McTell plays The Everyman this Sunday 5 November. Tickets from €33 are available from everymancork.com. Doors open at 7.30pm on Sunday.