Music at Madden's Podcast #45 | Ryan McMullan on Fleadh Shows & the Pull of Irish Music

Music at Madden's Podcast #45 | Ryan McMullan on Fleadh Shows & the Pull of Irish Music

This week in the snug, Lynette is joined by County Down singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan ahead of his special Fleadh shows at The Empire Music Hall. Ryan reflects on stepping back from the noise of the music industry, finding a slower pace of life in Antrim, and reconnecting with songwriting on his own terms. He talks about the early influence of Foy Vance, touring with Ed Sheeran, being championed by Elton John, and the pressure of trying to balance ambition with authenticity. The conversation also explores Ryan’s deep love of Irish folk songs, his plans to reimagine his own music with traditional players for Fleadh, his friendship and creative work with Beoga, and why hurling remains such an important part of his life. A warm, honest conversation about music, heritage, pressure, family, creativity, and finding your own way back to the songs.

Music at Madden’s #44 | The Rapparees Live at LIR Sessions

This week, Music at Madden’s is back on the road for the second of our live episodes recorded at the LIR Sessions in Ballycastle, filmed in front of an audience at Yarn.Lynette is joined by The Rapparees — Joe, Stephen, Kev and Jared — for a lively conversation full of stories, slagging, music, family memories and plenty of laughs. The band chat about their beginnings in Randalstown, their early gigs, growing into their own sound, their love of Irish folk music, and the influence of The Pogues on their journey.They also reflect on their long-running Fairytale of The Pogues shows, the changing appetite for traditional music, the challenge of balancing creativity with gigging, and what the Fleadh coming to Belfast means for them and their families.A brilliant, funny and heartfelt episode with one of the most loved bands on the Irish folk scene.

Music at Madden’s Podcast #43 | Live at Lír Sessions: Deirdre & Clodagh of Déanta

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s with Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week — though not quite in the snug this time — are Deirdre and Clodagh of Déanta, recorded live at Lír Sessions in Ballycastle. For this special episode, the Music at Madden’s team travelled north to Yarn in Ballycastle for the first of two live podcasts recorded in front of an audience as part of Lír Sessions, a festival celebrating traditional music. Deirdre and Clodagh look back on their years with Déanta, the much-loved County Antrim traditional group who brought their music to stages across Ireland, Europe and beyond. The band released three albums on the Green Linnet label — Déanta, Ready for the Storm and Whisper of a Secret — and became known for blending traditional tunes and songs with fresh, thoughtful arrangements. In this conversation, they talk about how the band first came together, life on the road, reunion concerts, and how the traditional music world has changed since Déanta were first making their mark. They also reflect on how refreshing it was to come to Ballycastle and see an event like Lír Sessions bringing musicians, audiences and the wider trad community together in such a special setting. A warm live episode full of stories, memories, music and chat from Yarn in Ballycastle.

Music at Madden’s Podcast #043 “No Turning Back” with Gino Lupari

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week is the one and only Gino Lupari — bodhrán player extraordinaire, storyteller, comedian, and long-time member of the legendary Four Men and a Dog. In this episode, Gino takes us through a life in music, from discovering the bodhrán, learning from greats like Séamus Kane and Arty McGlynn, and forming Four Men and a Dog, to touring the world, meeting The Band, recording in Woodstock, and eventually stepping out on his own with his solo album No Turning Back. As always with Gino, the conversation could go anywhere — and it does. Expect brilliant stories, plenty of laughs, reflections on friendship, performance, tradition, and what it really means to spend a lifetime “still at the music.”

Music at Madden’s Podcast #042 “Starry Lane to Monaghan” with Pádraig McGovern and Sabina McCague

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week are two of Ireland’s foremost traditional musicians, Pádraig Mc Govern and Sabina McCague. Pádraig, originally from Ballymagovern on the Cavan-Leitrim border, is a renowned uilleann piper who has recorded with numerous artists over the years. His recording of Easter Snow and Sally Gally with Ryan Molloy was also shortlisted in the Best Folk Track category at the 2021 RTÉ Folk Awards. Sabina McCague from Co. Monaghan is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, equally at home on harp and fiddle. She has performed across Ireland, Europe and the USA, and is also a respected teacher, having taught at Scoil Eigse, The Joe Mooney Summer School and The Francis O’Neill Irish Arts Festival in Chicago. Together, Pádraig and Sabina have recently released their new album Starry Lane to Monaghan, a beautiful collection of tunes gathered from sessions, recordings, archives and their own home, reflecting their shared love of the tradition, their musical journey, and life together as husband and wife. We had great craic recording this one, with plenty of warm husband-and-wife banter throughout, as well as a gorgeous conversation about old Irish music, the harp, the uilleann pipes, and the friendships, places and moments that shape a life in music.