Dermot Byrne is Ireland's foremost roots and blues performer and a prolific songwriter. He has taken his authentic style of blues to top festivals in Europe and the United States. Playing fingerstyle, slide guitar and harmonica he is a regular performer on the club and festival scene and his music has received critical acclaim in music press.His influences are the blues masters such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Fred McDowell and Texas folk-blues artist Huddie Leadbetter.Acts Dermot Byrne has played with or supported include legendry names such as Sam Mitchel, Eric Bibb, Homesick James, Sonny Boy Edwards, Steve James, Long John Hunter and Byther Smith.In 1998 he released his first album "Raw Whiskey Blues" on the "Me and My" label based in Holland. This was distributed by Continental Record Services (C.R.S.) in Europe and later released in the U.S. on the Beatville label.As well as doing workshops for schools and colleges on the "origins of the blues" Dermot has narrated and performed a short film for Trinity College Dublin entitled "The life and music of Leadbelly".In 2005 Dermot Byrne came first in the finals of the Irish Blues Challenge (solo/duo) and subsequently performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis T.N. He has done gigs in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and performed on the world famous King Biscuit radio show in Helena, Arkansas.
Dermot Byrne's first album(Raw Whiskey Blues) was released in 1998 on the Me And My Label in Holland, and distributed in Europe by Continental Records Services.This album was later released in The United States on the Beatville Label,and is still widely available.The album includes fourteen songs in the Delta Blues and Roots tradition.These include SLOW TRAIN (DOWNLOAD TRACK ABOVE) which is self penned by Dermot Byrne and WALKIN' BLUES (DOWNLOAD TRACK ABOVE). Also included are classics like "Catfish Blues","Roll And Tumble" and "Death Letter Blues".
Blues and Roots Records in conjuction with the "Me and My Label" in Holland has just compiled a collection of the best of Dermot Byrne's acoustic recordings between 1996 and 2006.These recordings offer interpretations of Delta and roots classics as well as three songs which are self penned.
The collection is titled : DERMOT BYRNE -The Country Blues 1996-2006.It is available at DERMOTBLUESBYRNE.COMTrack 1. Old Riley He Is Gone. This is prison song which was originally
a slow work song from the Mississippi Delta.There are many veriations of the song, such as Lost John and Hey Rattler.The first half of Old Riley is a slow moan.The morning time in a work camp made up of forced labour would hear somebody almost shout a slow twisted moan which was to be the very basis for much of the blues singers which followed.The news of "another man done gone" is sung as Old Riley he is gone in the first part of the song.The dogs are called in the second part of the song as the song becomes a 2/4 jump.(Slide Guitar with bottle neck ..open G) Blues Harp on brace.Track 2. Goin Up To Brownsville. This is yet another version of Roll and Tumble Blues and is based on the playing of the great bluesman Fred McDowell.(Slide Guitar with bottle neck..open G.)
Track 3. Just Can't Keep From Cryin'.This Blind Willie Johnson song is performed in open D.Using a bottle neck the slide notes follow the blues song in the classic Delta tradition.
Track 4. Hard Times Killin Floor. A great song first performed by Skip James, but there are many versions.It is unusual in that the fingerpick is in an E minor tuning.
Track 5 Juliann Johnson. ( DOWNLOAD TRACK ,SAMPLE ABOVE)This is a worksong with the first two lines repeated and is for tree felling.When the axe struck there was a slight delay on the beat to wait for the other worker to hit the cut.
Track 6 Goin' Down To Clarksdale. Written by Dermot Byrne as a tribute to
the late great Alan Lomax. Lomax was more then a song collector . In the 1990's Lomax was to put pen to paper again and outline not only where the blues came from, but what makes it a distinct music which was developed by black working people. (Slide Guitar with bottleneck open G)
Track 7 Karla Fay Written by Dermot Byrne . (DOWNLOAD TRACK, SAMPLE ABOVE.)A Double Pick fingerstyle song in E concerning tthe first women to be executed in Huntsville prison in the state of Texas for a hundred years.In 1998 Karla Fay was put to death for murder by a lethal injection.
Track 8 Yonder Comes the Dawn. Written by Dermot Byrne this song is in the classic Delta style and uses bottle neck in open G tuning.
Track 9 John Henry. A live performence of the classic Delta work song John Henry.
Track 10 Line 'em Track A railroad worksong , and Huddie Leadbetters Borrow Love And Go are played on hormonica.
Track 11 Monday Morning Blues. A Bottleneck slide piece in open D completes this great collection of roots and blues.
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