Atlantic Sessions | John McSherry Trio | Pipers of Roguery

After their hugely successful recent UK & European tour, the newly formed trio, ‘The Johnny Quinn Macs’ released their highly acclaimed debut album in late 2023 and plan to bring their vibrant music to audiences throughout Ireland and beyond.

John McSherry, Brendán Quinn and Francis McIlduff are three phenomenal musicians who first got together as a trio at Belfast’s ‘Féile Trad Trail’ in August 2022.

John has been a major figure in Irish music for over 20 years. He is a composer, producer, arranger, and established studio session musician of world renown, having recorded and performed with artists including Sinéad O’Connor, Rod Stewart, Nanci Griffith, Gary Kemp, The Corrs and Clannad. A founder member of top traditional bands Lunasa, Tamalin, Donal Lunny's Coolfin, At First Light and Irish-American super-group the olllam, John has produced a string of critically acclaimed and innovative albums, both solo and collaborative.

Brendán has toured the world as a singer-songwriter and traditional accompanist for many years. Hugely influenced by his love of Irish music and the Irish language, his ability to convey the stories of strangers and his own experiences through song has created his distinctive, captivating style.
Francis, a member of the legendary McPeake musical family from Belfast, has been immersed in traditional Irish music from an early age. He debuted with the family band Clann McPeake in the 1980’s, and has gone on to play with leading outfits including Alias Ron Kavana, Afterhours, Sin É and more recently At First Light, the band in which Francie's and John first created the “double pipes” sound that has become their trademark.

When the trio began playing together at Féile, the depth of their musical connection and rapport was instantly evident, so much so that they decided to record an album together. Wanting to keep their sound as authentic as possible, they opted to record in Redbox Studios, the working home of good friend and musical comrade, Dónal O’Connor. Playing live as a trio instead of multi-tracked separate takes, the album was recorded in sixteen hours and mixes traditional and modern tunes with Brendan’s contemporary songwriting. With “dualling” uilleann pipes, soaring whistles, interweaving harmonies, rock steady bodhran and guitar grooves, the tunes and songs are delivered with a confidence, energy and drive that only a live approach can create.

Roy’s Hands (comp. Finbar Furey)
Pipers of Roguery (comp. John McSherry)
El Garrotin (trad arr. McSherry/McIlduff/Quinn)

John McSherry - Uilleann Pipes
Francis McIlduff - Uilleann Pipes
Brendan Quinn - Guitar

Videography: Chris McCann
Recording/Mixing: Cormac Crummey

Atlantic Sessions

The Atlantic Collective aims to showcase artists similar to the ‘Mahogany Sessions’ by providing a platform to showcase their work to a wider audience through online performances. The ‘Atlantic Sessions’ features intimate live performances by emerging and established artists, while offering a space to showcase and celebrate culture in a unique and authentic way.

Like the ‘Mahogany Sessions’, which is known for its high production values and attention to detail, the Atlantic Collective places a strong emphasis on quality and professionalism in its content. The Collective’s experienced engineers and production crew are dedicated to ensuring that each performance is executed with precision, while also catering to the unique needs and preferences of the artist.

By leveraging the technical expertise of its engineers and production crew, the Atlantic Collective is able to create visually stunning and sonically rich performances that are designed to captivate and engage viewers. From lighting and subtle sound design to camera work and post-production, every aspect of the ‘Atlantic Sessions’ is executed with a meticulous attention to detail, in order to ensure that the final product is of the highest possible quality.

Overall, the Atlantic Collective is committed to providing a platform for emerging and established artists alike to showcase their talents to a wider audience, and to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Irish and Scottish music scenes. Through its dedication to quality and professionalism, and its experienced engineers and production crew, the collective is able to create truly immersive and engaging experiences that are sure to delight viewers.