Singer and accordion player Séamus Begley this month releases an album entirely of songs that includes a duet with Damien Dempsey.

Titled The Bold Kerryman, produced by John Reynolds at his New Air studios in London, and released on the latter’s label, Independent Records Limited, the album will be launched on 17 September in Whelan’s, followed by dates in Derry, Westport, Galway, Limerick and Killarney. Guitarist Tim Edey will join Begley for the tour.

Reynolds, who has worked with Sinéad O’Connor, Robert Plant and U2, commented on the recording of the album,

I picked him up from Paddington station and for the next four days, he sang from the morning until very late in the night; songs he’d had in his head for years, songs that meant so much to him. His knowledge of the traditional song is enormous; he could make 100 albums with the songs he knows and I wanted to try and capture that moment in this album. We started with just the voice, no music, no click, no fuss, just a drone for tuning and it’s quintessential Begley. He is a huge strong man but his voice is the most tender I have ever heard…

The album features a range of songs such as ‘The Lough Tae Boat Song’, ‘Táimse im’Chodladh’ and ‘Farewell to the Gold’. Begley’s daughter Méabh also appears as a guest vocalist.

Listen to Begley and Dempsey’s version of ‘The Banks of the Sweet Primroses’ below.

Book tickets for the album launch here: www.whelanslive.com