Fresh from the release of their debut album ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’, California Irish, the folk-rock act fronted by Cormac Neeson, have won the Single Of The Year Award at the Northern Irish Music Prize with their delicate single ‘Julie Ann‘. 

After fighting off stiff competition for the title, the band scooped the prestigious award with their wonderfully warm, laid-back single, which evokes the spirit of the Laurel Canyon scene of the 1960s, and one that gained critical acclaim across the board, receiving substantial airplay worldwide. 

Cormac states: “We are delighted with this award, and the fact that the people of the North of Ireland voted for our song just means the world to us. Peace Agus Love – and up the Cali Irish!”

The California Irish album ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’ is out now. 
Order physical copies of the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/california-irish/
Order the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains

CALIFORNIA IRISH is the new band featuring The Answer’s Cormac Neeson. The band tips its hat to the wonderfully melodic and free-spirited sound from 60s America, a sound that reaches back into a gentler, more empathetic time and their album ‘The Mountains Are My Friends‘ is out now. 

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.

The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.   

Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’, out now.

The band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ

The fabulous and highly anticipated new California Irish album, ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’, is now released, out on both digital and CD with the Vinyl format following close on their heels. 

Order the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains
Order physical copies of the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/california-irish/

Cormac comments on the release: “Recording this record was one of the most beautiful experiences of any of our lives. Since then California Irish has been our life blood and it’s been so exciting gradually letting the world in song by song, gig by gig. Now it’s time to show you who we really are with a debut album that means everything to us as musicians, artists, humans. Because we recorded it straight to tape it doesn’t sound like anybody else. It’s us. It’s who we are. We hope you love us. Enjoy. Peace agus love. Síochán agus grá xo” 
 
Having already won 3 ‘tracks of the week’ features in Classic Rock Magazine for their singles, the California Irish album is garnering critical acclaim from everyone who hears it, being touted as the ‘best album you will hear all year’, ‘a ‘a wonderful record’ and ‘is a blazing beacon set against the harmony of wilful beauty’ amongst many other glowing comments! 

This isn’t just the best album you will hear all year, it’s one that makes you realise that despite the state the music industry is in at the moment, despite the streaming, despite the AI generated garbage, the autotune and synthesized soulless noise, there is real music out there. Real music that can transcend the vicissitudes of everyday life, that makes you realise you can live forever in that moment. This is the album that reminded me that real music is timeless, fleeting, ethereal, beautiful, fragile, organic, and bursting with promise. It’s an album that makes you realise that this world can be a better place, a warmer place, a greater place and these days we need that more than ever. 10/10 – The Rock Pit, AUS
 
Nothing lingers here, most of the songs are between 2 and 4 minutes, the brevity in their favour as it gives an authenticity of when songs could only fit one side of wax, the longest song saved for last on the spectacular I Am Free. Two musical heritages combining to produce beautiful music that sings of its influences loudly and proudly, a wonderful record featuring one of the best singers in the game. 9/10 – Musipedia Of Metal
 
Sitting here in the middle of England, you always think of the western US as vast and cinematic. “I Am Free” taps into that wonderfully. A duet between Neeson and Coyle, its chorus rings out: “For the first time in a long time I am free” – but freedom doesn’t explain all of this.
Rather, it’s the last line – “I will carry all that I have lived” – that surely brought us here. And it’s the communal laughter that breaks out at the song’s end that makes this so special.
“The Mountains Are My Friends” is music made simply because everyone wanted to – and it’s a genuine gem. Rating: 9/10 – Maximum Volume Music
 
Across tracks such as the opener Live Fast Die Free, Julie Ann, Something Different, the enticing Sunday Morning, and the finale of I Am Free, California Irish rampage and stoke the fires of the mountain to a point where what is witness is more than a message of intent, it is a blazing beacon set against the harmony of wilful beauty. A generous and fantastically paced recording, each player doing their bit to combine a sound of majestic property and intellect. – Liverpool Sound & Vision

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.
 
The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.   
 
Cormac states his reason for starting the band and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
 That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’.

Introducing the band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ

CALIFORNIA IRISH, featuring Cormac Neeson, release their wonderful new single ‘Julie Ann’, out now, the new album ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’ release date moves to 18th July on 7hz Productions. 

Album release date moved due to manufacturing issues. 

Cormac states:
“Release news!! Some not so good news and then some good news: we’ve had to put the release date of the record back by three weeks due to damaged stock. Sorry folks. Rest assured there’s no one more looking forward to having this album out in the world than us. So on 18th July “The Mountains Are My Friends” will come out in digital and CD form. The Vinyl is going to take a few weeks longer than that because it’s vinyls, so apologies for the further delay on that but we of course want your record to be in impeccable condition so you can kick back and enjoy the full California Irish Experience. Now! on to the good news…we have a new single coming out this Friday called Julie Ann featuring lush harmonies, 12 strings guitars and a psychedelic cow bell. You’re gonna love it and will hopefully scratch that Laurel Canyon itch until the full album can be listened to on 18th July. Thank you all for your patience and love. Peace agus love. California Irish.”

Watch ‘Julie Anne‘ here:

CALIFORNIA IRISH is the new band featuring The Answer’s Cormac Neeson. The band tips its hat to the wonderfully melodic and free-spirited sound from 60s America, a sound that reaches back into a gentler, more empathetic time, and now releases its fourth single, the fabulous ‘Julie Ann’, out now. 

Cormac comments:
“We wanted ‘Julie Ann’ to sound like The Byrds hence the jangly 12 string guitar and the thick four-part harmonies. Listen out for the psychedelic cow bell solo in middle, and if you’ve been looking for your new soundtrack of the summer then congratulations to you! Peace agus love x”

• Preorder physical copies of the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/california-irish/
• Preorder the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.

This new group showcase a unique sound formed from a combination of players that initially came together briefly to perform a Neil Young-inspired theatre show production called “Re-Harvest”, in which the musicians who now make up California Irish very successfully performed the classic albums ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘Harvest’ back to back.

The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.

Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’.

Introducing the band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ

CALIFORNIA IRISH is the new band featuring The Answer’s Cormac Neeson. The band tips its hat to the wonderfully melodic and free-spirited sound from 60s America, a sound that reaches back into a gentler, more empathetic time, and now releases its third single, the fabulous ‘Something Different’, out now. 

Cormac comments:
“This one is, as the name would suggest, different to anything we’ve released up to this point. We wanted it to be an atmospheric, psychedelic folk celebration of the trippier side of life.
Recorded straight to tape with three vocals around the one microphone, and a recorder duet to bring you just the right amount of weirdness.
We shot the accompanying video in the Wicklow mountains and used the LSD graveyard scene in the movie ‘Easy Rider’ as our inspiration. Enjoy.”

Preorder the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.

This new group showcase a unique sound formed from a combination of players that initially came together briefly to perform a Neil Young-inspired theatre show production called “Re-Harvest”, in which the musicians who now make up California Irish very successfully performed the classic albums ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘Harvest’ back to back.

The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.

Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’, out on 27th June.

Introducing the band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ

CALIFORNIA IRISH, featuring Cormac Neeson, are set to release their new album ‘The Mountains Are My Friends‘ on 27th June, out on 7hz Productions.

Preorder the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains
Preorder physical copies of the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/california-irish/

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.

This new group showcase a unique sound formed from a combination of players that initially came together briefly to perform a Neil Young-inspired theatre show production called “Re-Harvest”, in which the musicians who now make up California Irish very successfully performed the classic albums ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘Harvest’ back to back.

The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.   

Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’.

The band also announce their show on 16^th May at the Empire in Belfast:
“Need some colour in those Cali Irish cheeks?? Well we’ve got some gig news to brighten up your day. On Friday 16th May California Irish will be gracing the legendary boards of the @belfastempire making our Belfast debut and continuing to bring the good vibes to the masses. Ticket link is live, and we are excited!!!”

16th May, Belfast Empire: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/5550354?venueId=459510 

Watch ‘Big Questions’ here:

Introducing the band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ

CALIFORNIA IRISH is the new band featuring The Answer’s Cormac Neeson. The band tips its hat to the wonderfully melodic and free-spirited sound from 60s America, a sound that reaches back into a gentler, more empathetic time, and now releases its second single ‘Live Fast Die Free’, out now.

Stream ‘Live Fast Die Free’ here: https://ada.lnk.to/LFDF

Cormac states:
“This song was inspired by the movie Easy Rider…and even more specifically, the closing scene when Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda get shot off their Harleys by a couple of rednecks.
The song tries to tap into some of the hippie ethos that’s captured so beautifully in the movie, themes of freedom, love and living life without regret.
It’s also one of those loose, groovy songs that the live analogue recording process suited perfectly.
You can really feel the power of the four voices around the one microphone singing our hearts out. It feels raw and soulful in all the right places.”

Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.

This new group showcase a unique sound formed from a combination of players that initially came together briefly to perform a Neil Young-inspired theatre show production called “Re-Harvest”, in which the musicians who now make up California Irish very successfully performed the classic albums ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘Harvest’ back to back.

The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.   

Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: “This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music.
That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process.” 

The Laurel Canyon influence also extends to the band’s recording technique, adhering rigidly to the analogue 16 track recording method circa 1969; namely recording live straight to tape at the world famous Middle Farm Studios under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Pete Miles. The resulting sound of California Irish flies in the face of modern techniques that often lose the warmth of the original compositions. Instead, the group opted for a one off and unique shared human experience with musicians who feed off each other’s energy, and create compelling four-part vocal blends around one single microphone in a warm alt-folk celebration. The creative process in turn led to an album’s worth of songs titled ‘The Mountains Are My Friends’, out on 27th June..

Preorder physical copies of the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/california-irish/
Preorder the album here: https://ada.lnk.to/Mountains

The band will play their debut live show on 16^th May at the Empire in Belfast:
“Need some colour in those Cali Irish cheeks?? Well we’ve got some gig news to brighten up your day. On Friday 16th May California Irish will be gracing the legendary boards of the @belfastempire making our Belfast debut and continuing to bring the good vibes to the masses. Ticket link is live, and we are excited!!!”
16th May, Belfast Empire: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/5550354?venueId=459510 

Introducing the band: 
Cormac Neeson (vocals, acoustic guitar, psychedelic cowbell)
Susy Coyle (vocals and percussion)
Donal Scullion (acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)  
Chris Kelly (lap steel, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar, vocals)
James Doone (bass) 
Simon Templeton (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer)
Conor McCauley (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/californiairish
https://x.com/CaliIrish69
https://www.instagram.com/californiairishband/
https://www.californiairish.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXtkoLAjS3HSCikPPPQWlsQ