If you’re a musician from Ireland, it is almost mandatory to have a gig in the states on St. Patrick’s Day.
“I always tour in March,” said Harkin, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from a tour stop in Atlanta, Georgia. “I love playing live shows that time of year. Actually, this year I’m booked most of the year.”
On March 17, Harkin, who is from Derry in Northern Ireland, will headline a show at MilkBoy Philly.
If you’re a fan of Celtic music and you regularly attend shows featuring Irish musicians, then there is a pretty good chance you’ve seen Harkin perform onstage. Harkin was part of the popular Irish music group Celtic Thunder for nearly a decade.
After being discovered by Grammy-winning producer David Foster, Harkin signed to Verve Records and released his self-titled debut solo album in 2012. The LP became the Number 1 best seller on iTunes in addition to reaching Number 1 on the World Music Chart in both the U.S. and Canada. Harkin’s sophomore recording, “On Mercy Street,” was released in 2015, followed by his 2016 holiday release, “Nollaig,” — both of which also reached Number 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart.
Harkin recently released a live, acoustic album “In the Round” on Blue Elan Records. It was recorded and filmed last summer at Full Circle in Venice Beach, California – which just happens to be Harkin’s current hometown.
“I left Derry when I was 18 and moved to London,” said Harkin. “After living in London for a while, I moved to Los Angeles. I do miss the seasons from Ireland. But, if I’m there during the winter, it only takes me about a week until I’m ready to head back to California.
“I’ve always travelled my whole life. I’ve surfed all over Ireland – especially the west coast. My parents took me camping a lot when I was young. And, I toured America many times when I was in Celtic Thunder. I still go back to Ireland a lot because I have a studio in Donegal.”
Harkin is thriving on his own – free from the restrictions of performing with an act like Celtic Thunder.
According to Harkin, “I was with Celtic Thunder for a great 10 years, but I never got to actually show what I do best. A lot of people didn’t know I could even play three chords on guitar, much less hold a whole concert together on my own. They didn’t know I wrote my own songs. So, the time finally came for me to show that side of me.”
Harkin has been fairly prolific with four albums in five years.
“I pull songs from everywhere,” said Harkin. “I’ve been playing songs in clubs for 20 years. I have four solo records and I’m in the midst of making a fifth.
“The live record was recorded nearly three years ago. It took so long to get it out that, in the middle, I record a Christmas album. I’m delighted with the way the live album came out. People say it’s the best record I’ve done.
“When I play live, it’s just me. I mainly play on my own. On this tour, I’m just going out and doing my own thin. I want to develop on my own. I’ve got all the songs written for my next album and I’ve been talking to a few different producers and engineers.
“On this tour, I’m playing songs from all my records. And, there are songs I play that I’ve never recorded. And, there are always a few Irish songs I knew growing up.”
