John Maguire Biography

John was born in the 1960’s in Clones, Co. Monaghan, into a family of music lovers, storytellers and folk singers. John’s grandfather, Joe Maguire, wrote much loved stories for the Northern Standard, the Anglo Celt and the Irish Independent newspapers in the 1950’s and 1960’s. John’s father, Frank Maguire, was a well known traditional Irish folk singer and storyteller, and continued his own father’s work in the 1970’s. This musical lineage has clearly influenced John in his own song-writing and love for story-telling. He played and sang regularly in a band with family members from a young age. John moved to London in the late 1970’s and was impressed by the Irish music exports of The Undertones and SLF, as well as the punk and mod influences. John later spent eight years as an actor with the prolific Clones Drama Society, back in Monaghan. He currently lives in Donard, the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow, the home county of his mother.

John’s EP Gortnawinney Lake was released in 2006, and includes the title track Gortnawinney Lake, the story of his grandmother’s life near Clones, Co. Monaghan. It also features The Fisherman, a traditional ballad of life at sea.

With his new studio album, Emerging, released in July 2008, John has further developed his own style of story-telling and songwriting. Here, he blends Folk with Jazz and Roots influences to create a truly upbeat, self-giving, untainted and humorous package. A natural artist, John’s on-stage performances are mixed with humorous stories, true tales and a touch of drama to colour in his raw, distinctive voice.

John with Delores and Baby Gramps (USA), at Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, July 21st 2008

Influences: Horslips, U2, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Taylor, Undertones, Shane MacGowan, John Spillane, Ger Wolfe, Christy Moore, Peter Mulvey(USA).