Allison McGrath is a 48 year old singer/songwriter from County Down. She began writing songs at the age of just sixteen after getting her first guitar and learnt a few basic chords, then took to the streets of Belfast to Busk. Just over thirty years on, Allison speaks to us ahead of headlining two gigs at the Belfast City Blues Festival later this month along with her band the Soultanics.
What do you do?
My band ‘The Soultanics’ are a Soul/Blues band of good friends that have played together now for over 10 years. We got together primarily to record the original songs that I write, and have released 2 original albums ‘Overboard’- MRU 2013 award for best Soul/jazz funk album. ‘At Long Last’ 2018 the second release which has been well received by critics and Track ‘Caralee’ made Ralph McLeans playlist ‘favourite local releases’. Tracks from ‘At Long Last’ are currently been aired on local and International radio.
How did you get started in the industry?
I was always tinkering with music from an early age singing in local Feis, School Choirs, Musicals. It was whilst at college in the 80’s I took to busking in the streets of Belfast and won Belfast Busker of the year 1989, during this time I met with loads of other musicians who helped and guided me musically. From busking I moved into a band called Captain Swing usually gigging Belfast in places like the Rotterdam Bar and Errigle Inn. I then started playing with my right hand man Dermot McQuaid a musical genius who can basically play any instrument you hand him! and finally progressed to putting together current band ‘Soulantics’.
What genre / style do you create in?
A Soulful blend of Blues Jazz funk & reggae
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement thus far would be being selected by Panarts & Arts council NI as a songwriter to travel to Nashville in March to perform in The Bluebird cafe and take part in a variety of meetings with publishers, A & R and artist management. It was a trip of a life time and life long friendships were made with Rory Nellis and Niamh McGlinchey (2 songwriters also on this amazing journey). The organisers Colin & Ann Magee took so much care of us whilst in Nashville and I’m forever indebted to their kindness and consideration.
The highlight of the trip was to sing In BB Kings Nashville with the amazing Stacy Mitchart Blues Band, a night I will never forget!
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
Don’t let others discourage you! be true to yourself and your style and genre. More than likely you will get more knock backs than acceptances, as long as you enjoy the music you play then the rest is a bonus.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
My biggest challenge to date was to co-write a song with fellow songwriter’s Niamh and Rory Whilst in Nashville. We have three different styles & Genres but this this did not stop us from writing a song called ‘Going to Nashville’ a song about the wonderful Journey We were sharing together.
I also got to co-write with the Stunning Benita Hill an Award winning Songwriter from Nashville who has wrote numerous No 1 hits including Garth Brooks its still a work in progress but am very optimistic thats its going to be a good track.
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
I am in a relationship with my Partner John McShane must be for over 15 years we’ve lost count. He’s my rock, my diamond and my very best friend whom I love and cherish dearly, he is the calm in all my storms (I can be high maintenance) My main hobby would be caring for my 28yr old retired horse who I’ve had for 24 years now, I have no children but he sure makes up for it.
Tell us about your most recent work?
My most recent work is my second album ‘At Long Last’ a collection of original songs released in 2018. Its available to download from iTunes amazon etc. This album reached the long list for the NI music awards 2018. it has been played locally by Ralph McClean BBC Radio Ulster, RTE Lyric Fm as well as local and International Radio, I even woke one morning to discover it was being played in Australia! I nearly fell out of bed.
What would you like us to tell people about?
We have some local gigs coming up as part of the Belfast City Blues Festival. On Friday 28th June we will play the Northern Whig at 10pm, with the full band. Then the duo will play at Bootleggers on Sunday 30th June at 3pm.
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
a Soulful blend of Blues Jazz funk reggae with hints of John Martyn and Sade
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
The funniest thing I’ve seen was a bass player arriving late to a gig, lifting his bass and starting to play along with band and having an extremely puzzled look on his face as the bass he was playing wasn’t what was coming out of the speakers? It might have had something to do with the fact that he forgot to plug in and the keyboard player was actually playing the bass lines, I cried with laughter!
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Have a day job to help support your musical journey its an extremely hard industry and if you’re female be prepared that it will be more difficult to secure slots at festivals and music venues, unfortunate but still true, thankfully things are changing but sexism still happens, you will send emails make calls all of which will probably be ignored.
Then there are the cliques and boys clubs to contend with, a lot of local festivals organiser’s book each others artists a case of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’, leaving little room for the rest of us to get a look in!
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
If anyone is interested in booking us for festivals hit me on on website!
Who do you look up to and why?
Shawn Jones USA the true definition of a working musician, extremely talented individual who tours the world yearly and visits Ireland regularly worth catching if your luck enough!
The Belfast City Blues Festival presented by American Holidays and Brand USA will run from 28th – 30th June across 22 venues in the city centre. For more information and to catch Allison McGrath and the Soultanics visit: https://belfastcityblues.com/