The White Horse Guitar Club

The 15th Annual Ballincollig Winter Music Festival, 21st to 26th January 2025 is proud to present The White Horse Guitar Club with very special guest David Murphy.

The White Horse Guitar Club, renowned for their soulful blend of Americana and roots music infused with an Irish heartbeat, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Their rendition of Townes Van Zandt’s classic, “If I Needed You,” has amassed over 1.5 million views on YouTube, catching the attention of BBC 6 presenter Cerys Matthews, who featured them on her popular Sunday radio show, praising them as “...taking Ireland, and the rest of the world by storm.”

Favourites on Irish airwaves, the band's music is regularly played by renowned presenters Fiachna Ó Braonáin, John Creedon, and Tom Dunne. The band’s journey is not just about music; it’s about camaraderie, friendship, and joy. As member Joe Carey states, “The band is very much based around camaraderie, friendship, and joy, sometimes a missing facet of bands. It’s one we hold very dear. Musically, we could be considered a choral band; voices are central to what we do, all 11 of us sing in unison, harmony, and melody. The fact that there are also 11 guitars adds to the unique sound and interpretation of the songs that we carry. On paper, it shouldn’t work, but it does.”

The White Horse Guitar Club is a diverse group, comprising individuals from various walks of life – from a stonemason to an engineer, a photographer to a teacher. Yet, they all share a common passion for singing, playing, and performing live, forging strong connections with their audiences in Ireland and beyond. 

The White Horse Guitar Club’s music resonates deeply with a growing fanbase, reflecting their belief in the power of music to unite and inspire change.

"There is an authenticity to The White Horse Guitar Club's performance in which the the musicians allow themselves to take all the risks while delivering a very professional concert. This has the great effect of making the experience a very personal one for everyone in attendence. Good for the heart and the soul - the music knows no borders." - Micheal D. Higgins, Uachtarán na hÉireann, President of Ireland.

See www.whitehorseguitarclub.com for much more!

David Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist based in Cork, Ireland known best for his work with the pedal steel guitar.

Murphy's unique application of the evocative and ever-mysterious pedal steel guitar has resulted in his invitation to participate in many collaborations and projects over his years as a session musician and band-member.

Taking the instrument outside the confines of its traditional roots, Murphy has accumulated a growing list of recording and live credits. He can regularly be seen and heard on stage and in the studio with diverse Irish artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek & The Rats, Arborist, Cian Nugent, Ordnance Survey, Greenshine and The Remedy Club amongst others as well as touring or performing alongside acclaimed international artists such as Willy Vlautin, The Delines, Richmond Fontaine, M. Ward and Jolie Holland.

Blurring the boundaries of music into which Murphy has taken the instrument, he has contributed to records across a range of genres, spanning pop, Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks. David has also participated in tours of Ireland, UK, Europe and U.S.A. as well as performing on live national radio and television.