A Donegal teenager is “blown away” to be performing on Jools Holland's New Year’s Eve Hootenanny next week.
Muireann Bradley will be performing alongside the likes of Rod Stewart and the Sugababes on the iconic BBC show.
On Newstalk Breakfast today, the 17-year-old rising star of blues music said her inspiration came from her father.
“I grew up listening to blues, my da was really into it and loved it,” said Ms Bradley.
“I just heard him playing it himself, he plays the guitar and I always hear him playing it in the house.
“He would be listening to Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, and all of them and I just really loved it.
“I loved listening to it and I was really fascinated by seeing him playing.”
US Blues legend Blind Blake passed away in 1934. Image: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Bradley, who started playing guitar at nine years old, said her friends don’t share the same love of blues music she does.
“Most of my friends would be into Taylor Swift and all that sort of thing, my sister loves it too, and they wouldn’t be listening to blues music or anything,” she said.
“But when they hear me playing, they seem to really enjoy it and think it’s really cool what I do.”
Big break
The Donegal teen got her big break during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During lockdown, I got really into the guitar and posted a video online of me playing Police Dog Blues – that got me loads of attention,” she said.
“Josh Rosenthal saw it and got in contact with my dad and that’s where it started, he offered me a record deal.”
Ms Bradley said she wasn’t expecting anyone to see the video.
“It was really crazy, especially getting to do an album and all,” she said.
“I just posted it on YouTube for fun and didn’t think it would get so many views.
“I thought it might get 100 views at most but it got so many. It was surprising and shocking.”
Album
Her album called I Kept the Old Blues consists of classic blues covers and was released when she was just 16 years old.
Ms Bradley said she’s really excited to perform on Jools Holland's Hootenanny next week.
“It’s really crazy, I’m really excited to meet Ruby Turner as well,” she said.
“I’ve seen her every year on the Hootenanny and I really love her.”
The blues prodigy added that she was “blown away” when first found out and hopes she doesn’t get too nervous before the show.
Joss Stone, The Mary Wallopers, and Olivia Dean are among other performers taking part this year.
