Niall Teague and Padraic Joyce share new single ‘Guitar Gold’ and new studio album ‘What Will We Be’

Galway-based folk duo Niall Teague and Padraic Joyce release their latest single ‘Guitar Gold’, on Friday, March 24th marking the release of a brand-new Studio album ‘What Will We Be’. Their latest latest offering turns over new ground in folk, Americana, country and acoustic music with the best of past and present songwriting at its core. ‘Guitar Gold’ is a beautiful county style ballad featuring lush strings acoustic guitars and beautiful harmonies.

Niall and Padraic have honed their craft as songwriters and performers since their partnership began in the musical melting pot that is Galway city. With the success of their well-received 2020 release ‘Taobh le Taobh’, as well as recent successes at the Pan Celtic and Oireachtas Song Contests, the duo were spurred on to record this new album which represents many years of their artistic development.

The album Features Niall and Padraic on commanding vocals, exquisite harmonies, and well married acoustic guitars, Maidhc O’hÉanaigh on double bass and a deft Neil Fitzgibbon on fiddle. Their catchy title track ‘What Will We Be’ features contributions from percussion wizard Jim Higgins (The Stunning, Christy Moore, Paul Brady) and haunting, driving melodies on vocals, guitar, and fiddle. There are touching themes of love and hope threaded throughout the track ‘Come Away with Me’ which features a beautiful interplay between piano and fiddle as well as rich vocal harmonies.

People, places, and broken dreams are celebrated and lamented on the tracks; ‘Martin and Tom’, ‘Guitar Gold ‘, ‘Memories of You‘ and ‘Achill Island’. The influence of David Henry Thoreau’s novel ‘Walden‘ looms large on the tracks ‘Simple and Wise‘ and ‘Walden‘, with the beauty of nature, escape and simple pleasures at their core. The album moves seamlessly from minimalistic folk ballads such as ‘Galway Ghost’ to swirling, string-laden arrangements on the song ‘Neptune‘, both influenced by maritime tales from Galway. Throughout the album each small scene, each line has been thoughtfully painted both lyrically and melodically, resulting in a rich and beautiful acoustic sound. Much of the albums collaborative work and development was supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, including work with musical arranger Eoin Corcoran and the string ensemble ‘Treo’.

Recorded at Paddy Jordan Recording Studio, Labane, ‘What Will We Be’ is available from March 24^th.

A tour marking the release of ‘What Will We Be’ commences on March 30^th at Matt Molloy’s, Westport, March 31^st at Saint Thomas’s Church, Dugort, Achill followed by Kilworth Community Centre, Cork on April 20^th, and a very special Galway performance at An Taibhdhearc with string ensemble ‘Treo’ on May 19^th. Shows also at Dodd’s bar folk club, Boyle on October 5^th, Saint John’s Theatre Listowel on October 27th and Sea Church, Ballycotton, Cork October 28^th.

“The sound is absolutely beautiful, melodic and beautiful, I’m blown away” (Keith Finnegan, Galway Bay FM).

“Gifted singers and musicians and really great songwriters” (Sharon Shannon)