Kirk McElhinney releases new album

Rochdale singer songwriter Kirk McElhinney

Rochdale singer songwriter Kirk McElhinney has released a new album.

The former St Cuthbert’s pupil has received plaudits for his World Gone Blind album, which was recorded at Limefield Studios in Manchester.

Despite having travelled as far as India and Australia to play music, Kirk says his home town influenced him.

“The town influenced me, definitely. Hanging round the streets and getting up to no good, yeah, I think that comes out in some of my songs.”

“I’ve been playing for twenty-odd years now. It just started from listening to The Beatles and then the musicians at the time really.

"I can’t remember the first tune I wrote but I remember it being really bad. I’m certainly a lot more confident in my writing now.”

Going on to support the likes of Nick Harper and Desmond Decker, Kirk’s sound has developed but he still isn’t quite sure how to describe it.

“Nitin Sawhney described my sound as a 'melting pot of sonic bliss'. I don’t really think about my sound or anything like that. I just play whatever sounds good to me.”

In addition to these artists, Kirk also supported legendary guitarist and songwriter Bernt Jansch, a man he described as his ‘guru’.

“He’s a great songwriter, a pure craftsman, and his guitar playing is out of this world. I used to go see him all the time. I used to travel around: wherever he was I used to go.

“It was like my education. That was my schooling. I’d come away thinking and remembering shapes and chords and everything. Yeah, he was a massive influence. I’ve been lucky enough to have supported him a few times and got to play with him, which was surreal.”

World Gone Blind was launched at Band on the Wall in Manchester on 9 January and when asked what his plans for the album were, Kirk was clear in his ambition:  “Jools Holland and beyond. That’s the plan. I just want to get gigging with it and see what happens really.”

World Gone Blind is available to buy on iTunes now and once confirmed the tour dates will be available on Kirk’s website:

www.kirkmcelhinney.com