Neil Burns

On the first album released under his own name, Golden Sunsets, Derry/Donegal-based composer/songwriter/pianist Neil Burns, gets to the heart of his practice. It finds him juggling songwriting, arranging and improvisation in a cinematic, evocative and nostalgic sonic journey. Invoking chamber music, jazz, suave tango and sultry Bossa, it's brought to life by a stellar ensemble with horns and strings, featuring superlative musicians including the Henry Girls, Meilana Gillard, Laura McFadden and Thom Gill. He launched it with a full 13-piece ensemble at Brilliant Corners festival in Belfast last year. He is set to perform at the Earagail Arts Festival this summer.

It is the culmination of years of songwriting (previously as Comrade Hat), as a collaborator with other artists (Victoria Geelan, Velvet Alibi, Great White Lies), as a Classically-trained composer with a PhD in composition and a veteran choral director/arranger/accompanist (Inishowen Gospel Choir, Inishowen Trad Choir).