TEEN BLUES SENSATION
MUIREANN BRADLEY
SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS’
AHEAD OF RE-RELEASING ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM
I KEPT THESE OLD BLUES 28th FEBRUARY 2025
Credit Ethan Porter
“A softly assured trailblazer who enraptures all who come across her work…
“‘I Kept These Old Blues’ is a disarmingly energetic salute to those blues innovators”
Clash Magazine
“Seldom have these familiar pieces been executed with the verve and grace, as well as the skill, of this young Irishwoman”
★★★★
MOJO
“Much like how Laufey has brought Jazz standards to Gen Z, we can see Muireann being a torchbearer for Blues and bringing a new generation to the genre”
Record of the Day
“To describe her as a guitarist is like describing Picasso as someone who dabbled in a bit of drawing”
Blues In Britain
“Listening to the Irish teenager is like being transported back in time to the heyday of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald or Nina Simone”
★★★★⯪
The Sun
18-year-old Irish musician Muireann Bradley is today sharing her new single in the form of ‘When The Levee Breaks’, a country blues song by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy originally released in 1929. Muireann performed the track on The Late Late Show and wowed her fellow guests, Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott (watch the performance and interview here). She also enchanted crowds at this summer’s Green Man Festival, opening the main stage on the final day (see ‘When The Levee Breaks’ for their session series here).
“When The Levee Breaks is probably my favourite tune to perform live” says Muireann. “Memphis Minnie is one of my biggest heroes and I love her guitar picking on that record. The arrangement I play is a tribute to the playing of another one of my heroes, the great Philadelphia pre-war blues revivalist and teacher Ari Eisinger, who has been undoubtedly one of the strongest influences on my playing.”
A remarkable talent hailing from the small town of Ballybofey in County Donegal, Muireann’s unique style blends traditional Blues stylings with personal and mature interpretations of classic songs from the genre, originally recorded in the 1920s right up to the 70s. Muireann’s journey from playing in her bedroom to performing on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny last year (watch here) has captivated audiences, establishing her as one of Ireland’s brightest emerging stars. Now, she is poised for a global breakout; watch a brilliant overview of her story to date here. Fans can pre-order the release here, and listen to ‘When The Levee Breaks’ here.
‘When The Levee Breaks’ is a previously unheard addition to her acclaimed debut album ‘I Kept These Old Blues’, which is being re-released on the 28th February 2025 via Decca / Verve Label Group. Now remixed and remastered by Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Kevin Reeves, ‘I Kept These Old Blues’ demonstrates the kind of assuredness and skill to be expected of a musician five times her age, on blues standards such as Blind Blake’s ‘Police Dog Blues’ as well as Rev Gary Davis’s ‘Candyman’.
Each track was recorded live in the studio and represents one entire take of her singing and playing guitar simultaneously, with most of the final masters being either first or second takes. Not only does this highlight her immense skill, it also reflects the authentic recording styles of the era these classics were originally recorded. The first pressing sold out everywhere and is already regarded as a collectible among in-the-know music fans – truly remarkable given Bradley was just 15 years old when she recorded it.
‘I KEPT THESE OLD BLUES’ WILL BE RELEASED DIGITALLY AND PHYSICALLY
28th FEBRUARY 2025 – PREORDER HERE