John Blek

Always poetic, always melodic, always entertaining — Julie Williams-Nash, Folk and Tumble (on John's 2023 album Until the Rivers Run Dry)

His talent is shining brighter with every album — John Creedon, RTÉ

We are excited to welcome Irish singer-songwriter John Blek to the Book Tree as part of his busy tour for his new album, Cheer Up, which will be released on the 6th of September!

John is a fantastic musician, influenced by a varied mix of styles from the traditional folk of Ireland, Britain and the US, to alt. country, to folk-informed pop. His music is emotionally resonant, transporting the listener with his timeless voice, fingerstyle guitar and stories often inspired by the many places he's visited on tour.

Drinks will be available to purchase at an informal bar before the show and during the interval. The concert will be in our atmospheric upstairs performance space, surrounded by the building's old oak beams.

Doors will open from 7pm, and the performance will start at 7.30pm.

About the Album:

Cheer Up is the deeply personal and beautifully written new long player from Ireland’s best kept songwriting secret John Blek.

With no sign of letting up the ever prolific and masterful John Blek brings us his ninth studio album. Cheer Up is a powerful reflection on the singer/songwriter’s life. Lyrically demonstrating his personal growth while sonically showing his musical evolution. To some this may seem like a stylistic departure to others it’s the natural next step. 

The album features performances from Dutch three piece harmony group Woolf and the Dresden based Broken Strings. It was recorded at Wavefield Recordings, Clonakilty, Co. Cork and was co-produced with John’s regular collaborator Brian Casey.

You can read the full description on John's website. Scroll down to hear a sample of his music (The City Sleeps, which is from the album Digressions #3 – In Dresden, recorded with The Broken Strings). This page on John's website includes a selection of his music videos. 

About the Musician:

John Blek is an original folk songwriter from Cork, Ireland. Best known for his work with his band John Blek & the Rats, John has begun a new journey influenced by the folk music of Ireland, Britain and the US. With his solo work, he delves into the world of fingerstyle guitar and reveals the deeply personal and poignant lyrical aspects of his character.

Find out more:

Follow John on Facebook and Instagram

Listen to John’s music on Spotify or YouTube

Listening to gems of songs such as Once in a While, Restless Sea, Raven’s Cry, Lyric & Air, Come Undone, the sublime closing track, Floating Aimlessly, and the rest ... you might wonder why on earth Blek remains one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets — Tony Clayton-Lea, The Irish Times (on John's 2023 album Until the Rivers Run Dry)