The Fureys - legends of Irish music & song - are Belfast-bound with a special showcase concert at the Waterfront Hall on Friday 5 January.
Co-founders, Eddie and George Furey, have captivated international audiences across six decades with their unmistakeable and emotive music, with songs like I Will Love You, When You Were Sweet 16, Red Rose Café, Leaving Nancy and From Clare to Here becoming a soundtrack to the lives of generations of fans.
Today, The Fureys remain one of the most prolific bands on the live circuit and show no signs of slowing down. What inspires Eddie and George Furey to keep going, which songs are they most proud of and what is their favourite music by other artists? Eddie and George reveal all...
What motivates you to keep going and play so many live shows?
Eddie: “I am still having a great time singing and playing music and will continue for as long as my health stays good.”
George: “The friends and fans we made that have followed us over so many years, they are the people that keep bringing us back. We love playing concerts and music keeps us young.”
What do you like best about playing Belfast?
Eddie: “That’s easy. There’s great craic around the old pubs in Belfast and we love talking to the people after the shows.”
George: “We have been coming to this beautiful city for many years, playing our music, singing our songs with (local) musicians, storytellers, singers and comedians and of course meeting many people that became great friends of ours over the years.”
Of all the songs you have written over the years, which are you most proud of?
Eddie: “The Flowers in the Valley. At the time I was in San Francisco with The Clancy Brothers and it was the time of flower power and peace and love, which appealed to me.”
George: “There are so many, but I’d have to say ‘Dublin,’ a song I co-wrote while on tour in Germany in 1980 which reminded me of home.”
Favourite music artist or band?
Eddie: “The Beatles. They wrote so many great songs about life - what a band.”
George: “Elvis Presley. He could sing all kinds of songs and I never heard a bad one from him. That’s why he is called The King.”
If you could have chosen any music artist to work with, who would it have been?
Eddie: “Gerry Rafferty - he wrote fantastic songs over the years such as Baker Street and Liam Clancy - a great poet, actor, singer and storyteller.”
George: “Bruce Springsteen, because he has been a great influence on musicians and written great songs.”
If you could compile your own Greatest Hits album of songs by other artists, what would be on it?
Eddie:
Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues); Another Suitcase in Another Hall (Barbara Dickson); Piano Man (Billy Joel); Catch the Wind (Donovan); Shoals of Herring (Liam Clancy); Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan); Goodnight Irene (Pete Seeger); Yesterday (The Beatles); Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty); A Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris De Burgh).
George:
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Julie Covington); Blinded by the Light (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band); Imagine (John Lennon); Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell); Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley); The Carnival is Over (The Seekers); The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot); I Drove All Night (Roy Orbison); All You Need is Love (The Beatles); You’re My World (Cilla Black); Your Wildest Dream (The Moody Blues); Ruby Tuesday (Rolling Stones).
The Fureys will take their fans on a compelling journey through all their own legendary classics at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on Friday 5th January.
Tickets are available at www.waterfront.co.uk
Ends
For more information and to request an interview contact:
Nicholas Sadlier
T: 07926 527700
The Fureys management:
Joe McCadden
T: 0035387 2579019