It looks like it's going to be a great year for Martin Rafferty and The Northern City Lights. They created quite a stir in 2017 with the release of his 5-track debut “Last Brigade EP”.
Having already fulfilled a dream by recording in the historic Studio 3 at London’s Abbey Road Studios, the debut EP was recorded at Manor Park Studio, Co. Antrim in conjunction with producer Neal Calderwood and EP tracks have already gained serious rotation on 200+ US radio stations.
It has been licensed by 20 major TV networks such as FOX, ESPN, E! Television, Discovery, National Geographic, NASCAR and Spike, and blasted out in big US sports arenas throughout the USA in 2017.

The new single 'The Way We Used To Be; was written by Martin as an apology to his girlfriend at the time, telling the story of them arguing, breaking up and getting back together again, and dealing with the frustration that anything he would ever do could not seemingly improve their relationship.

In the past two years, Martin Rafferty & The Northern City Lights have toured colleges, clubs and festivals across the USA (including one memorable show where they wowed more than 20,000 fans at the Rock The Fort Festival in El Paso, Texas), rocked the MTV Festival in Belfast and headlined venues such as London’s O2 Islington Academy, Proud Galleries (Camden) and Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, home to so many of Martin’s beloved Beatles’ early gigs.
Martin, who is from Armagh, tells us, “I want to reach the people that live for the weekend and surround themselves with all of their mates to celebrate life. My songs are generally about feeling frustrated by the establishment, about relationships, the working class and unemployment, but I want to deliver something positive out of it all and send a message of hope that is uplifting to peoples’ everyday lives.”
They've just announce confirmed the following UK & Irish live shows:
Sun 11 February Llandudno – Venue Cymru
Sat 24 February London – Camden Rocks at Nightclub Kolis N19
Sat 17 March Whitchurch – Percy's Cafe Bar
Sun 18 March Manchester – Fab Cafe
Tue 20 March London – The Bedford
Wed 21 March Derby – The Victoria Inn
Thu 22 March Hertford – Dog And Whistle
Fri 23 March London – 229 Club
Sat 24 March Newcastle-Under-Lyme – The Freebird
Sun 25 March Mansfield – The Diamond
Thu 29 March London – Dublin Castle
Fri 30 March Newcastle-Upon-Tyne – The Exchange
Sat 28 April Armagh City – The Northern Bar
Sun 27 May Sudbury (Suffolk) - LeeStock Festival
Thu 21 June Dublin – The Workmans Club
Sat 25 August Llandudno – TVWStock Music Festival