Musician, songwriter and expert storyteller John "JP" Lynch is slated to hit the Sugar Club stage on February 24th in support of his 2021 album City Stars.

The Hot Press MIX graduate will launch the album officially after working with Kila's Colm O'Snodaigh, Peter Eades and Larry Hogan on the project. The trio also played their instruments on the album itself.

City Stars was recorded remotely during the March 2020 lockdown using the limited technology available and a bit of innovation.

"Like everyone else at the start of 2020, I found myself in a roadblock when I first tried to approach a full-time music career," Lynch tells Hot Press. "You could say the lockdown put a dampener on the plans. It did, but the work was there. Colm, Peter and Larry were available, and we all had the time. Where there’s a curse, there is also a blessing."

Leicestershire actor/musician Niall McNamee has since contacted John and is now lined up to open the show on his behalf.

Having worked away from home for many years, John returned to Dublin in 2019 – and began focusing on his music career, writing and performing live. Like countless other emerging artists, however, his efforts were upended by the arrival of the global pandemic.

"With no live venues open, it was hard to get into the ears of an audience with my original work," John concedes. "I’ve always been a fan of Irish folk music. In my performances up to 2020, I usually played the Irish and British folk songs I collected over the years in my own style, but the ambition to perform my own material won out the battle of wits. Rather than dream it, I pushed it into reality."

Undeterred, he continued on writing and recording his debut album, City Stars - a collection of ten tracks about modern life in Ireland and the world, through the familiar storytelling of folk music. Following a string of promising singles last year, John Lynch returned with 'The Wind At Your Back', taken from the project.

Combining a contemporary touch with the spirit of the ballads he learned while growing up in Dublin, John guides the audience on an emotional journey down through the years and back again. Get your tickets for his Sugar Club show here.

Stream City Stars below: