Stuart Balie's book "Trouble Songs" to receive film treatment

The book Trouble Songs - Music and Conflict in Northern Ireland by Stuart Balie is being brought to the screen as a documentary.

Trouble Songs, which was released in May 2018 won #2 Music Book of The Year by Hot Press.

The book explores how musicians reacted to the conflict and violence that occurred in Northern Ireland in the twentieth century, featuring songs from The Cranberries, Paul McCartney and Sinead O'Connor.

The documentary is to be directed by Vinny Cunningham who has released documentaries about The Troubles before such as Teenage Kicks: The Undertones, Squaddies on the Frontline and Battle of the Bogside.

Filming has already gone underway with 15 interviews already filmed, including ones with Christy Moore, Jake Burns of The Stiff Little Fingers, John O'Neill of The Undertones and activist and writer Anne Devlin.

"The film prospects are exciting,” says Stuart Bailie. “The interviews are intense and revealing. We’re now working on a short edit of Trouble Songs to take to the film industry ... We’re also talking to young artists like Touts and Susie Blue and discovering that the era of Trouble Songs is far from over.”

“I’m delighted to be involved in developing this important documentary," says Vinny Cunningham. " Most of my past film work has been archive-based and has included some music from Northern Ireland. This film marries the two and I’m excited to see it move forward.”

It has received support from the Northern Ireland Screen under their Feature Documentary Development scheme.

Release of the film is to be announced.

You can order Trouble Songs  on their website and on Amazon.