Folk maestro Davie Furey is back with the compelling Haunted Streets, the follow-up to his well-received 2015 debut Easy Come Easy Go. Notably the stellar array of guest talent on the record features the likes of The Waterboys’ Steve Wickham, The High Kings’ Darren Holden, ELLYD, Susan O’Neill, Clare Sands, Robbie Campion and more.

When Hot Press catches up with Furey to discuss his latest opus, the singer - like many of his peers currently - admits to missing the buzz of live performance.

“Gigging is the lifeblood of any musician,” says Davie. “But I’m not going to allow the prospect of touring into my head, it’s not on my radar.”

Throughout the pandemic, the lack of control over this vitally important element of their craft has been an enormous strain on artists. Still, Davie is maintaining a pragmatic approach.

“Planning for a tour would cost too much time and money when we don’t know what’s going on yet,” he says. “Hopefully the vaccinations will be rolled out fast and people can be safe. Right now, the most important thing is that we just take care of each other.

“As hard as it is that artists can’t play for audiences - we’re all taking a bad hit financially - what can you do except look out for others? There’s plenty of people who are worse off than me, especially when you think about what ICU nurses are going through.”

Turning to Haunted Streets itself, Furey’s lyrics prove to be more powerful than ever.  From anti-Trump protest song ‘Flames On The River’ to the poignant ‘Who Am I’, the singer explores a fascinating array of subject matter.

“‘Who Am I’ is one of the most personal tracks on the album, and it asks a fundamental question,” Davie explains. “Good and bad things happen to everyone, it’s all part of the circle of life, but it affects how our character develops. It’s more of a conversation with myself rather than anything else - a form of ‘self-dramatisation’ as John Cooper Clarke calls it.

“I’ve seen reviews of the track that have their own interpretations, but who am I to tell someone how to connect with it? The title, Haunted Streets, has its origins in that song, and it reflects the album more than any other track. Then there’s ‘The Ghost In Me’, which reflects on my father’s passing 18 years ago. Sometimes memories like those come into your head and inspire a song - I’m very grateful when that happens.”

The range of guests on the album, meanwhile, contributes to its eclectic feel.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw on the album artwork that we had 15 musicians,” says Davie. “I’m not going to say who my favourite was to work with, because I’d get in an awful lot of trouble! It was incredible to work with them over the space of three or four years. The one thing I asked them to do was to bring their own spirit to the song.

“I didn’t ask them to sing in this key or to vocalise these notes; it was totally a matter of trust. As a solo artist, it’s a lovely experience. We were touring in between, and then you’d have to wait to get everybody in the studio at the right time, but I was in no rush to finish the album. There was no hard work involved at all, except getting the money to pay for it.”

Though live shows are on the back-burner for the time being, Furey’s gigs are notable for the bond he forges with the audience, a process he enjoys.

“I love the connection with the crowd, meeting them afterwards and having a chat,” Davie enthuses. “We played a gig on our last Irish tour and there was an 87-year-old man there from Newcastle. I sang ‘Presidents And Ghosts’ about the Great Irish Hunger and the emigration period, and it was his first time back in Donegal in many years.

“His father had left the county, but his grandfather had lived through the Famine. The man was nearly in tears, telling me about his ancestral history. There are loads of little stories like that from the live shows which are really important to me as a musician. The words are powerful on their own - I’m just there to sing the lyrics.”

Historical events have provided Furey with a lot of creative inspiration.

“I think my love for writing about the past comes from when I picked up the guitar at the age of 15,” he reflects. “I was really into folk ballads and songs about battles in Ireland, fairs and markets around the nation. I’ve always respected how John B. Keane wrote about the countryside and the stories that the land holds. There’s a huge amount of tales out there to be heard.

“I believe a record needs a mixture of personal experiences and stories that don’t relate to you. It’s nice to reflect on things happening in the wider world that affect everyone, not just you.”

With no tour dates on the horizon, Davie has a unique opportunity to focus entirely on promoting Haunted Streets. The album may offer exactly the type of escape people crave in these uncertain times.

“Whatever the audience gain from the record is really up to themselves,” says Davie. “I just hope they connect with the songs and they bring some light relief - a sense of solace or calmness. That’s the best you can hope for in a time like this. As much as I miss the gigs, there’s no point in wasting my energy lamenting why I can’t perform.

“I just have to make the most of this time for the craft - and write as many songs as I can.”

• Haunted Streets is out now.