Kingfishr on James Bay: “He’s an honest to god saint”

Speaking to Hot Press as part of their cover story interview, Kingfishr have revealed that James Bay provided vital support in the run-up to the release of their chart-topping debut album, Halcyon – with frontman Eddie Keogh describing him as "an honest to god saint."

"We were nervous about releasing our first album and James spent hours talking to us about the anxiety he’d felt in the same situation, and the whole mental health side of things," Eddie continued. "He was like, ‘It’s all part of the game.’ To have the support of people like that means the world to us.”

Elsewhere in the interview – which is available to read in full in the current issue of Hot Press – Eddie, reflecting on Kingfishr's early days, praised Dermot Kennedy, who the trio opened for in Limerick's Thomond Park back in 2023.

“Dermot was so good taking us on for those shows," he said. "He’s ramped it up now with his Misneach festivals in Sydney and Boston but he’s always supported other Irish artists.

"We’ve been really lucky – a couple of the Kodaline lads have also reached out, Gavin James, Snow Patrol. Just by being in the same space as them, you’re picking things up all the time.”

Kingfishr Live at the Docklands on August 22nd, 2025. Copyright Trevor McGrath/ hotpress.com

Fresh from their impressive chart double, and their packed-out set on Electric Picnic's Main Stage, Kingfishr are gearing up for a major run of shows over the months ahead – including dates at Dublin's 3Arena (December 18 & 19), Dublin's St Anne's Park (June 5), Belfast's SSE Arena (June 8 & 9), Cork's Virgin Media Park (June 11 & 12), and Dublin's Malahide Castle (June 13).

Kingfishr's Hot Press cover story also finds the band discussing meeting at university, being proud of our culture, drunken shenanigans, the power of music and what they've learned from The Boss...

The full interview is available to read in the current issue of Hot Press, out now.