Danny Burns – Southern Sky Album Release

Danny Burns, an Irishman with a deep passion for music, has spent his life crafting songs that pulse through his veins, with fiddles and dobros driving his rich storytelling through infectious melodies and soaring harmonies.

Born and raised in Donegal, Ireland, his unique blend of Bluegrass, Country, Celtic, and folk music has captured the attention of some of Americana’s biggest names, many of whom have joined him on various projects. On Friday, August 22, Danny Burns will release his nine-track LP Southern Sky (Bonfire Recording),  continuing his tradition of merging his Irish heritage with the musical spirit of the American South.

Southern Sky features a multitude of musical titans — Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, and Ricky Skaggs to name a few — all contributing to the exceptional sound that Burns strives for. “I try to bring in as many talented folks into the studios as possible,” Burns says. “I hope the fans enjoy the journey of these songs and all the sounds and people it takes to make these songs come to life — it takes a village.” Inspired by the textures of the south, Burns compares the theme of the project to the feeling of listening to “Southern Nights” by Allen Toussaint, where the storytelling traditions of Appalachia meet the twang of the Deep South.

The project has already gained significant attention, with its lead single, “Blue Ridge Blue” (released February 12), quickly climbing to #2 on the Bluegrass Today chart and reaching #1 on Bluegrass Today’s Grassicana charts. SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction has shown particular interest, making it one of the most played tracks on the channel. Written by Jim Beavers, “Blue Ridge Blue” serves as an anthem for travelers, capturing the bittersweet mix of longing for home while embracing the excitement of new adventures. The track features the talents of Sam Bush and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, whose mandolin and fiddle work together to evoke the sounds of Appalachia, blending the spirit of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a sense of comfort and familiarity.

For the first two decades of his career, Burns honed his craft as a traveling folk singer, sharing the musical traditions of his native Ireland across the United States and captivating audiences with a tapestry of stories and melodies. “Growing up surrounded by Irish traditional music, fiddle tunes, banjo sounds, and other folk instruments is definitely in my DNA,” Burns reflects. Music was always a constant in his life, flowing from the pubs and homes of Ireland, steeped in the rich heritage of a people with countless stories to sing.

Danny Burns’ 2019 debut album North Country garnered acclaim from leading outlets like Rolling Stone, CMT, American Songwriter, Billboard, and No Depression. The transatlantic folk record marked the beginning of Burns’s tradition of collaborating with top-tier talent, featuring contributions from renowned artists such as Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, and Critter Fuqua. Accompanied by a major North American tour, the album set the stage for Burns’s rising momentum, which was only just beginning.

In 2021, Burns released Hurricane, a critically acclaimed EP that featured collaborations with Sarah Jarosz, Jerry Douglas, and Sam Bush. One of the standout tracks was a unique Irish-mariachi version of Steve Earle’s classic “Mercenary Song,” featuring the legendary Earle himself. The accompanying music video, shot at the iconic Dead Rabbit in NYC, received heavy airplay on CMT. In 2022, Burns followed up with Promised Land, an album that reimagined popular songs as folk and bluegrass hybrids, including an Americana rendition of an Adele song featuring Tim O’Brien. This track marked Burns’s first #1 on the Grassicana charts, paving the way for even greater successes to come. The project also included a rootsy rendition of Mindy

Smith’s country and Americana song “Come to Jesus,” featuring Sam Bush, which held the #1 spot on the Gospel Bluegrass radio chart for thirteen weeks.

As an artist deeply rooted in tradition, Burns has mastered the art of creating powerful connections through heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies. He approaches songwriting with a cinematic vision, imagining stories like movies in his mind and translating them into music through instruments and microphones. Whether hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains or wandering the rolling hills of the Irish countryside, Burns uses his pen and his voice to share the cultures that have shaped him. With a powerhouse of legendary musicians by his side, Danny Burns is unstoppable in his mission to spread his music far and wide.

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