News
24 October 2026 – Muireann Bradley Releases Blackwood Pew and Steps Beyond Her Reputation as a Teenage Blues Prodigy
By Editorial Team - October 24, 2026
Summary
Irish fingerstyle blues guitarist Muireann Bradley releases six-track EP Blackwood Pew via Fontana/Verve Forecast, highlighting her original songwriting voice.
Key Facts
- Irish fingerpicked blues virtuoso Muireann Bradley releases six-track EP 'Blackwood Pew'.
- Title instrument constructed from reclaimed 200-year-old church pew Australian blackwood.
- Includes original compositions alongside a cover of Daniel Johnston's 'True Love Will Find You in the End'.
- Entities: Muireann Bradley, Fontana Records, Verve Forecast, Daniel Johnston, Rough Trade East, Stone Nest, Take Root Festival, Groningen, London
- Tags: muireann-bradley, blackwood-pew, fontana-records, verve-forecast, blues, fingerpicking, irish-music, daniel-johnston
Irish fingerpicking guitarist and singer Muireann Bradley has released her new six-track EP, Blackwood Pew, through Fontana Records and Verve Forecast. Following her breakthrough debut I Kept These Old Blues, which established her extraordinary command of Piedmont and Delta blues traditions, the new collection emphasizes her development as a standalone songwriter.
The EP's evocative title stems from a custom acoustic guitar gifted to Bradley, crafted from reclaimed Australian blackwood once part of a two-hundred-year-old church pew. Alongside original compositions such as "Dancing on My Grave", "Clementine", and "Not Going Back", the record features a tender interpretation of Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You in the End".
Bradley's nuanced fingerpicking and commanding vocal presence avoid nostalgic pastiche, demonstrating a vital, contemporary artist actively conversing with musical history. Autumn tour stops include London's Rough Trade East on October 25, Stone Nest on November 13, and the prestigious Take Root festival in Groningen on November 7.
Technical virtuosity is remarkable, but developing an indelible creative voice is what truly defines a lifelong career. Explore more acoustic blues and folk virtuosity in our folk section and browse daily coverage in our news archive.