On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Junior Brother, songwriter, musician, and one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music today. From a quiet upbringing in rural Kerry, where music wasn’t always front and centre, to carving out a singular path through Ireland’s alternative folk scene, Ronan Keeley’s journey is one shaped by curiosity, instinct, and a deep connection to place. What began with a “crappy little guitar” and a lot of imagination has grown into a body of work that’s both rooted in tradition and boldly experimental. His debut album earned a Choice Music Prize nomination and marked him out as an artist doing things very much on his own terms, uncompromising, expressive, and unafraid to follow his instincts. But it was in leaving home, and looking back from a distance, that his songwriting really began to take shape, drawing on rural landscapes, memory, and a sense of belonging. We talk about finding your own voice, literally and figuratively, the influence of artists like Damien Dempsey, and why singing in your own accent became such a defining part of his sound. There’s also plenty on his latest album The End, a record shaped by isolation, folklore, and the strange, beautiful idea of being led astray only to find your way home again. It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about creativity, identity, and staying true to your path, even when it takes you somewhere unexpected.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Junior Brother.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Philpott, songwriter, musician, author, and founder of both Rubyhorse and the White Horse Guitar Club, a Cork artist whose story spans ambition, burnout, reinvention, and rediscovery. From forming Rubyhorse as teenagers in Bishopstown, Co. Cork to chasing the dream across America, Joe’s journey took him from local gigs to major label deals, billboard success, and appearances on US late night television. Along the way life on the road brought its own challenges. After years of touring coast to coast, navigating the collapse of the music industry, and living what Joe describes as an “outlaw existence”, the cracks began to show and he eventually stepped away. What followed was not an exit from music, but a transformation. Joe immersed himself in music and healthcare across Europe, working in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, palliative care, and community programmes, rediscovering music not as business, but as a service. That philosophy now runs through everything he does, including the White Horse Guitar Club, a collective built less on ambition and more on connection, presence, and shared experience. We also talk about his memoir, All Roads Lead to Where You’re From: Bishopstown to the Beatles, written after a doctor’s warning forced him to slow down and reassess. Whether discussing the influence of John Prine, or reflecting on advice he’d give his younger self, Joe speaks with the hard earned clarity of someone who’s lived the highs and survived the troughs. Join us as we talk about American dreams, Cork roots, George Harrison’s generosity, walking away at the right time, falling back in love with music, and why sometimes the most extraordinary things grow from the most ordinary beginnings.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Joe Philpott

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Ron Sexsmith, Canadian singer, songwriter, master melodist, and one of the most quietly revered writers of his generation. From discovering a dusty box of records under his family stereo as a child, from doo-wop, Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly’s It Doesn’t Matter Anymore. Ron’s lifelong relationship with song began early. That Buddy Holly record, in particular, ignited something profound: melody, mortality, and the magic of songwriting all colliding at once. From there came The Beatles, The Kinks, Elton John, country music, Leonard Cohen and, ultimately, Gordon Lightfoot, the songwriter who showed him that you didn’t have to be a rock star to move people.

You could just stand still and sing the truth. We talk about the moment everything changed at 21, when becoming a father sparked a songwriting frenzy that led to Speak with the Angel and set his career in motion. Ron reflects on finding his own voice over time, a voice fully realised by the time of Retriever, and the craft behind his songs: the structural worries, the demoing process, knowing when a lyric has said enough, and why he still believes in the album as a complete, living statement. We also dive into his fiercely independent “no co-writing” rule for his own records, his deep admiration for writers like Ray Davies and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

From touring relentlessly to curating deeply personal tribute shows to Gordon Lightfoot and Warren Zevon, Ron remains as devoted to the song as ever, whether it’s his own or one he carries entirely from memory, lyric for lyric, as part of what he jokingly calls his “savant” superpower.

Join us as we talk to Ron about melody, memory, songwriting discipline, album-making, missed label opportunities, and the thread that runs through a body of work spanning decades, a songwriter growing older, wiser, and still chasing the perfect song.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Ron Sexsmith.

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Photo Credit: Kerry Vergeer

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Marky Ramone, drummer, songwriter, and former member of one of the most influential bands in music history, the Ramones. Emerging from the gritty punk scene of 1970s New York, the Ramones helped redefine rock music with their fast, loud, and unapologetically direct sound. As a key member of the band during both their classic and later years, Marky was behind the kit on some of their most celebrated recordings and relentless world tours, helping to cement the Ramones reputation as one of the greatest live bands of all time. Their legacy was later recognised with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, acknowledging their lasting impact on generations of artists and fans. Beyond the Ramones, Marky’s musical journey has included time with bands such as Dust and Richard Hell and the Voidoids, as well as a lifelong dedication to drumming, touring, and keeping punk rock’s spirit alive. He’s also the author of the memoir Punk Rock Blitzkrieg, where he tells the story of his life in music. Join us as we talk to Marky about the raw early days at CBGB’s, meeting Jimi Hendrix as a teenager, life on the road with the Ramones, the challenges and triumphs of staying sober in the middle of chaos, and the deep friendships that shaped the band, as well as his ongoing mission to keep the Ramones music alive for future generations, including his upcoming Dublin show where fans can expect a full throttle, 35-song Ramones set, played exactly as it was meant to be heard.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Marky Ramone

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Craig Finn, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and frontman of the acclaimed indie rock band The Hold Steady. Raised in Minnesota and now based in New York City, Craig first made his mark leading the ’90s Minneapolis indie outfit Lifter Puller, before forming The Hold Steady in 2003. With his band’s rich blend of rock driven guitar work and vivid, character centric storytelling, they quickly earned critical acclaim and a loyal global fanbase across nine studio albums. Craig’s lyrical style, dense, evocative, and deeply human has made him one of rock’s most compelling voices of his generation. Beyond his work with The Hold Steady, Craig has built a strong solo career, releasing a run of acclaimed albums, most recently Always Been, where his narrative songwriting is brought to the forefront through carefully crafted songs. This January, Craig performs at Whelan’s in Dublin on the 27th, offering audiences a chance to experience his storytelling and songs up close in a venue that has long been at the heart of Dublin city’s live music scene. Join us as we talk to Craig about his journey from Minneapolis to New York, the evolution of his songwriting, his life in music with The Hold Steady and as a solo artist, and what keeps him inspired on the road and in the studio.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you, Craig Finn.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Mark Shaw, vocalist, songwriter, and frontman of the acclaimed British band Then Jerico. Formed in London in the mid 80s, Then Jerico became known for their emotive rock sound, soaring melodies, and electrifying live performances. With Mark’s distinctive voice and heartfelt songwriting at the centre of it all, the band delivered iconic tracks such as “Big Area,” “The Motive,” and “Sugar Box,” earning both chart success and a devoted fanbase across the UK and beyond. Following the band’s original run, Mark has continued to write and perform, both with Then Jerico in various incarnations and as a solo artist. His ongoing work reflects a deep commitment to honest, passionate music making, connecting with fans old and new while carrying forward the spirit that made the band a defining voice of their era. Join us as we talk to Mark about the early days of Then Jerico, the making of those unforgettable songs, his evolution as an artist, and the creative journey that continues to drive him today.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Mark Shaw.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Mark Kermode. Film critic, broadcaster, author, and lifelong musician. Widely regarded as one of the most respected and passionate voices in contemporary cinema, Mark has spent decades shaping how audiences engage with film through his broadcasting, writing, and criticism. Known for his honesty, insight, wit, and infectious enthusiasm, he has championed cinema in all its forms. Alongside his work in film, Mark has never not been in a band, maintaining a constant connection to music throughout his life, from "The Dodge Brothers" to the "The Gang of Three", bringing the same energy, curiosity, and commitment to the stage that defines his work in broadcasting and writing. Join us as we talk to Mark about his journey as a film critic, a lifetime spent in bands, the relationship between music and cinema, and his enduring love for performance in all its forms.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Mark Kermode.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Paul Cleary, vocalist, songwriter, and frontman of the legendary Dublin City band The Blades. Formed in the late 1970s, The Blades became one of the most beloved bands to emerge from Ireland’s post-punk and new wave era. Known for their sharp songwriting, Dublin storytelling, and undeniable energy, the band earned a devoted following with classic tracks such as “Ghost of a Chance,” “Hot for You,” and “Downmarket.” With Paul’s instantly recognisable voice and street-level poetry at the centre of it all, The Blades created songs that captured a time, a place, and a generation. Following the band’s original run, Paul has continued to write and perform, releasing solo material and revisiting The Blades’ catalogue through occasional reunions and live performances that remain as powerful and relevant as ever. His work stands as a vital chapter in the story of Irish music, influencing countless artists who followed. Join us as we talk to Paul about the early Dublin scene, the rise and legacy of The Blades, the stories behind those iconic songs, and his enduring love for music and songwriting. Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Paul Cleary

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