Irish singer-songwriter McGrath (Mick Russell) is a Donegal-born, Belfast-based artist whose music draws together Irish storytelling, folk, country and a willingness to venture into more experimental territory. After building his early experience performing locally, McGrath has quickly moved onto increasingly prominent stages, including support appearances with George Ezra, Jack Van Cleaf and Mika, as well as BST Hyde Park. His first original releases, “Rotha” and “Burn Daylight”, introduced a songwriter with little interest in being confined to one sound, combining a distinctive vocal style with humour, melancholy and the storytelling traditions he grew up around.
His latest single, “Home”, brings those influences particularly close to country music, pairing Travis-picked guitar with a deeply personal reflection on leaving Donegal and only fully appreciating home after moving away. McGrath told CountryMusic.co.uk that the song was the one he would recommend to UK country fans discovering his music for the first time. That connection between place and songwriting runs throughout his work, with Donegal providing the stories and musical traditions of his upbringing while Belfast has introduced him to a creative community he describes as having a strong sense of “pride and ambition”. Read our full interview with McGrath to discover more about “Home”, his Irish influences, finding his own sound and why Nashville is increasingly on his radar.
With his first Ireland and UK headline tour taking place across November and December 2026 and more original music on the way, McGrath is entering an important new stage of his career. The tour includes UK dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and London, giving audiences the opportunity to see an artist who is moving rapidly from high-profile support slots towards building rooms of his own. Yet for all that forward momentum, McGrath's songwriting remains firmly connected to where he came from, making him an intriguing new voice for UK listeners drawn to country, Americana and the rich storytelling tradition that connects those genres with Irish music.
