John Francis Flynn is the latest Irish musician to find a home away from home on River Lea Records, Rough Trade’s folk music imprint, following in the footsteps of Lisa O’Neill, Brìghde Chaimbeul and Ye Vagabonds. His debut solo album ‘I Would Not Live Always’ will be released on July 30^th.

‘I Would Not Live Always’ features guest appearances from Ultan O’Brien (Slow Moving Clouds), Consuelo Breschi (Varo), Phil Christie (O Emperor / The Bonk) sean nós singer Saileog Ní Ceannabháin, and drummer & composer Ross Chaney.

The record was produced, engineered and mixed by Brendan Jenkinson (Villagers / Cloud Castle Lake) who also joins in on a host of instruments for the record. It was recorded and mixed at Oxford Lane and Sonic Studios, Dublin.

The material John Francis Flynn has chosen to record includes songs learned from recordings of Shirley Collins, Frank Harte and settled Traveller Paddy Quilligan, two songs written by activist and folk revivalist Ewan MacColl, and a West Indies halyard shanty published by “Last Working Shantyman” Stan Hugill, alongside in-studio improvisations and tunes picked up by John along the way.

Check out single My Son Tim below.