 It's Irish Music Month and on association with the BAI and Hot Press magazine, we invited singer-songwriters to send in their songs to us here at Highland Radio and the judging panel then had to pick four songs, four artists, original songs they had to be and they will now sort of basically fight it out for a place to represent Highland Radio and the All Ireland against 25 all independent radio stations and there's a great prize it's 10,000, what is it to me 10,000 euros? 5,000 in cash and then 5,000 in the court and musical equipment and the single Ruby Works plus the exposure about 700 air plays as well. So the song's going to get that and we had four artists who were picked and I'll tell you what now between all the judges everyone said the exact same thing the standard was just unbelievable wouldn't it? Oh yeah it was about 91 of them sitting here in front of us. Hi George and I'll tell you what your song was something else now because I wanted to go for you and the rest of them says no. But we had four winners Jimmy and respectfully Oshin Ni in Arcade and Charles James in The Rise and their song Elephants Midnight Preachers, Murders and Boy M5 and Mountains. So the next stage Jimmy is what happens next now? What happens is this day week Monday the first act will perform live with Greg so they come on they perform two songs in the chat and then choose the second song Thursday Wednesday Thursday four so one act each day next week starting this day week and then there'll be a process around the green they're going to come this week with the voting system so we have two external judges we've Tanya McColl and Conom Lone from the baller so Tanya singer-songwriter yeah Tanya and then we have five internal judges as well and then there'll be public voting in terms of Instagram Facebook and all so the Highland social team are working on that this week so then that'll be the following so nothing will happen till the last act performs in the Thursday to give each act equal time okay so then on the socials probably that weekend and the following Tuesday the winner will be announced and that winner will then go forward that's I think the 13th to Paul roughly just before Paddy's Day in the 17th and that will go forward as the national as the representative of Northwest for the national competition and all 26 independent radio stations and they'll so fingers crossed we four good acts you know as you said Paul I mean you know George is sitting here in front of us and we don't worry early on I mean every song was amazing you know it's very hard to but there was six judges overall and there was a lot of meetings held in terms of each judge had to listen to each song and kind of go down so look who was but look we said the other day the talent is just incredible you know to me it was you know what it really really was and this is our second time to hold this competition it's the second time the competition has been running yeah and I think this year was just oh my god it was so much better than the last time and that I don't mean that disrespectfully I mean absolutely yeah yeah music was just it was a difficult decision now to make I think look it's great competition it's great I mean each act also gets 875 euro each of the four and uh just see like and look at George who's going to chat in a minute about his look it's lovely we've seen George the last few years he's now in his own little mini tour you know it's like he's like Lewis Capaldi the way he's building up his uh so that's that's it's lovely to see that progression I see Chargers James and the rise of the under first gig on Friday night in Movil and uh so that's great too you know and you can see all these acts and they've been like preachers in America next week and they're coming back in and I think boy m5 is in the UK and coming back as well so look it's just great to see and they're on north west donnie gall dairy that whole catch me they're in a show and you know it's bright and germany it's really great and we love supporting that music and and law may continue and keep the music coming and as I say if you didn't get through just don't don't be disappointed at the least but because it's not going to do with the quality of the music because it was just something else do the envelopes on the well there's some of the envelopes are a bit lighter in the other summary but the four finalists coincidentally they had big heavy envelopes for some strange reason you didn't get that memo george no no you obviously didn't but the envelopes no you missed that one yeah we talked off here yeah there's a lot to do with him it's a joke by the way oh okay oh Jesus it's a joke I'm worried we are only joking I'm just slow you're okay but only Jimmy I thanks for that so we can we can look forward to that it's great and I said there's a great buzz about the place here at Highland video about the songs and about the artists and we do watch them well and as I say next week it's all to play for so stay tuned and nailed an in show with that Greg Hughes and you will hear it all then thank you very much indeed Jimmy back back behind there now yeah okay and uh we welcome George George Houston good to see you again George good to see you too how are you I'm very very well you've been you've been busy busy hi definitely and you're getting busier and busier again you have got the uh on desire tour I do yes where did that title come out of how did that come about uh well it's just kind of from the name of the album I put out last November and I thought it was a bit funny that the idea of an undesired tour but hopefully it won't be you're playing in uh you're playing all over the place you're playing the RCC here in Ladder County on March the 30th yep you play uh Belfast on April the second on the black box which is a have you played there before I a few times it's lovely it's amazing it actually is and um you're playing in Sandino's and where me and Jimmy were on on Tuesday night and uh you're playing there on the 6th of April and then in Williamson Dublin on the 8th of April yep and you've got a full band of support from Romy hi and who's Romy Romy is a it's a a duo from Germany and they come to Donegal and they have been doing collaborations with loads of Donegal artists uh and I asked um Valerie Bryce she organizes well she used to organize the uh the cottage uh open mic nights oh yes open mouth yes um and I was asking her who she thought I could get for support uh she suggested them because they've just uh they get on so well with the local community and everyone seems to love them and I've I've been listening to the music ever since she suggested them and they have a real a lovely staves kind of first aid get harmony about them and oh I explore do you know what I'll make a point the name rings a bell but I don't see wait forgetful this last way but uh I'll I'll check them out I'll write it in the back of my hand I worth looking up and well there we are Romy in the back of my hand so anyway we're gonna go into music and then we'll chat more the first song George uh we'll start out with a song um called new friends yeah um it's about old friends coincidentally when you're ready okay they're busy again don't go crying or hating you knew they'd be late for you so don't act surprise when you wait you can't eat an old dog new tricks don't need a fix or a man so don't expect to get what you give give up and make some new friends give up give up make some new friends give up give in give up and make some new friends I I I don't expect to get what I give give up but make some new friends you push it back again you can say what to do and where to come to push me maybe I'm juvenile fixer man so don't expect to get what you give give up and make some new I'll make some new I'll make to get what a friend of George George the band the full band with you how many is in the full band um there's five in the band including myself um if you see no tramp uh of course yeah they're doing great trying to get them up here and trying to get them up oh they're either fantastic I um I have this the drummer from tramp steamy mckay he lives in burt as well okay so it's very handy for practicing um and I have Malcolm Boyd bassist that is has been in loads of bands including happy out um I have Rachel Craig uh a singer-songwriter that lives in dairy and she's gorgeous voice and for harmonies and guitar and um we're working on synths as well um but yeah it's class having the full big band sorry of course it is yeah it's a whole different experience well done uh was that difficult putting a band together how did you did you know what you wanted it would have been difficult maybe a couple of years ago starting out because it was just all acoustic sets um and I didn't really know anyone in the scene yeah but like over time when you go to different gigs you meet people and you just you grow connections with people so it was well you think they're sound you go I think our sound would work with me is that the way it goes yeah all right so you hear them playing like that's exciting and you want want a bit of that accent excellent George is brilliant this this tour um I'm really delighted for you and thank you it's about time you know and I think it's going to be the first to many uh tickets George if people want tickets for uh any of these four gigs that were mentioned in here where can they get them um well for there's an album launch at the start at the regional cultural center and here in Lederkenny um if you can join there's tickets available on the RCC website um and there's tickets on the black box well website and uh wheelins as well and if you want to get any of these links to the websites it can just be found on my instagram or my facebook or twitter or any of them things president George you're starting there together up there now with the big league I thank you I don't know how many songs would you have George in your set um it's gonna it's over an hour long um all original and then one cover just just for fun just for fun brilliant that's great that you can do you know would you thought that a couple of years when you're starting off you know as you've been sitting five piece bands up back in you and you putting out an hour of your own songs did you ever think that but was it to go or was it yeah I would have been more like uh the performance is the definitely my favorite side of things I love I love interacting with an audience and um getting them to sing along and like it's it's not well obviously it's not just fun for me it's fun for the audience and it's nice to have that of course relationship with them I suppose but it's a secret importance between the song that you interact with them and keep yeah it's just it's nice um good vibes it's good stuff well listen I think it's going to be brilliant for you really I think it's going to pop down to San Dino that could be a good one for us there on the RCC and look forward to that I don't desire to any plans for recording a simple you have an album launch um well that's the album launch from the album I put out last year but um yeah always stuff in the pipeline have you good probably too much stuff I need to I need to take a breather uh I know you're the best and always keep going okay we're going to get another track we're taking a break here but uh next song you're coming back with George um I hate love brilliant on the way out to this break don't go away broadcastings throughout the northwest and across the world online this is Highland Radio the Buddha statue Highland Radio TFI local link operate over 1300 door-to-door bus services nationwide if you live on or near one of the routes just pre-book the day before you travel simple then off you pop from your front door off to the shops off to training or even off to the chipper and fares now cost 20% less find the door-to-door bus routes in your area on transportforireland.ie if you're on our route we're on our way TFI local link is part of the transport for Ireland network Latticelli musical society is back with a spectacular production of the multi-award winning kinky boots featuring a joyous musical score by pop icon Cindy Lauper kinky boots an hilarious uplifting story which will remain with you for a long time kinky boots on Greenin Theatre 7th to the 11th of March discover your dream dunig all wedding by choosing Jackson's or Villa Rose Hotel for your wedding day excluding elegance quality and a wealth of experience in executing the perfect wedding reception Jackson's or Villa Rose is the venue for you get in touch to arrange a private wedding viewing appointment with a member of our dedicated wedding team today visit Villa Rose.ie or Jackson's Hotel.ie for more information or find us on Facebook and Instagram broadcastings throughout the northwest and across the world online this is Highland Radio with Paul McDevitt you welcome back George Houston in studio with us here and off the voice was on he said go on George big things coming we're in the same class at school we DJ Supremo definitely he is a man hey doing fantastic good man wash yep thank you yeah she's doing the business is right i mean enjoy the crack we are she right so this next song once again is i hate love i hate love when you're ready i hate love it makes me cry it makes me want to die it makes me scream and wonder why i could love somebody like you love hate it makes me sick at least i don't know that you're right before i love gave me these hands your compliments my crooked nose it just makes sense sits on my face i feel like a prince back your compliments i don't need this i don't need your friends i don't need your love i need this to end good together picks you up when you're under the cry it makes me really makes me scream and wonder why i could love somebody like yes well done george and i hate love the last title as a plan to take this tour a wee bit further george if the opportunity arises in what way you know go further away with it oh yeah cover the country or whatever i know you're covering the right wee bit there you're down in Dublin yeah i would be i'm maybe some plans in the pipeworks to go to england and play a couple of shows but nothing finalized as of yet but yeah definitely um not with this tour but um plan is obvious there's no reason there's no reason why i don't think your music can be you know come ahead over say the likes mainland uk and stuff and further afield because it's as good as anybody else's if not that but better because the fact that we're probably biased because we know you've no harm going further out absolutely and uh you know get it heard once again have you have you uh are you a backlog of songs laying about two and you haven't touched all right um honestly there's probably album number three and album number four is already written but uh excellent i don't like to i don't like to just say oh yeah that's going to be an album because it's always better to maybe set half of the album aside and then because i'll still be writing and it's good to have music that you just wrote and is fresh in your head and you're more passionate about because it's recent so it's good to have that mix of old songs and then fresh songs that you're more passionate about in the album where did the song writing come from you know what's part of it on for you do you think i can write this song do you just did you just have a go at it or did you you know do you go to workshops or anything and i i always wrote poetry um and i always played music and i think combined at one stage it's just they kind of met in the middle and i oh yeah that makes sense or it felt natural i suppose i suppose song right now there's a that's a poetry element and that isn't it really oh yeah do you still just touch the poetry at all no oh yeah loads of times and some songs i write little poems along with the songs um and like little spoken word parts um i could do a spoken word part at the end of the next song it's misty eyes always had a little poem at the end of it but i just didn't i didn't record it in the official draft because i was kind of i don't like the sound of my voice talking and i took it out so what made you think then you can add it and you get the whole confidence yourself or you felt more confident in your own music um your own i suppose i just i don't mind doing it live but uh when it's recorded and i have to listen back i just i cringe when i hear my own voice i know the feeling tell me so that's brilliant george houston's with us here and he's kicking off the on desire tour as we said on the 30th of march and that's in the rcc here in letter kenny and on the april the second um which is a Sunday night if you remember yeah open the black box and bell fast and if you've ever been there it's a real cracking ultimate venue and then on the 6th of april he plays in sandinels and dairy and on the 8th and willans and have you played willans before i've supported for um laddie da a band that's based kind of around dublin um and i stood uh willans want to watch this january um got invited up to that um oh so yeah a couple of times it's a really good atmosphere that one that is really friendly and been a long time since been out but i have been learned and what's that one to watch what's that um it's just uh kind of their open common yeah open common they're kind of a list of ones to watch i suppose that's what it says on the tin exactly well well done and that how'd you find that i was lovely i was kind of a bit apprehensive about uh whether or not anyone was going to be showing up but then the the room packed quick quick and um uh they all were singing along in the end it was lovely excellent and that's great to see people singing back with you right george well listen uh as always we delight in having you up here thank you for having me as i said too many a time the doors open here innings happen let us know the on-desired tour tickets are available online from some of the venues and you can also check out george on instagram facebook and whatever else is out there perfect and you'll get tickets for it but if you want to hear good um local well written and well sung and delivered songs this is the man george houston what are you under and is it george houston music george houston you should be able to find it or george houston arts the door so this final song a bit of spoken word at the end this is called misty eyes right we'd love to hear misty eyes perfect look at me in the eye i can see them one more time always never touch touch the hair on the head i love so much behind your ear to your shoulder your neck i scream are your name but i'm scared to lose the things that we have i ask you are you feel about what i told you in the drinks that we had misty eyes misty eyes misty eyes misty eyes misty eyes as she reaches out to spindles i'm suspended in the outside looking in the cold soles window beautifully done that thank you really really classy well done thank you absolutely everything that's coming your way because you have a unique talent and we've always had it here we've enjoyed your company always and as i say check out for full details of the on-desire tour which we'll be playing dairy uh don't go big about rcc march the 30th box and bell fast april the second sandinos april the sixth and widens and april the eighth and tickets are available from the various venues and you can get them on george's social media he'll be playing with the full band with support from german jewel am i right in saying rome yeah george the best to look for that thank you very much indeed and