John McCusker

About the show

John is renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries. Since 2008 John has been a
member of Mark Knopfler’s studio and touring band, in John’s words: “turning my world upside
down in the best possible way. I have learned so much from Mark and the rest of his band, not
least how to perform on big stages in arenas around the world including Madison Square Garden,
the Hollywood Bowl and the Royal Albert Hall.” As a live and studio guest he has also performed
with David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Paul Weller, Paolo Nutini, Teenage Fanclub, Idlewild, The
Proclaimers, Texas, Graham Coxon, Ocean Colour Scene, Julie Fowlis, Eddi Reader.

He is joined by two of the most sought-after talents on the UK folk circuit. Sam Kelly, winner of
the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and finalist on Britain’s Got Talent, has built a
devoted following as frontman of Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys. His spellbinding voice, effortless
charisma, and genre-blending approach have seen him perform at major festivals such as
Cambridge Folk Festival and Glastonbury, as well as on stages across Europe with Kate Rusby.
Completing the trio is Toby Shaer, a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist whose stunning command of
flutes, whistles and guitars has made him a go-to touring musician for Cara Dillon. Toby has
performed in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues earning a reputation for his dynamic,
expressive playing.