Daniel O'Donnell and Brandon McPhee with new single due for release

Daniel O’Donnell and Brandon McPhee are releasing a new single release next week, Friday, March 15.

The song ‘Across The Hills Of Home’ is written by Scotland’s Eric Bogle. He wrote many famous songs including ‘The Green Fields of France’ and ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ to name two.

Some years back young Brandon was asked to perform with his band at the North West Association Daniel’s fan club event in Blackburn, the first time they met although Daniel had written sleeve notes on Brandon’s first vocal CD.

Shortly after the event in Blackburn, they met again this time on Daniel’s ‘Opry Le Daniel’ as part of TG4’s young entertainers show. During covid Brandon approached Daniel if there was the possibility of them doing a duet, Daniel instantly agreed and suggested to Brandon to look for a song. After a few knockbacks Daniel heard ‘Across The Hills of Home’, Daniel immediately said to Brandon stop searching, this is the song.

The recording of the single is truly an international collaboration. Daniel’s vocals were recorded with David Arkins at Darkins studio in Ireland, Brandon’s vocals were recorded in Studio D, Wick, Scotland and the single was produced and other musicians in Nashville, Tennessee by Phil Anderson at his studio which is Storm West.

To record a single with Ireland’s superstar Daniel O’Donnell young Brandon was over the moon and then to discover that Daniel’s label Demon Music Group based in London were taking it on board. It will also be part of a new CD by Brandon due for release later in the year.

Daniel also took time out of his busy schedule to record a video of the track. This was recorded in Dungloe in Co Donegal by Re-Act Productions. The theme of the video – ‘Brandon is playing his accordion in the street in Dungloe, a woman watching asks if he is local. He replies: "No, I’m from Scotland. I’ve come to Dungloe to play some tunes on my accordion and hopefully get to meet my idol Daniel O’Donnell."

The woman says the best of luck with that and leaves. The song now starts with Brandon in a dream about singing a duet with his hero, later in the recording they both meet in the streets of Dungloe in front of a large audience’.

Brandon with his band, The Brandon McPhee Show have just finished an eight-day theatre concert tour in Scotland and are due to start a short Irish tour later this month.

21 March – Island Valley Theatre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland; 22 March – Backstage Theatre, Longford; 23 March – Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan; 24 March – Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co Cork; 26 March – Hot Country TV Award Show, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.