MEET THE MURPHYS
Middi Murphy
Singer / Guitar / Accordion
Middi grew up on a farm just outside of Darlington where he still resides with 150 cattle. Self proclaimed gobs**te, his first dip into the entertainment industry was at the age of 8 as a magician. In 1994 he started what became one of the top mobile disco companies in the north east and in 1999 he took on a contract that saw him playing 5 nights a week on the cruise boats in York. He moved onto bigger cruise ships after that as a cabaret singer but after 9 months at sea he returned to the UK and started singing solo Irish show band music.
Although popular, Middi didn’t enjoy the show band scene and wanted to do something with more edge. In 2005 he started the Wild Murphys with their first official gig at the Tyneside Irish centre. Middi enjoys life on the road and is constantly touring. This theatre show is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work and investment for Middi and a dream come true.
Favorite Band: Rolling Stones
Favorite Song: What's left of the flag - Flogging Molly
Favorite Decade: 90's
Favorite TV Show: How I met your mother
Favorite Drink: Pepsi Max
Most Memorable Venue: Blackpool Grand
Favorite Song in the Show: If I ever leave this world alive
First Car: Vauxhall Combo
Celebrity Crush: Sandra Bullock
What would you be if not a musician: A Virgin
Ruck Jinks
Guitar / Banjo
Another North Yorkshire native, Ruck embarked on a musical journey at the tender age of 15, joining his first band as a guitarist in ‘The Groove Company’. Having left school in 1987 Ruck totally ignored his mechanic father’s advice and became an automotive panel beater/paint sprayer. While his passion for anything with an engine and wheels was strong, his passion and thirst for music was equally at the fore!
Gaining valuable experience gigging with lots of bands soon followed. In 1998 Ruck went to study music at Leeds College and The Guitar institute in London. Using the essential skills and knowledge now gained, Ruck went on to teach guitar and bass at Ripon college, Nscm Darlington, Boroughbridge high school and Aycliffe high school. He then spent 16 years with North Yorkshire County Council as a sound technician and musician, working on music and arts projects with young people, still gigging on a regular basis with bands of varying musical genres. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk and Pop.
Favorite Band: Pearl Jam
Favorite Song: Alive - Pearl Jam
Favorite Decade: 90's
Favorite TV Show: Car SOS
Favorite Drink: Beer, Any beer, Lots of beer, give me beer.
Most Memorable Venue: Blackpool Grand
Favorite Song in the Show: Molly Malone
First Car: Mk1 Ford Cortina
Celebrity Crush: Jasmine Harman
What would you be if not a musician: Mechanic
Sophy is a fiddle player who encompasses a huge variety of styles, performing and teaching tunes from America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and her native North East of England.
An experienced workshop leader and teacher, she has been a co-director of the Folkworks’ Youth Summer School with Kathryn Tickell. She also performs in The Northlands with Alistair Anderson, the Andy May Trio and Bottle Bank Band with Stewart Hardy. She was a founder member of The Pack and 422, with whom she won the BBC Young Folk Award in 1999.
Sophy Ball
Fiddle
Favorite Band: Iron Maiden
Favorite Song: Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Favorite Decade: 90's
Favorite TV Show: Stranger Things
Favorite Drink: Overpriced White Wine
Most Memorable Venue: Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen
Favorite Song in the Show: Wagon Wheel
First Car: VW Polo
Celebrity Crush: Angelina Jolie
What would you be if not a musician: Carpenter
Tony Davis
Piano / Keys
Tony is a fantastic pianist, fluent in many styles. Most notably he adopts a ‘Floyd Cramer’ and ‘Bruce Hornsby’ type sound for his performances in the Murphys show.
Tony has been a record producer since the mid ‘90s currently operating his own recording studio in his native Newcastle where he has produced albums with Beverly Knight, Tony Christie, Jimmy Nail, Brian Johnson, and many more big name Northern artists.
Tony has produced all of the Wild Murphys tracks and recordings. In the ‘90s Tony toured professionally with chart topping folk group ‘Prelude’.
Favorite Band: Beach Boys
Favorite Song: You've got a friend - James Taylor
Favorite Decade: 80's
Favorite TV Show: Vikings
Favorite Drink: Red wine
Most Memorable Venue: Rhyl Pavilion
Favorite Song in the Show: Galway Girl
First Car: Mark 1 Vauxhall Astra
Celebrity Crush: Anna De Armas
What would you be if not a musician: Drunk All Day
Will Stockbridge
Bass
Hailing from historic Richmond town in North Yorkshire, Will is the son of a local Luthier (That’s a Guitar maker, not to be confused with a Lucifer) and has been surrounded by stringed instruments since he can remember, as a result of this he can’t quite recall when he first picked up the bass, but seems to have always played it. Will studied Jazz at northern conservatoire Leeds College of Music, and has toured around Europe with Folk Rock outfit ‘Magna Carta’. Will has also performed with acts such as Issimo, Leo Stannard and Marc Almond, along with regularly playing with his own Jazz ensemble Prohibited Strangers.
Will has served his time working in various pubs in and around the Yorkshire Dales, and is well versed in pulling a good pint with a generous portion of craic on the side.
Favorite Band: The Staves
Favorite Song: Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Favorite Decade: 2020's (I'm hoping for the best!)
Favorite TV Show: The thick of it
Favorite Drink: Beer Negroni
Most Memorable Venue: Weymouth Pavilion
Favorite Song in the Show: St. Annes
First Car: Renault Clio
Celebrity Crush: Vera Whiteley
What would you be if not a musician: A dry stone waller
Trevor Brewis
Drums
From the heart of beautiful Northumberland Trevor is drummer with more pedigree than the Crufts semi-final! An experienced drummer who has spent the best part of his life touring and recording an eclectic mix of styles and working with a variety of musicians including: The Toy Dolls, Jimmy Nail, acclaimed Blues Guitarist Trevor Sewell to name but a few, not forgetting The Caffrey Brothers where he had the pleasure of working with Tony Davis for several years.
Favorite Band: Brotherhood of man
Favorite Song: Roar - Katy Perry
Favorite Decade: 80's
Favorite TV Show: Amazing Spaces
Favorite Drink: Franziskaner Weissbier
Most Memorable Venue: Blackpool Grand
Favorite Song in the Show: Drunken Lullabies
First Car: Hillman Imp
Celebrity Crush: Stacey Dooley
What would you be if not a musician: Bankrupt
Fay Donaldson
Sax / Flute
Fay is a native of the small North Yorkshire town of Northallerton. She graduated from Leeds College of Music with a Combined BA (Hons) Degree, specialising in Classical Flute and Popular Saxophone.
Since graduating, Fay’s passion for different styles of music and ability to play the Flute, Piccolo, Sax, and Clarinet has taken her to a variety of events, weddings, bars, theatres and festivals across the UK. Alongside her performing, Fay enjoys teaching across the Woodwind family and Piano. Fay has played with several pop bands and big bands, along with One night in Dublin, you can also see Fay regularly touring with various BBC theatre productions.
Favorite Band: The Kooks
Favorite Song: Blue - Eiffel 65
Favorite Decade: 80's
Favorite TV Show: Love Island
Favorite Drink: Gin
Most Memorable Venue: Blackpool Grand
Favorite Song in the Show: Dirty Auld Town
First Car: Renault Clio
Celebrity Crush: Zach Efron
What would you be if not a musician: Fashion Designer
Ben Helm
Banjo
Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, Ben Helm is a professional session musician, educator, band leader and arranger who has over 20 years experience in live performance, studio recording and directing ensembles.
Ben is a highly in-demand session musician in the North of England, throughout the UK and further afield.
A few of Ben's career highlights to date include, working with Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), performing at the BBC 6Music Festival and headlining the Sage Gateshead in the North East.
Ben has featured in many local and national publications such as Q and CLASH and his work has received airplay on Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, 6Music, BBC Newcastle, and Amazing Radio.
Favorite Band: Steely Dan
Favorite Song: Peg
Favorite Decade: 60's
Favorite TV Show: Brooklyn 99
Favorite Drink: Guinness
Most Memorable Venue: The Sage, Gateshead
Favorite Song in the Show: Wagon Wheel
First Car: Peugeot 108
Celebrity Crush: Miss Piggy
What would you be if not a musician: Cheese Taster
Paul Finlay
Sound Engineer
Paul has been running sound for the One night
in Dublin since late 2020.
"Make me a coffee or I'll make you sound terrible!"
Favorite Band: Toto
Favorite Song: Caught in the balance
Favorite Decade: 80's
Favorite TV Show: Loose Women
Favorite Drink: John Smiths
Most Memorable Venue: Redditch Palace
Favorite Song in the Show: Drunken Lullabies
First Car: Fisher price baby buggy
Celebrity Crush: Nicola Sturgeon
What would you be if not a sound guy: Chimneysweep
Phil Dodsworth
Driver / Crew
Phil has been driving the One night in Dublin truck since the tour started in May 2019.
"If in doubt, Flat out!"
Favorite Band: AC/DC
Favorite Song: Who Made Who
Favorite Decade: 80's
Favorite TV Show: Only fools and horses
Favorite Drink: Vodka, Beer, Larger, Rum, Paint stripper..
Most Memorable Venue: St. Albans Arena
Favorite Song in the Show: I Usta Love Her
First Car: Vauxhall Chevette
Celebrity Crush: Sharon Stone
What would you be if not a musician: Landscaper