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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

John MacRae

Lead Guitarist / Mandolin

John was born in Glasgow a very, very long time ago and has been playing Irish music since he was a kid. Irish songs, particularly those by The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners were always on in the house when he was growing up and he has enjoyed a 40 year career as a musician. When he had a proper job, wherever he was in the world, he would start up a band and perform in local pubs and clubs, playing all over Europe and in Central America and he’s played on the same bill as The Drifters and Percy Sledge.

John’s favourite bands are an eclectic mix, everything from the Rolling Stones and The Eagles to Del Amitri and Alison Krauss and his playing style has been influenced by the likes of James Taylor, Don Felder and Mark Knopfler.

Just in case you’re wondering which one John is, he’s the one with the designer arctic blond hair!! Yeah, right! John is also an award winner, having achieved the highest check-out in a darts marathon in 1984 and he won a whole salmon in a raffle when he was 10 - true story!

Favorite Band: Del Amitri

Favorite Song: Wild horses - Rolling Stones

Favorite Decade: 70's

Favorite TV Show: Starsky and Hutch

Favorite Drink: Fizzy Mineral Water

Most Memorable Venue: Blackpool Grand

Favorite Song in the Show: Drunken Lullabies

First Car: Austin 1100

Celebrity Crush: Wilma Flintstone

What would you be if not a musician: A radio DJ

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

Ruck Jinks

Guitar / Banjo / Chief Tech

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

Kim Heron

Production Assistant

Kim joined the team in November 2019 , originally for one weekend to sell merchandise, she quickly took on other roles and became an important member of the team.

Favorite Band: Fleetwood Mac

Favorite Song: Gypsy

Favorite Decade: 80's

Favorite TV Show: 8 out of 10 cats

Favorite Drink: Gin and coffee

Most Memorable Venue: Theatre Royal Portsmouth

Favorite Song in the Show: Drunken Lullabies

First Car: Fisher price baby buggy

Celebrity Crush: Michelle Keegan

What would you be if not a musician: Journalist

Phil Dodsworth

Driver / Crew

Phil has been driving the One night in Dublin truck since the tour started in May 2019.