Anthony Toner

Anthony Toner returns to the intimate and welcoming setting of Chandler’s House in Rathfriland on Saturday November 22 for his first solo acoustic show in a couple of years – and with an armful of new songs to celebrate.
Anthony has appeared in Rathfriland on a number of occasions with his ever-popular evening of John Prine songs, and also memorably as part of Ronnie Greer’s Blues Band, but this show will see him performing solo, concentrating on his own songs, and a well-chosen collection of favourite songs by other artists, including Prine, James Taylor, Randy Newman and others.
He’s also celebrating the arrival of a brand new collection of songs – the first original pieces in almost two years from the Coleraine-born, Belfast-based songwriter, an artist with 14 critically-acclaimed albums under his belt and a devoted following across Northern Ireland and beyond. And the new material has Anthony’s same familiar mix of insight, heart and humour as always.
‘I’ve just emerged from one of the longest dry spells of my career,’ he explains, ‘and surprise, surprise, I’ve returned with yet more songs about relationships, memory, characters, childhood, compassion…’
As always, expect an evening of fine playing, singing, great between-song stories – and a selection of classics from the back catalogue, including ‘The Road to Fivemiletown’, ‘Sailortown’, ‘Well Well Well’ and many more – including some blues, the aforementioned cover songs and – increasingly these days – the odd rendition of a poem or two, selections from some of Anthony’s favourite writers.