Rhythm Nation

SJ McArdle on being a fanatical Kate Bush fan and her ‘shockingly direct’ Army Dreamers

The folk luminary’s latest album is a song-cycle inspired by the historic port in Drogheda – and he lists another, Granuaile by Rita Connolly and Shaun Davey, as one of his influences

SJ McArdle: ‘My wife got me into Kate Bush years ago, and now we’re fairly fanatical about her. We’re loving the current Stranger Things-related Katemania’

Old Ghosts in the Water is the name of the new album from singer-songwriter SJ McArdle, best known for his work with award-winning folk band Kern. A song-cycle inspired by the historic port in his home town of Drogheda and featuring performances from Irish musicians including Carol Keogh, Trevor Hutchinson and Graham Henderson, it began life as a show created while he was Artist in Association at Droichead Arts Centre.

“I live very close to ...