STEPHEN MAGUIRE (BalconyTV)

PRESENTED BY TOM MILLETT
FROM THE MORGAN HOTEL IN TEMPLE BAR
Music that moves the soul...

"Stephen Maguire represents a great new generation of talent from N. Ireland, following in the footsteps of Snow Patrol, Ian Archer, Brian Kennedy and Foy Vance." George Jones, UTV's U105 Radio

From Belfast, N. Ireland, Stephen now splits his time between the emerald isle and the Canadian prairies. Involved in music from a young age, Stephen grew up listening to his parents' record collection. His father Patrick Maguire, who played in show bands and rock & roll bands in the 60s (including with Van Morrison!) would play cassettes of The Mamas & the Papas, The Beach Boys and Irish traditional music.

Stephen performed his first solo concert in 1998 with the Northern Irish band Cahuna at Belfast's famous Ulster Hall. Soon after, he auditioned for The Talent and signed with Unity, supporting chart-topping band Westlife on their 'Unbreakable' tour. Throughout Unity's time together, they performed for over a quarter of a million people.

Since leaving the band, Stephen has been in much demand as a solo artist. He has also recorded with Terry Sharp (The Adventurers), Nicky Scott (Van Morrison's former musical director and bass player) and Mark Dougherty (former musical director of Riverdance). A memorable gig was at a Belfast Giants game, which resulted in Stephen meeting his now-wife, a Saskatchewan-native who was interning with the professional hockey team. They married in 2007 and Stephen has been touring the prairies ever since.

Recent highlights include being invited to perform at the 2010 Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, opening for the Grammy award winning Nanci Griffith and supporting five-time Grammy award winner B.J. Thomas on his 2009 Saskatchewan tour dates, both as a solo act and with The Stephen Maguire Project. Stephen's band will be showcasing at the 2010 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards.

Stephen released his new album 'Irish Soul' in March 2010, recorded at the Gemini-nominated Cosmic Pad Studios. Available now from iTunes and CD Baby.

Audiences can't get enough of Stephen Maguire... the music, the Irish banter and stories of the many artists he's toured with, from Van Morrison to Charley Pride to Bonnie Tyler.

http://www.stephenmaguirelive.com

Tune in again tomorrow!!!