The Grange has produced a ‘Rising Star’ in an unassuming 19-year-old whose newly released debut single has had him spotlighted by Northern Ireland’s own, Q Radio.
Singer and songwriter, Jack Fairon released his first original song ‘Give Me Tonight’ this month (January), with the help of several talented local musicians.
As with many in the industry his musical journey began as a youngster, with his mother – who also sang in her youth – playing a particularly inspirational role.
But despite having taken an interest at an early age and enjoying years of guitar lessons with Armagh’s Conor Cunningham – with whom he maintains a strong relationship to this day – he admits that a large portion of his development came from self-teaching and sheer dedication.
Describing the early days to Armagh I, Jack said: “Me and my brother used to sit in front of the TV and watch UK Top 40 and just sing all the songs. It was about five hours long but we would just sit through all the ads and sing.
“Conor taught me chords and all the basics when I was about nine and then I dropped guitar for a while and only picked it back up again about two years ago.
“I used YouTube tutorials to learn songs. It was just playing stuff that you can’t play until you can play it. It was hours and hours and it was hard but it comes together, you just have to be disciplined.”
Then, on a chance night out in Moy, Jack had a conversation with a veteran ‘gigger’. They shared experiences and by the end of the night he had secured himself a gig playing a Christening party in Keady.
From there, Jack’s gigging opportunities snowballed. A local café owner who had attended the Christening party offered him a further opportunity to perform in her café, The Rolling Pin.
Before his live performance, café owner Philippa, asked the then 18-year-old to send a video to promote the event. And Jack said it was this single video that helped catapult his music career to new heights.
The video was entered into 2023’s Boost Busker Corner Competition – which he then went on to win – and offered him the opportunity to play Empire Music Hall Belfast and enjoy his first, and only, busking experience in Derry/Londonderry.
He eventually made the brave decision to pen his own song at the end of summer, 2024.
After a number of months living and working in Salou in Spain, Jack returned to Armagh with a new lease of life and full of creative juices.
His debut single, ‘Give Me Tonight’ incredibly came to him in a single sitting.
He said: “Basically the entire structure of the song came from one video. I was listening to a Strokes song ‘You Only Live Once in the Night’ and I had the chords in my head.
“I’m not experienced at all in song writing but I do feel like there’s a wee thing with creativity. Once it comes, everything is just aligning and it just comes together.”
The bare bones were there but he knew he needed guidance so Jack reached out to Lurgan guitarist, Decky McKerr, for support with production.
Decky developed the sound with electric guitar but – due to the impending arrival of a newborn – he had his hands too full to support the overall record production. So, to this end Eglish man, Joe McVey became involved.
“I knew them both through the gigging scene,” explained Jack. “They really helped me in that regard. I took it to Joe and he was literally class. He is music personified.
“He just helped me sing more on the beat or help in changing melodies and I learned a lot. It was class having him by my side. He was like a mentor to me.”
Later in production, Jack roped in the talent of Ross Bickerstaff on drums – together with Decky the pair gave Jack’s single that seasoned touch.
In 2024, Ross and Decky’s expertise had been enlisted by girl-band Dea Matrona to open at Hyde Park for none other than revered Fleetwood Mac vocalist and solo artist, Stevie Nicks and best-selling country music artist, Shania Twain.
Said Jack: “It’s just so cool to say they opened for them [Shania Twain and Stevie Nicks] and they are playing on my song!”
The ‘coolest’ moment for Jack came when the record was fully developed and released to potential listeners.
Picked up by Q Radio’s Cushla Rice, Jack became their Rising Star for the week of January 20 with his new single playing live on air every night that week.
That first night, sitting in a bar in Belfast with friends, Jack said hearing it on radio was like “hearing it for the first time”.
He continued: “You have listened to it 500 times. If you listen to something 500 times it doesn’t really do anything for you anymore but when you hear it for the first time on radio it was like hearing it for the first time ever.
“We were just sitting around the table with a Guinness and listening to it and it was unbelievable.”
For now, the Noah Kahan-esque performer is enjoying the fruits of his labour, continuing to gig as normal at his regular venues and jotting lyrics for new songs whenever he gets the chance.
Of course, his big dream is to “sell out stadiums” and he undoubtedly has the passion to pursue that goal.
Until then, he quipped: “I have a few songs in the works but I don’t really have a clue what I’m doing!
“I just can’t wait to get back into the studio with the lads.”
Listen to Jack Fairon’s debut single ‘Give Me Tonight’ on Spotify here.
Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
