Whelanslive presents
CHRIS BRAIN
plus support
KEVIN FOWLEY
Whelan’s Upstairs • Sun 7th June 2026
Chris Brain is a Yorkshire-based folk singer-songwriter whose work sits firmly in the British pastoral tradition, shaped by close attention to place, memory and emotional nuance. His fourth album, Red Sun Rising (2026), is a quietly powerful collection of songs centred on yearning, restlessness and the desire for change
Rooted in acoustic textures and intimate storytelling, Red Sun Rising feels like a record made in motion: landscapes shifting, seasons turning, inner lives gently unsettled. Brain’s songwriting balances melody and restraint.
A familiar voice on BBC Radio 6 Music and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show, Chris Brain has toured extensively across the UK and internationally, including a seven-date sold-out tour of Japan. In 2026, he returns with a UK & Ireland tour to accompany the release of Red Sun Rising.
“There are shades of the master Ralph McTell here and I can think of no greater compliment than that, I love It” – Mark Radcliffe, BBC 2 Folk Show
“Yorkshire singer songwriter Brain consistently impresses with his third album” – ★★★★ Daily Express
“Contemporary folk song at its finest” – ★★★★ Songlines Magazine
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TICKETS
€12 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required