DUG drops “Have At It!” music video

DUG is the meeting point of two musical journeys, where the transatlantic threads of Irish and American folk are stitched into a new creative fabric. The project brings together Scottish-American songwriter Conor Lorkin O’Reilly and Californian multi-instrumentalist Jonny Pickett, each bringing a decade of experience and a shared vision for crafting timeless folk music. Conor, whose solo work has clocked over 26 million Spotify spins, spent years releasing albums and touring across Upstate New York before returning to Dublin in 2022 to begin a new chapter while Jonny, an accomplished banjo player, arrived from California and in 2023 the two formed DUG.

Their story has already taken on the glow of musical folklore; before releasing a single, they sold out two shows at Whelan’s in Dublin. Their sound flows between echoes of the great American troubadours and the stately tradition of Irish folk, carried by the twang of resonator guitar, the lilt of banjo and intricate fingerpicking that moves in unison.

The duo’s early singles have marked them out as ones to watch, “Jubilee” earned shortlist nominations for two Grammy categories in 2024 (Best Americana Roots Song and Best Americana Roots Performance) while “The Big Sundown” and their recent release, “Livelong Day,” further showcased their gift for pairing meaningful lyricism with captivating arrangements. This September, they’re set to release their highly anticipated debut album Have At It! through iconic Irish label Claddagh Records, home to ØXN, Lemoncello and Niamh Bury.

Produced by Mike Halls of Clean Cut Kid, the record is both adventurous and lyrically compelling, drawing on the pair’s diverse influences while remaining based in their own storytelling. Its title comes from an unexpectedly personal source, a family WhatsApp exchange during the COVID lockdown. When Conor’s mother shared a photo of her newly written will, his father replied with a picture of his own; a napkin with the words “Have at it!” scrawled across it. That half-serious gesture became the name of both the album and one of its most direct songs.

Sharing the album’s title track “Have At It!,” DUG offer an exciting taste of what’s to come with a superb slice of their charming folk sound. Carried by the steady march of stomping country rhythms and warm organic instrumentation, Conor’s expressive voice spins playful lyrics via memorable melodic leads to form a delightful jam that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Arriving amongst a busy live schedule, this year DUG are set to make appearances at Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Moseley Festival in Birmingham and Americana Fest in Nashville. Their calendar stretches further with an Australian debut tour in October and a headline show at The Lexington in London on November 24. With their first full-length record set to arrive next month, we can’t wait to see what this stellar folk duo have in store next on their exciting musical adventure.

Watch the music video for Have At It! below

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