Talented Josh Johnston celebrates ‘The Art of Saving Lives’

A pianist of considerable skill and a collaborator of renown, Josh Johnston has just released his fourth solo album.

The Dublin based singer will celebrate the release with a show in the City’s Black Gate Cultural Centre on Francis Street on Wednesday, July 4.

The Art of Saving Lives was produced by Josh himself, and he collaborated with Stephen Joseph McArdle on the lyrics. The album is also a real collaboration, with Johnston calling in some of the great musicians he has got to work with over the years. Cormac Dunne from The Stunning is on hand to offer his considerable drum skills, and the rhythms on this record are varied and build on Johnston’s playful piano melodies.

Carol Keogh sings backing vocals on the record – her previous work includes singing with Irish bands The Plague Monkeys and Tycho Brahe, and she also sang with the overlooked and excellent Automata. Coming back to Josh’s album, the opening track Winged Revolution sets the tone with a range of instruments shining through. Bill Blackmore makes a winning cameo on trumpet, and Dunne’s rhythms show why he’s such an in-demand percussionist.  Rain is a great track which shows the influence of Peter Gabriel and overall Johnston goes for a range of sounds and tones over the album’s 11 tracks, bringing things to a winning close with The Allnighter.

Doors 8.30, tickets €10.