“Delicate but powerful album” - 9/10 Maverick Magazine

“John Blek’s voice has never sounded better; it’s unquestionably his finest work yet” KLOF 

“A songwriter of rare power and insight and a deliverer of mesmerising and witty live shows” - RnR Magazine

‘The Midnight Ache’ is a staggeringly beautiful and perfectly formed piece of alternative folk with a lo-fi heart and touches of modest grandeur delivered by an artist with a voice that could break a heart in two and songs that could heal the most weary of souls.

Known for being one of Ireland's most creative and independent artists, John Blek brings us another beautiful record of 11 songs. Following on from last year's highly praised album CHEER UP,  which received enthusiastic reviews and support across national and regional radio stations, including BBC 6 Music Cerys Matthews, BBC Scotland, Wales and Ulster, to name just a few. This time around, John has taken his DIY spirit one step further; not only did he self-record and produce the majority of the album, he went so far as to build the recording studio with his own bare hands. A labour of love, but labour all the same.

In April 2024 Blek finished building his new creative home, Bigger River Recording Co., and set about working on what would become The Midnight Ache. Echoes of Sea Change era Beck and Sparklehorse give this record a lo-fi intimacy, while the string arrangements balance the sound with an element of grandeur and sophistication. Home is very much at the heart of this new album; it features vocal performances by John's wife, and even the cover is adorned with pressed flowers from their garden. Additional production and mixing were done by regular collaborator Brian Casey at Wavefield Recordings.

John Blek is Cork City born and bred, currently residing in north Cork. His parents, both of whom were primary school teachers, had to bribe him to stay in school after his 16th birthday with the promise of a new guitar on the completion of his final exams.

Blek has a love of music in the real sense, he creates to create. At 38 he has a catalogue of music that would represent a life’s work for many musicians. He is a career musician, and has dedicated his working life to developing his art. He began his solo career in 2014,and has released 9 studio albums to date Cheer Up (2024), Until The Rivers Run Dry (2023), On Ether & Air (2021), Digressions #2 Grounded (2021), The Embers (2020), Thistle & Thorn (2019), Catharsis Vol.1 (2017), Cut the Light (2016), and Cutting Room Floor (2014), with his 10th coming in January 2026.

While Blek is a solo artist he regularly collaborates, and indeed will write new music with collaborators in mind. As a result, it never feels like another artist is merely gate crashing his music instead it works as a beautiful harmonious meeting of artists who understand each other. Recent collaborations include Cathy Davey and Colm Mac Con Iomaire who play on “Until The Rivers Run Dry” album. Kris Drever & Kit Downes who both join John on his album “On Ether & Air”, Joan Shelley who embodies Laura, one of the characters in Blek’s duet “The Body” and  fellow Corkonian Mick Flannery who duets with him on Revived a single from the 2020 album “The Embers”.

In an age when it would be easy to become disillusioned with the music industry John has remained steadfastly positive and unyieldingly independent and creative. Known for being one of Ireland's hardest touring musicians, the Cork based creative tours relentlessly in Europe and the UK as well as his native Ireland. His live show is thoughtful and entertaining, littered with stories and showcasing his arresting vocals and intricate guitar playing.

The Midnight Ache  will be released in early 2026 on John’s own label Bigger River Recording Co. Pre-save HERE.

 Live Dates

https://johnblek.com/tour/

29th Jan - Celtic Connections, Glasgow

19th Feb - Swiss Cottage, Winchester

20th Feb - The Grace, London

21th Feb - The Louisiana, Bristol

22nd Feb - Dead Sea Records, St. David’s 

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

https://johnblek.com/