Eclectic Liverpool folk ensemble Only Child have joined forces with the Liverpool Irish Festival to present a night of emotional music in one of the city’s most atmospheric venues on Friday October 27th.

Only Child will be joined by a string quartet for this one-off celebration and singer/songwriter Alan O’Hare can’t wait: “It’s five years since our friends at Mellowtone put on the first Only Child gig at Leaf on Bold Street,” he said. “Our debut EP was launched that night and the songs from it were accompanied by a fantastic string section. It’s a sound that has never truly left us, and though we have dabbled with the strings once or twice since, this will be the first time the full band will be accompanied by a quartet in five years. It’s going to be great.”

Only Child have released two albums and two EPs since 2012 and received rave reviews for their live shows. “The band is full of individual talent… LIPA graduate Vanessa Murray has been with me since day one and will sing harmony on the night. Guitarist and producer Jon Lawton will be offering electric colour throughout and Lee Shone of The Pies will play keyboards. I’m going for a big and beautiful sound – especially with the strings playing those early tunes like they were written to be played. Violinist Amy Chalmers (Two Black Sheep) is also working with me to create new arrangements for some of my more current material, too. It’s exciting,” said Alan O’Hare.

The band have headlined Liverpool’s The Music Room, View Two Gallery, The Zanzibar Club, The Magnet and Thornton Hough Village Club in Wirral, alongside high profile support slots with Blue Rose Code, Pete Wylie, Gemma Hayes, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Steve Pilgrim, My Darling Clementine and Mick Flannery over the years. Alan O’Hare will also be hosting Liverpool Irish Festival’s open mic at The Magnet during the festival and has played solo and acoustic, or as a fiddle and acoustic guitar duo, at festivals throughout the summer.

“Special guests on the evening will be Limerance and Rachael Jean Harris,” he also revealed. “I’m so proud that two of the city’s best talents have agreed to support. It’s going to be some night in that beautiful old church!”

Please note: there is no bar at St Bride’s so bring your own ale (£1 corkage) and take it away with you later.

Ticket details: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Liverpool/St-Brides-Church/Only-Child-/13045511/.

Only Child with string quartet In association with Liverpool Irish Festival and Mellowtone Special guests Limerance and Rachael Jean Harris Friday October 27th, 7.30pm St Bride’s Church, Liverpool 8 Tickets £7adv from Skiddle.