The New Album from Long John Makkay


The New Album from Long John Makkay
This interview is Free to use for all printed press/radio/TV/Online use and is an uncopyrighted Interview –  14th Jan 2026 by Sylvia Gilmour

Long John Makkay’s musical journey has taken him to some of the biggest UK festival stages and venues across the country, as well as  past tours in Europe and the US. Across six albums in various incarnations, his work has consistently received strong reviews in the music press. Here he talks about his long-awaited, 16-song, self-titled solo album — and why it has taken years to find this new acoustic, roots-driven sound.

Sylvia Gilmour: So what’s in store, LJ?

Long John Makkay:

With the 16 songs I’ve written, we’ve recorded what is essentially a double album. For the first-edition vinyl, we have a 12-inch picture disc featuring 11 tracks, plus a download card with a further seven bonus songs including two remixes.
Both the CD and vinyl editions come with download cards. Promoting the physical format of music which is hugely important to me. I want people to firstly experience the artwork by Chez Capolli, and then to listen to the songs as a complete body of work in the order we’ve presented them. In my mind is a storyline linking the songs and running through the lyrics, I want people to hear and feel the poetry in the album, I’d rather have 100 people listening to this album in its entirety on Vinyl or CD than 10,000 clicking through songs on a streaming platform. Streaming is really now just vanity it dosent put food on the table for 99% of musicians and we have all got to eat!

Sylvia Gilmour: This album has been described as your “folk roots album.” Some tracks also seem to carry influences of Blues and Country.

Long John Makkay:

I’d been calling this my folk album for a few years. Yes, the songs have roots in Folk, but there’s also Country and Blues in there, too. These songs are personal, and I often set them aside during the previous two albums because I didn’t feel the lyrics would fit with the band’s sound. In a way, I didn’t want anyone to hear them until I was truly ready. Now I’m ready!

Sylvia Gilmour: What inspired this shift? Your earlier albums lean heavily into Blues and Country.

Long John Makkay:

I found I had another voice when I played just my acoustic guitar. The songs flowed differently. I was drawing from the past — my early musical influences, the musicians, artists and poets I grew up around, and the music my family played throughout the ’70s and ’80s.

Sylvia Gilmour: What music styles shaped you early on?

Long John Makkay:

My uncle taught me guitar. Back then, I was a nine-year-old who loved The Beatles, but Uncle Bill played everything: Dylan, Sandy Denny, Danny Graham, Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention. His tastes were broad, and I latched onto all of it.
I can’t overstate the influence of the 60s and 70s music Robert Plant, Richard Thompson, Kate Bush, Martin Carthy and Anne Briggs — all huge for me, aside from the American rock n blues and even punk music that shaped my earlier records.

Sylvia Gilmour: You mentioned meeting Mark Brierly as a turning point?

Long John Makkay:

Yes, a complete chance meeting. After I had performed at the UK Country Radio Awards in Manchester last year, Mark gave me a copy of his brilliant 1968 Sony Records album Welcome to the Citadel. It was a wake-up call — such honest, brilliant British folk music. It inspired me to reach back to my own roots in acoustic guitar playing, writing and singing.

Sylvia Gilmour: Who has joined you on this journey?

Long John Makkay:

First, the folks at Roots Spell Records — wonderful people who care deeply about songwriting and the roots of music. They inspired me to deliver a passionate album with a lot of good karma. Also, working with
Dave Banks, who produced the album, and did an amazing job of preserving the magic of the demos, Dave also alongside me played some wonderful acoustic guitar, mandolin solos, electric guitar and piano.
Ben Nichols brought a new texture and foundation to the songs with upright bass — something I’ve never used before on a record.
We also have the exceptional musical talents of fiddle player Sam Barrett, whose playing adds wonderful depth to the folk elements and power to the ballads.
Luke Tuchscherer created a unique, almost tribal approach to percussion and drums, which I’m incredibly happy with.

Sylvia Gilmour: And will there be a tour?

Long John Makkay:

Yes — I’m planning , touring record stores to promote the vinyl and CDs. And a Launch show with the full band is planned for London in May/June 2026. With hopefully gigs and festivals shows after that.
The Vinyl album and CD will be available initially only through record stores and at shows. You can also pre-order and purchase CDs and vinyl via ljmakkay.com.
No streaming is planned — I’m committed to a grassroots path and to supporting record shops. They are our partners in this journey.

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So, it has been over 4 years since the last release from the British singer song writer Long John. The previous 4 albums repeatedly had strong revues firstly with the Wild Evil and Cocos Corner albums both of which saw extensive radio play and included some very special guests with guitar appearances from Brian James (The Dammed) and Simon Hanson on drums (Squeeze) the singles released from those albums Desert Sands, Honey Bee and Holy Moly and a final offering from Long Johns Killer Blues Collective  (Devils Train) were all well received. Then the pandemic put all immediate plans on hold for the band.

Long John has now dusted himself down and reformed with his new band LJ Makkay and The Sixty Six emerging with a fresh sound and a new debut album from the group  (Bridges)

I asked LJ what the new album BRIDGES is all about?

LJ  MAKKAY…

This album is a new direction for me lyrically and a more personal approach which is something I couldn’t comfortably commit with in my previous song writing, after the pandemic it might have been time to call it a day but I also felt it was maybe a chance for a new beginning and a change of clothes metaphorically speaking, this new album is a songwriting journey influenced by the musical genres that have been the soundtrack to my life Rock , Blues, Soul, and Country music.

As an Englishman living and traveling in the USA in my youth I was constantly absorbing the diverse cultures and landscapes that America has to offer and while listening to the radio stations fading from one great track to the next  as I was driving along the Highways and across the state lines. I really did get Americana music branded and burned into my Soul and for that I’m so truly thankful. 

Gods Country verse: 

The mountain rivers are now empty 
Can you see the dry and drifting sands
The mankind that we all wanted
Failed us with greed and… demands!

Says Makkay. The album Bridges has ballads and stories that comment on the highs and lows the love and the losses that Ive experienced in my life and I’m sure the songs will relate to the listeners (Bring back the golden days) is a look over my shoulder and a salute to my friends who’ve not made it this far in life and the song Gods Country a song about the challenges we are facing in the world today with our climate changing in front of us each year.

Bring Back The Golden Days:

And now you are clean 
The sun shines again..
One slip on the trail
Could see the dark side return 

I’m looking forward to getting back out on the road again with this material its powerful and has heart and Ive been blessed to have some great musicians join me on this work. Nick Mailing has produced the album and plays Bass in the band along with guests on several songs including Dave Banks on Lead Guitar and Jade Daniel Williamson on backing vocals, Sam Barrett on Fiddle, Rob Bond playing Pedal Steel Guitar and Boysey Battrun on Tenor Saxophone. 

LJ Makkay 

Interview by Claymore brown No rights reserved. This interview can be freely adapted for global publishing press on all platforms unlimited. Song lyrics caption reserved as per copy write LJ Makkay publishing.

For all press Interview arrangements by phone or for guest appearances please email: info@ljmakkay.com