The New Album from Long John Makkay
Free use for all press/radio/TV/Online use and uncopyrighted Interview – 30 Sept 2025 by Sylvia Gilmour

The newly released 2026 album from Long John Makkay has already seen some 5-star reviews in Classic Rock Magazine, RnR Magazine, and Radio AirPlay on BBC Introducing, Folk Radio, Westnorfolk Radio and a Top Ten Chart track on UK Country Radio.

LJS’s new album will soon be available through all good Records stores across the UK, with a Picture Disc Vinyl and CD format being distributed by Rootspell Records, a company that believes in grass-roots promotions and supporting the UK’s High Street record stores.

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 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 created 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.
Both the CD and vinyl editions come with download cards. Promoting physical music is important to me. I want people to experience the artwork by Chez Capolli, and to listen to the songs as a complete body of work in the order we’ve presented them. There’s a storyline running through the lyrics, so it brings pictures into your mind when you’re listening. I want people to listen to and feel the poetry in the album, not just click on a track. I’d rather have 1000 people listening to this album on Vinyl or CD than 10,000 clicking through songs on a streaming platform.

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 they 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 Robert Plant, Richard Thompson, Kate Bush, Martin Carthy and Anne Briggs — all huge for me, aside from the American 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 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, preserving the magic of the demos, and alongside me playing acoustic guitars, mandolin solos, electric guitar and piano.
Ben Nichols brought a new texture 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 duo shows with Dave Banks, touring record stores to promote the vinyl and CDs. Launch shows with a full band are planned for London in 2026.

The album will be available initially only through record stores and at shows. You can also pre-order and purchase CDs and vinyl via ljmakkay.com or Bandcamp
. 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