Charity album that grew from Mayo pub's open mic releasing this week

A CHARITY album that has its roots in a Mayo pub with a strong music tradition is being released this week.

It's the first of what is hoped will be many 'Lofty's Live' albums, inspired by the music on stage at Lofty's Bar in Westport.

Lofty's Bar is run by Martyn Loftus, for whom music has been a big part of his life.

This year, an open mic competition was held at the pub, along with their charity festival - LoftyFest - in August, with the winner picking up recording time in a studio as top prize.

Martin explains that as the competition went on, the idea grew a little, and he decided to make a charity album.

With a lot of help from Clew Bay Studios, they managed to record 15 songs in total - nine from regular performers on the Lofty's stage, all of whom gave up their time to play at the mini festival, three winners from the open mic nights, plus two songs from Martyn himself.

Featured artists include Seán Loughran, Kian Chanter, 4th Wall Down, Amy McLoughlin, Genevieve Bourke, Ceol Caillte, Cathal Owens, Stella 'n the Loft, Tom McGinty, Molly O'Grady, Alannh Cannon, Joanne Geraghty and Lofty himself.

Song 15 on the album is a special recording of Jeff Buckley's version of 'Hallelujah', featuring the voices of nearly all of the artists on the album, and it's a striking recording.

The album will be available at the end of this week for €12.99 in several formats, including CD.

All profits from Lofty's Live 25 will go directly to their 2025 chosen charity, St. Brendan's in Mulranny.

And Martyn says it's hoped to repeat the adventure in 2026 with a new chosen beneficiary.

You can order the album here.