Buncrana singer/songwriter George Houston is rapidly gaining international recognition following his debut on Later… with Jools Holland.
George’s appearance on the celebrated music show premiered on BBC iPlayer last Sunday and will be broadcast this Sunday, June 15th, on BBC2.
For international viewers, his performance of Lilith is now available on YouTube:
The 23-year-old alt-folk artist shared the stage with an impressive lineup including the Sugababes, Peggy Seeger, Obongjayar, Kae Tempest, and Wolf Alice.
George’s stripped-down rendition of Lilith has garnered significant praise online.
YouTube viewers commented: “What a performance! A modern day Cohen / Dylan and a perfect antidote to a lot of the manufactured music that’s around!”
Other comments included: “Hauntingly beautiful from start to end.”
Another viewer expressed excitement about seeing George “finally getting the recognition he deserves”.
From L-R: George Houston, Peggy Seeger, Sugababes, Jools Holland, Obongjayar, Kae Tempest, Wolf Alice. BBC Studios / Michael Leckie
The track Lilith is featured on George’s upcoming fourth studio album, ‘TODC’ (The Original Death Card), scheduled for release on Friday, June 13th, 2025.
The lyrics of Lilith were inspired by Siânna Lafferty, the Lifford singer who fronts Derry band Tramp.
“I saw Siânna performing live, and a line about protest singers came to me. I wanted to pay homage to the protest singers of the world,” George explained.
Recorded at Paul Weller’s Black Barn Studios, after a year of touring with the legendary musician across North America and Ireland, TODC is Houston’s most ambitious and personal project to date. The 13-track album reflects on the hardships faced by LGBT+ individuals and women over generations while celebrating their resilience and beauty.
He stated: “TODC has been an incredibly healing experience from beginning to end. The death card in tarot represents not only death but also the change and rebirth that follows.
“Creating a project that is unapologetically feminine, queer, and Irish has been a massive step in overcoming the shame that comes with growing up queer in rural Ireland. Even if I end up in hell, at least I lived authentically.”
Since beginning his career in 2020 with the viral debut Boo Fucking Hoo, Houston has released three studio albums, been longlisted for the Glastonbury Song Contest, and received acclaim from BBC Radio One, RTÉ Radio One, Hot Press Magazine, and others.
The TODC album launch will be held at Kinnegar Brewery, Letterkenny on Saturday, July 19th. George’s second hometown show will take place at the Balor Arts Centre on August 14th.
Find George’s Spotify, social media links, tour dates and tickets at: https://linktr.ee/georgehouston
Watch: George Houston’s ‘hauntingly beautiful’ Jools Holland performance out now was last modified: June 9th, 2025 by
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