Fresh from signing to Peter Doherty's Strap Originals, Junior Brother has announced his eagerly anticipated third album, The End – set to be released on the label on September 5. To coincide with the news, the Kerry singer-songwriter has shared a new single, 'Small Violence', alongside an accompanying music video.

Produced by Junior Brother and John 'Spud' Murphy, The End is described as "a deeply instinctive yet carefully considered response to the chaos of modern life, with Junior Brother weaving the recent years of upheaval into the eerie folklore of Fairy Forts."

"These ring-shaped earth mounds, scattered across the Irish countryside, are known to possess an energy that can bewilder, curse, or even lead the unwary astray," the statement continues. "Stepping into one is to risk losing yourself – both physically and spiritually. To Junior Brother, this ancient folklore mirrors the disorienting reality of today’s world."

As part of his research for the project, the artist delved into UCD’s Folklore Collection on duchas.ie – exploring "endless eyewitness accounts of Fairy Forts being stepped into and the land altering, the familiar mutating... Farmers, teachers, the sober, the smart – all losing their way home one way or the other.”

“The title The End represents the moment after being led astray, when the grip of madness releases you and you suddenly see your way home,” Junior Brother comments. “It may reflect the doom of a world gone mad, but it also represents the end of darkness, and the start of a new road.”

The End album artwork. Credit: Liam Morrow

You can pre-order the album here.

Junior Brother – who Strap Originals have described as "one of the most unique and powerful voices out there" – released his Choice Prize-nominated debut album, Pull The Right Rope, in 2019. The 2022 follow-up, The Great Irish Famine, scored an Album of the Year nomination at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Music Awards.

His new single, 'Small Violence', "follows a character pulled in by a small few who enjoy using violent words to stoke real violence further down the line."

Watch the video for 'Small Violence' – directed by Ellius Grace and Junior Brother – below:

Junior Brother's live dates:

April
25 BELGIUM, Sint Nikllas De Casino, Supporting Peter Doherty
26 PARIS, Le Trianon, Supporting Peter Doherty

May
14 BRIGHTON The Great Escape Strap Originals Stage

June
6 GLASGOW, Glad Cafe
7 STIRLING, The Tolbooth
8 SCOTLAND, Wasteland Festival

July
6 LIMAVADY Stendhal Festival NI

August
9 ANTRIM Under the Drum Festival NI

September
12 CORK The Pav Sounds From a Safe Harbour Festival Album Launch
13 DUBLIN Grand Social Club Album Launch
14 DUBLIN Grand Social Club Album Launch
20 LONDON South Bank Centre QE Hall with the Incredible String Band
21 DROGHEDA Vantastival Festival

October
10 TRALEE LASTA Festival Síamsa Tire

November
9 CLONAKILTY DeBarras Samhain Festival
14 GALWAY Róisín Dubh
15 LIMERICK Upstairs at Dolan’s Warehouse
21 DERRY Sandinos
22 BANGOR Open House Festival
23 DUNDALK Spirit Store
26 BIRMINGHAM The Victoria
27 LONDON Hootananny
28 LEEDS Hyde Park Book Club
29 MANCHESTER Gulliver’s

Tickets are available here.

Read our live review of Junior Brother's Live at St Luke's gig last month here.