New song ahead of a new album from Sam Kelly – reasons to be cheerful part 1.

Although he’s never far from the surface with assorted sideman roles, it’s bee a while since Sam Kelly with the Lost Boys delivered The Wishing Tree album back in 2021.

Although he escaped without a mention as he brought down the house and the curtain at the 2025 Manchester Folk Festival, (possibly inspiring the “dancing like lunatics” line?) a new single is out right now.

The teaser for the album comes in the form of the title track and sees Sam featuring his regular partner in crime. Like Holmes & Watson, Batman & Robin, Pearl & Dean or any other notorious partnerships, a Sam Kelly/Lost Boys song is never complete without the banjo wizardry of Jamie Francis. A breathy wind from Toby Shaer and then Archie Churchill-Moss, Evan Carson and Graham Coe chip in with some of their ‘so subtle that you don’t even notice it’ texture, percussion and bottom end. A playout with the whole ensemble upping the ante provides the earworm and inevitable play on repeat.

Dreamer’s Dawn, folky-influenced ode to live music, comes described by Sam as “a song capturing the euphoric and unadulterated joy of a music festival, and the unique magic that live music creates.” Fair do’s as the sentiment is one we appreciate, and the high profile feelgood factor courses through the Lost Boys in celebration.

Roll on the album and tour and watch out for our ATB Kelly coverage in the coming months.

Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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