It'll take a big band to be able to fill the support slot for Rod Stewart when he comes to Stadium MK next week.
It has been said of Johnny Mac and the Faithful that they can 'kickstart any party with their jamboree of celtic-folk and Americana,' which is just as well!
And though the name might not be familiar, plenty of you will have at least one of Johnny's records in your collection, or on your iPod; Johnny is an ace songwriter, who has penned smash-hits for artists including Westlife and 5ive.
He has shared writing duties with Echo and the Bunnymen and Shane McGowan, and enjoyed hits across Europe and on both sides of the Atlantic.
Johnny has also worked with fast-rising artists including Lewis Capaldi, and always has an ear open ready to receive new talents.
In short, he is one of the cogs that ensures the music industry keeps on providing.
This stadium tour with Rod is a new adventure for the man more accustomed to 'quietly going around making hits for everybody.'
Rod and Johnny share a love (to put it mildly) of Celtic FC; While Rod is their most famous supporter, Johnny is responsible for the club's music, and their paths had crossed a few times in recent years.
Eventually, the pair pooled their extensive talents, co-writing a song on Rod's current album, his 30th studio opus, Blood Red Roses.
Johnny, who was a coach on early reality music show Fame Academy, said: “As a fan I was beside myself. I was lucky enough by this point to have had a few number ones under my belt as a songwriter, but to hear Rod Stewart sing a song you've written...” he trails off, sounding slightly incredulous.
“I've got the records, I've got a print of Rod Stewart on my wall in my house, I'm a proper fan, and Faces fan. My life was fulfilled.
"But then Rod said, 'Guess what, wee man? I want you to come on tour and support me!'
“You couldn't make this up, this is like winning the lottery, and I am ecstatic to be doing this tour!”
The pair have now gone from musical collaborators to firm friends.
Johnny said: “I've come across a lot of great people in my work and I've been very lucky, but I've never met such a lovely soul, and such a beautiful, genuine man, and I've spent a lot of time with him over the last year and a half.”
These days the two are a familiar fixture at those Celtic matches: “We go to the pub round the corner from my house before, and he is happy to sign autographs, take pictures and buy people drinks...
“He is the exact same every single time. I've worked with lesser known people who are far more difficult and maybe act like bigger stars, but he is the exact opposite. He is lovely to everybody, and funny and genuine.”
In fact, the only other artist who is up there with Rod on Johnny's list is The Boss. And their paths have crossed too: “I've met Springsteen twice now – once in New York at a charity event, and he was absolutely lovely. They always say don't meet your heroes, well I've been lucky – I'm now great friends with one of them, and I've met the other one a couple of times, and both times it was brilliant...”
Stadium MK ticket-holders should make tracks to their seats nice and early for a rousing set by the Faithful.
“It kinda sounds like The Pogues meets Bruce Springsteen, if you can imagine that, and there are some songs I've written that are more rock – so it's a mix of those sort of things.
“We've got big uptempo 1-2-3-4 numbers that will hopefully get people up dancing, and then we've got our big Irish section.
“I think it's a good mix.
"The songs should sound familiar and put people in a good mood, and that's our job; to make people feel uplifted before Rod comes on and spectacularly does what he does brilliantly!”
Post-tour, Johnny is keeping things loose and fluid – the reception to the band has been so positive that he wants to see what opportunities present themselves: “I think I'm going to just take it as it comes, embrace it and see what happens. I figure if Rod Stewart likes it, and he does, then it might be good enough for a lot more people.
You never know what might happen, and I'm ready and willing for it. And now that I've got my head around the fact that we're doing it, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
As you might imagine, his band are pretty weighty talents in their own right: “My guitar player and partner in it all is a guy called Gordy Goudie, and he was in Echo and the Bunnymen for years and now he's in Simple Minds. Gordy plays the guitar, and Lisa (Petticrew) our fiddle player plays with everyone from Alabama 3 to The Dubliners so she is well versed, and we've got a really amazing accordion player who plays in really famous folk bands and stuff... I've got this collection of weird and wonderful and brilliant musicians,” he says.
Johnny is obsessed by music. It isn't what he does, it is who he is.
And next Tuesday (June 4), he'll be showing what he can do before an audience of 30,000.
How will he win over Rod's fans?
Johnny laughs: “I've been asking Rod that very same question, and he tells me just to be brilliant!”
Tickets for the Stadium MK date are on sale now here
Johnny Mac and the Faithful will issue a new album of original Celtic-Folk and Americana songs to coincide with the tour.
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