Wrexham songwriter makes history after performing in childhood home of Paul McCartney

A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Wrexham made history last week by performing in the childhood home of Paul & Mike McCartney as part of “Forthlin Sessions”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dullan was unveiled last month as one of four acts chosen to visit, write and perform at Paul & Mike McCartney’s childhood home (20 Forthlin Road), thanks to the National Trust, which now cares for the home and wants its’ story to continue to inspire new generations of creativity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

he charity launched “The Forthlin Sessions” – a chance to visit, write and perform at the house – to provide a vital platform for new music in April this year ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Friday (17 June), Dullan brought music back to the house for the first time in nearly sixty years – by performing a newly-written song, inspired by the house. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Their historic performance, and performances by three other acts, is now available for all to view via the National Trust’s YouTube channel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Around 30 of the world’s most famous songs, including ‘Love Me Do’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Hold Me Tight’, ‘I’ll Follow The Sun’ and ‘When I’m 64’ were written and rehearsed at 20 Forthlin Road, known as “the Birthplace of the Beatles”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Wrexham based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist started out as a teenager, playing guitar and being the frontman-songwriter of bands, eventually becoming a solo artist and multi-instrumentalist building an audience online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With Paul McCartney as a primary influence, Dullan has also been inspired by traditional pop, rock, jazz and folk in his song writing, combining these with modern pop sensibilities, as well as tackling many other genres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Talking about his experience Dullan said: “It has truly been the most incredible experience to write and perform a song as part of The Forthlin Sessions and to be a part of Paul McCartney’s legacy in some way. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It was lovely to be back at house with my fellow musicians; I will be forever grateful for this!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The National Trust’s Celia Richardson was part of the judging panel for “The Forthlin Sessions” alongside Mike McCartney and music writer, DJ and founder of Needle Mythology Records Pete Paphides. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “The creativity that came out of 20 Forthlin Road has made such a huge impact on people’s lives over the years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Bringing music back to Forthlin Road, through The Forthlin Sessions shows how the stories of the places we care for can keep inspiring creativity among new generations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We can’t wait to see how these new talented acts get on”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​