If you’ve ever jived to Locklin’s Bar then get ready to do some more because Michael English and his new band are back on the dancing scene.

I watched as Michael English bounded up the hotel steps to his meeting with Irish Country Living. The guy had been on the road all day and in less than two hours he’d be on-stage at the Hazel Tree near Mallow. But you’d never think it.

Dressed in jeans, a check shirt, a navy cable-knit jumper and shiny brown brogues, he looked relaxed and smart.

Michael is back on the country dancing scene after a break of eight years, and he’s loving it. The diary is full and the crowds are turning out to welcome him. It’s a scene he knows well because, believe it or not, from the time he was 12-years-old he was a one-man band.

“Yes, with the help of my dad I fronted my own band for five years. It was a great apprenticeship and I learned what dancers want.”

By the age of 17, the Castledermot teenager was fronting his own six-piece dance band.

“I had a dream start in the business,” he says, “I met Henry McMahon of The Mainliners and he managed me and gave me my first hit record, The Nearest to Perfect.”

A stream of successful albums followed. Then in 2005, Michael changed tack to focus on the concert market in Ireland, the UK and America.

Locklin’s Bar, his big hit of three years ago, written by Tipperary native Tim Lawlor, brought him back into the limelight and he’s now re-establishing himself on the dancing scene. So what brought about the change?

“When I returned home from the US last year, I could see the dance scene had been given a new lease of life, the crowds were great and more young people were coming out to dance, especially in Northern Ireland. I just wanted to be part of it.”

Get the beat right

It took Michael four months to put his band in place, not an easy thing to do when you want your own sound.

“It’s not just a matter of hiring a bunch of musicians. Getting a good dance beat is essential. You have to pick the songs and make sure the musicianship is right. Then you have to rehearse and rehearse again.”

The band’s first outing was at Mount Wolseley outside Tullow, Co Carlow, earlier this month.

“I was really scared. Unlike a concert where the seats are pre-booked, you’ve no idea if a crowd will turn up for a dance, and especially in my case since I was off the circuit for eight years.”

But the crowds did turn out and have continued to do so.

Country all the way

Michael wants to create his own distinctive sound and his programme includes a mixture of well-known covers and his own original material.

“I write songs but I’d be careful about putting too much new stuff into the programme. It’s important to get that balance right. But one thing’s for sure, it’s country music I’m playing.”

He composed the melody for his new single, the appropriately named The Band is back in Town, with the lyrics coming from Clare musician PJ Murrihy.

“I was searching for a song with which to launch the band on the dancing circuit and I thought I could write one with him. I came up with the title and the melody, played it down the phone to PJ, and he put the words to it. And even though we’ve never met, we’ve ended up with a great song.”

His forthcoming album – he’s still working on the name – will be out at the end of the month. Like his dance programme, it will also be all country.

“It’s a first for me. I’ve released eight albums and it’s usually a mix of country and easy listening, which suited the concert scene. But this album is for the dancers.”

When it comes to dancing, Michael English could certainly give the celebrities on Strictly come Dancing a run for their money. He has no less than five national titles for ballroom dancing under his belt.

“It goes back to when I was a kid. I loved watching old black and white musicals and I wanted to do everything that the stars were doing on the stage.”

That meant learning the piano and he completed classical training with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He studied ballroom dancing with Mary Kelly and Mick McGann and, before long, he was on the competition scene.

“I wasn’t a footballer, but I loved music and dancing and it’s where my interests lay. I was lucky in that both my parents loved music and encouraged me all the way.”

He credits Strictly come Dancing with making ballroom dancing cool again, especially because it uses modern music for the dance numbers.

“I know from friends who are dance teachers, that they are busy teaching young people to jive and waltz. So I’d say to anyone, just give it a try.”

In the eight years since Michael English was on the dance scene, the biggest change he’s seen is in the roads.

“The motorway network was only starting back then and now it’s a dream. I live in Portlaoise and its two hours to Cork and two and a half to Donegal. The roads are a pleasure to drive, especially as I try to get home every night.”

They’d want to be a pleasure, as this weekend sees Michael on stage in Letterkenny, Moy, Co Tyrone, and the Galway Bay Hotel.

Go on, get dancing. You are sure to have a great night out.