Anthony Toner - Six Inches of Water (2021)

Anthony's first album of original material since early 2019, a collection of songs inspired by east Belfast. The title track, 'Six Inches of Water', was written as part of the Heritage Angels Awards organised by Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, and sparked a commission from EastSide Partnership for a full album collection.

Just as the writing process began, the Covid pandemic caused the world to withdraw - and Anthony's horizons - in writing terms - were reduced. The result, though, has been a gloriously focused, street-level collection of intimate songs, with mentions for taxi drivers, waitresses, late night buses, the Blitz survivors of Thorndyke Street, the corporation baths at Templemore, the Troubles, a tribute to the late much-missed actor and writer Sam McCready - and the healing power of the Greenway.

Recorded in spring of 2021 with a collection of close friends - producer Clive Culbertson on bass, Matt Weir on drums and John McCullough on keyboards, the album also has guest appearances from cellist Neil Martin and his daughter Maebh on viola - recorded together for the very first time - and Anthony's moving string quartet arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee, performed beautifully by the Arco String Quartet.