Danny Burns & Tim O’Brien Reimagine Richard Thompson’s “Keep Your Distance” — Out Now
IRISH BLUEGRASS ARTIST
DANNY BURNS
RELEASES NEW SINGLE
“KEEP YOUR DISTANCE”
FEATURING TIM O’BRIEN
TODAY
NINE-TRACK ALBUM
SOUTHERN SKY
OUT AUGUST 22 VIA BONFIRE RECORDING CO.
FEATURING VINCE GILL, RICKY SKAGGS, SAM BUSH & MORE
Above: Danny Burns; Credit: Jim Wright
NASHVILLE, TN (July 23, 2025) — Critically acclaimed Irish bluegrass artist Danny Burns joins forces with multi-instrumentalist and roots music pioneer Tim O’Brien on his new single “Keep Your Distance,” out today. Originally written and recorded by Richard Thompson, “Keep Your Distance” marks the final preview from Danny Burns’ forthcoming album Southern Sky, due out August 22 via Bonfire Recording Co.
STREAM “KEEP YOUR DISTANCE” FT. TIM O’BRIEN HERE.
PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD SOUTHERN SKY HERE.
Having premiered worldwide on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, “Keep Your Distance” provides listeners with a fresh glimpse into the diversity of the project, leaning more toward a roots and folk-inspired acoustic sound. The song features a powerhouse lineup of musicians, with Danny Burns on vocals and guitar alongside Tim O’Brien on vocals and mandolin. The track also showcases Ethan Burkhardt on upright bass, Billy Contreras on fiddle and strings, Justin Moses on dobro, Matt Menefee on banjo and mandolin, Cody Kilby on guitar, and Jerry Roe on drums. Engineered by Luke Wooten and Austin Stanley, the song was mixed and mastered by Wooten at Station West in Nashville.
Danny Burns shares, “I’ve always been a big fan of Richard Thompson’s playing, singing, and songs. I first caught his Austin City Limits performance on TV and was so taken by it, I went out and got the DVD. I must’ve watched and listened to it on repeat for weeks. That’s where I first heard this track and completely fell in love with it. I’ve also really loved the other versions by the incredible Patty Loveless and the mighty Buddy & Julie Miller.”
Above: Single Artwork For “Keep Your Distance” ft. Tim O’Brien
On May 16, Danny Burns released “Brother Wind” featuring Dan Tyminski, whose signature harmonies lend a weathered soul to the track. The song, which caught the attention of The Bluegrass Situation, also showcases a top-tier lineup of instrumentalists, including Cody Kilby on guitar, Billy Contreras on fiddle, Matt Menefee on banjo, Ethan Burkhardt on upright bass, and Jerry Roe on drums.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Danny Burns shares, “‘Brother Wind,’ by the mighty Tim O’Brien, has long been a favorite of mine since coming across it on the Transatlantic Sessions. I couldn’t have been more delighted when my musical brother Dan Tyminski agreed to sing with me — he brought his iconic golden voice to this track.” Watch the “Brother Wind” official music video here.
Southern Sky is already making waves, propelled by the breakout success of its lead single, “Blue Ridge Blue.” Released on February 12 and penned by hit songwriter Jim Beavers, the track features bluegrass greats Sam Bush and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. It shot to #1 on both the Bluegrass Today Airplay Chart and the Grassicana Chart, holding its position for multiple weeks and becoming one of the most-played songs on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. With widespread airplay and chart-topping momentum, “Blue Ridge Blue” marks the most successful bluegrass single of Danny Burns’ career. Watch the “Blue Ridge Blue” official music video here.
The full album is a nine-track odyssey where Irish roots meet Southern soul — fueled by dobros, fiddles, and vivid storytelling. Joined by legends like Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, and Ricky Skaggs, Burns delivers soaring melodies steeped in Appalachian tradition and Southern warmth. “It takes a village,” he says, likening the album’s spirit to Allen Toussaint’s Southern Nights, where Appalachian tales blend with deep Southern twang.
SOUTHERN SKY TRACKLISTING:
“Blue Ridge Blue” (feat. Sam Bush & Bronwyn Keith-Hynes)
“Brother Wind” (feat. Dan Tyminski)
“Who You Know” (feat. Ricky Skaggs & Mike Rogers)
“Lips on Fire” (feat. Cecelia Castleman)
“Keep Your Distance” (feat. Tim O’Brien)
“Good Things Happen” (feat. Vince Gill)
“Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” (feat. Sam Bush)
“The Love You Bring” (feat. Dan Tyminski)
“Southern Sky” (feat. Tim O’Brien)
Above: ‘Southern Sky’ Album Artwork
Born and raised in Donegal, Ireland, Burns’ unique blend of bluegrass, country, Celtic, and folk music has captured the attention of some of Americana’s biggest names, many of whom have joined him on various projects. For the first two decades of his career, Burns honed his craft as a traveling folk singer, sharing the musical traditions of his native Ireland across the United States and captivating audiences with a tapestry of stories and melodies.
About Danny Burns:
Danny Burns is an Irish-born, Americana singer-songwriter whose genre-blending sound fuses bluegrass, country, Celtic, and folk traditions. Raised in Donegal, Ireland, Burns has collaborated with icons like Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, and Steve Earle, earning acclaim from Rolling Stone, CMT, American Songwriter and Billboard. His critically acclaimed 2019 debut North Country and 2021’s Hurricane established him as a rising force in roots music. In 2022, he scored his first #1 on the Grassicana charts and held the top spot on the Gospel Bluegrass chart for thirteen weeks. His forthcoming LP Southern Sky (out August 22 via Bonfire Recording Co.) continues his tradition of cinematic songwriting and all-star collaborations, led by the chart-topping single “Blue Ridge Blue.”
DANNY BURNS ONLINE:
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