Record Shop Keepin 'er Country

In Ireland, country music is more popular than ever.

A host of new country music stars have tempted a generation

to turn their back on the nightclub, don their Stetsons

and jive the night away, from Ballymena to Ballydehob.

This week, we're forming an orderly queue

at Ireland's leading country music record store.

We've been here for four hours, waiting to see Derek Ryan again,

and we're really excited.

CHEERING

In a world of streaming and downloads,

Stewart's has stood steadfast for 40 years in Dungannon town centre.

There's a feeling you get that you don't get anywhere else, you know?

This is the place to be.

And with a very special birthday on the horizon,

store owner Raymond is planning to celebrate in style.

The shop's there 40 years, it's something special.

I want to have the biggest collection

of Irish country artists ever in the one place.

But is a small store in a town centre

prepared for the most impressive country music line-up

Ireland has ever seen?

Philomena's on at the minute.

Big Tom - he's arrived, we can't get him out the car

because everybody's around him, wanting photographs.

Derek Ryan's in here, eating all the buns,

and I can't even get a cup of tea!

Welcome to the celebratory world of Irish country music.

Stewart's Record Store in the heart of Mid-Ulster is an institution.

# Sing your heart out, country boy... #

Legendary singer Gene Stuart

opened the store in 1975,

and with a bone fide icon in charge,

there's no surprise it became a country music Mecca

for generations of fans.

# Sing your heart out, country boy... #

Over the years, the shop has withstood bombs and changing tastes.

Still in the Stewart family, the shop is run by Gene's brother,

Raymond, and his daughters, Olivia and Mairead.

# Singing all his stories to the crowd... #

Country music has always been popular in Ireland.

I think it's in the DNA of Irish people.

Our shop's there 40 years, it was opened by people like Brendan Quinn,

Eileen King, Bryan Coll - all of those people.

# Sing your heart out, play your guitar... #

The thing that has happened in recent years,

it's the new young people coming into the business that have

really brought it on, and they have encouraged the new generation

of country music fans to come in.

They're all good-looking, great artists, great songwriters,

and that has given the whole industry a spike.

-FANS:

-Whoo!

With country music undergoing something of a renaissance,

the shop is busier than ever,

but being a fan wasn't always something to shout about.

Before, country music wasn't cool with young people.

I remember a girl coming into the shop many years ago

and buying a country album, and she asked for it to be put in two bags

so she could walk round the town and people wouldn't know.

She probably told them she was

buying the Bay City Rollers or something.

Now, young people are coming into the shop and they're loving to buy

country music, they're buying Derek and Mason and Mike Denver

and Johnny Brady and Lisa, all those people.

So it's cool to be country now.

But there's more to this record store than meets the eye.

Above the shop is where the real operation takes place.

Dungannon might be a small town, but it can rightly claim to be

the epicentre of country music in Ireland.

It's home to Raymond's Sharpe record label, through which many of

the top artists record and release their music.

A lot of the new Irish country stars,

we bring them out on the Sharpe Music label.

Well, inside the next couple of weeks, we'll be able to set

a release date for the album, and then will be able to get it up

on social media and notify all the dealers and distributors.

'Behind the scenes, we work very closely with all the artists,

'working on the tracks, working on the recording, the artwork,'

and then I suppose, eventually, getting it out to the shops,

which is a very important part.

We supply all the shops in Ireland, all the big stores.

But Stewart's don't just ship records the length

and breadth of Ireland.

We send parcels all over the world.

Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil, Spain, Portugal.

And it seems they're fond of artists like Big Tom

in some unexpected places.

We even send them to Libya, believe it or not,

so it is popular all over the world.

# Why'd you come in here looking like that?

# In your high-heeled boots and your painted-on jeans... #

She may not be a household name in Libya,

but Lisa McHugh is one of Ireland's most popular country singers,

and Raymond is busy finalising the details of her new album.

# You're almost giving me a heart attack... #

Lisa!

How are you? Thank you.

# I just can't stand it... #

Since breaking onto the scene in 2011, Lisa has introduced

a whole new generation - particularly young men -

to country music standards.

-You were lucky to come in today and meet Lisa McHugh!

-I know, wasn't I?

-What will the girlfriend say about this?

-I don't know.

With the album launch only weeks away,

Raymond has final sign-off on the artwork.

The cover's great.

I love the title, #Country, nobody's ever came up with it before.

'This will be my third album released with Raymond,'

and there's no-one here in Ireland that pushes an album

quite like Sharpe do.

And Raymond in particular, he's very hands-on.

And there's a nice space there for you to sign your CD

when you're finished. When it's put out on all the stores,

I think that cover's going to stand out.

-What do you think of the cover of your new album?

-Is it ready?

-Of course it is.

-It is not, it's paper.

No, we haven't got the digipaks in yet. They'll be in soon.

# Oh, baby, tell me the truth

# What in the world's coming over you? #

The shop has seen some changes since it first opened in the 1970s,

and nowadays, you can't sell records

unless you have a slick social media campaign.

Hi, guys, Lisa here in Stewart's Music Shop in Dungannon.

Cannot wait to launch my brand-new album, #Country,

right here in store. See you then.

Perfect.

Lisa's album launch isn't the only event Raymond has on the horizon.

He's determined to mark the shop's 40th anniversary

with a massive country music bash.

I might be a bit ambitious what I'm planning to do, but I want to invite

all the artists who were at the shop when it opened,

and I want to invite all the new artists

that's came along in 40 years. I want to have

the biggest collection of Irish country artists

ever in the one place, at the one day,

I want to have them performing in the shop as well.

Probably never been done before, and a bit ambitious,

and I don't know where they're going to go or whatever,

but it will all sort itself out.

One of the store's most loyal customers is 71-year-old Isaac.

There's something relaxing about country music,

and the lyrics speak to me in a very strong way,

of certain songs on the record, you know?

There's something there and it gives you a buzz.

If I come in here, a member of staff would say to me,

"Isaac, there's 200 new LPs came in today."

Bang - right away, I'm over here. And I'm looking through them.

But, for a pensioner, record collecting is an expensive business.

Morning, Brian, my friend, I've just picked some more stuff out there.

-A few more for the collection.

-A few more for the collection.

'I can select a pile of LPs from here and I can go over and say,

' "Brian, if I give you a fiver deposit, I'll have the rest

' "of the money for you at the end of the month, will that do?"

'And Brian will say, "Of course you can. That's OK, Isaac." '

It's the only story I know around Ireland where you can do that.

-Thank you very much, Brian.

-Any time, Isaac.

-I'm away now.

-To go home, put my feet up and relax.

-Good man.

And, as the shop's most loyal customer,

Isaac has his ear to the ground, and he's heard rumour of the party.

I'm not really supposed to know, but I got a wee whimper, you know?

From Brian, that certain artists had been asked, like Nathan Carter,

Jimmy Buckley, Lisa McHugh, all the big artists like that.

I'm looking forward to it, you know?

# Oh, that little-bitty, teeny-weeny thing they call the love bug... #

Isaac's small flat could be mistaken for a record store,

given his impressive collection.

# It all started with a little-bitty kiss and a hug... #

Day-in, day-out, listening to my country music, this is the life.

I hope in the near future to have 1,000 records, maybe more.

If it's 2,000, 3,000, so be it, I'll have them here.

But it's not only records.

Isaac has collected a whole country-music-inspired wardrobe.

As you can see, it's a beautiful jacket. It means so much to me.

Everything country I like.

Country shirts, country guitars, country boots. Anything country.

This LP, as you can see, is Philomena's greatest hits.

Blanket On The Ground, and also this one,

Susan McCann's Down River Road. Brilliant.

Charley Pride, Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger?

Isaac can't wait for the celebrations,

where he'll get to meet his idols.

Well, I'm looking forward to this 40th anniversary party

up in Gene Stuart's.

I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of them stars

and maybe having a chat with them.

And getting to know them better, you know?

Anybody that says country music is rubbish, I tell them,

"Take a hike. Listen to it."

And once you've heard this, I would say you'll become

a Nathan Carter fan overnight,

and I'm convinced the next time I'm talking to you, you'll be

saying to me, "Oh, Isaac, I'm a big Nathan Carter fan now after that."

So here goes, just sit back, relax and enjoy it.

MUSIC: Wagon Wheel by Nathan Carter

And with so many country artists in his front room,

Isaac will never be stuck for company.

Country music, it stops me from being lonely.

When I'm down, I put on a bit of country music,

sit back and listen,

and something in that song helps me to relax.

And it helps when I'm getting depressed. Why be depressed?

Listen to a relaxing piece of country music,

it lifts your heart up. It lifts me.

Before any celebrations,

the shop has to keep this on selling records, and Raymond takes

a traditional approach to supplying stores with his artists.

Our van sales delivery system is a very unique thing

to Sharpe Music, we been doing it now these past 30 years.

We're the last of it, and it's something

as a tradition I would like to keep going.

# And play the Truck-Drivin' Man... #

There's not as many record shops in the country as there used to be.

Downloads are a new thing now, a lot of people's buying downloads.

But there's one genre of music that people still continue

to want to buy a physical CD.

Every week, Stewart's deliver only the finest country produce,

fresh from the van, to dozens of independent stores all over Ireland.

-What have you got on that list there for me?

-Right, Raymond, let me see.

Could you give me half a dozen of Big Tom, please?

-No problem.

-That new Tony Kerr CD.

-Oh, aye.

-And Lee Matthews.

-Oh, yeah, yeah.

Do you know what it reminds me of?

It reminds me of the grocery van used to go around

the country years ago.

My mother used to write the note for the van, so I'm back to

writing the note again, so maybe I've gone full circle.

# I climbed back aboard my old semi... #

Being on the open road has Raymond reminiscing

about his famous brother.

Our brother, Eugene, sadly died this year on the 11th of February.

He had a great career in country music,

part of that Big Tom, Larry Cunningham, Brian Coll era.

They carried the mantle for Irish country music for years.

Drove all over Ireland on bad roads, in bad vehicles, to huge crowds.

Had some great records, some hit records,

recorded in Nashville, packed dance halls all over Ireland.

He had a great career in country music,

and he's left a great legacy behind.

We've landed in Donegal Town.

Like every other town, it's full of traffic and no parking spaces.

-Good to see you, sir.

-How are you?

What way are you fixed for a bit of gear?

I could do with a bit of stuff.

I've a wee list here, mate, if you want a look at it.

-Let's go.

-Good man.

Do you know that our shop was opened 40 years this year?

You'll come down maybe, if you're knocking about.

-I will definitely come down.

-It'll be a good old day.

I've never known to miss a party yet.

THEY LAUGH

He may already be inviting guests, but delivering CDs to Donegal

means Raymond hasn't had time to actually plan the party.

I have most of the artists still to call,

I have to announce it on social media, to advertise it,

get all the posters done, get the cake.

In fact, I've an awful lot of work to do.

# Play a song for me, Apple Jack, Apple Jack

# Play a song for me and I'll sing

# Play a song for me, Apple Jack, Apple Jack... #

In two weeks' time, the store will potentially host

the most impressive musical line-up Ireland has ever seen.

But today, singer Lisa McHugh is the star attraction,

as she launches her new album.

# Time still not forgotten... #

But whilst the army of fans who have turned up to get selfies

and signed CDs is great for business,

it's left Raymond with a problem.

Just wondering what we're going to do on the 40th birthday party,

cos we has Lisa here on her own and the shop was packed,

people couldn't get in.

There's going to be a wee bit of scratching our heads.

I don't know how we're going to get everyone in, but we'll give it a go.

But I want the shop to be functional on our 40th birthday party,

I want people to come and see the record shop as it is,

so truthfully, I don't have a clue what I'm going to do.

As the tidy up begins, Raymond's daughters, Olivia and Mairead,

who help run the shop, want him to be realistic.

There's going to be people coming to the shop for the very first time.

No, they're going to end up halfway down Irish Street.

We want to get them in, we want to get the till ringing.

THEY LAUGH

# You've gone your way... #

Brian, we're not in bad shape now, are we?

# I've gone mine... #

Daddy, we are going to have to think about this,

we're going to have to make some plans,

it's not just going to happen.

It will be grand, we'll get it sorted out. We always do.

I know, but people have to be comfortable and they have to

-have a good time. We'll have to look after them.

-Don't worry about it.

Everything will be fine. You'll be saying,

"Raymond, that was some day."

Daddy's an optimist, an eternal optimist, and he does tend to

think that things will always work out OK, but we're going to

have to rein him in a little bit this time and get some plans made.

With his daughter's words of caution ringing in his ears,

Raymond fires ahead nonetheless -

his phone book reading like a Who's Who of the country scene.

# Operator, won't you put me on through

# I gotta send my love down to Baton Rouge... #

PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Hello, is that Brian?

-Speaking.

Brian, it's Raymond Stewart here down at Dungannon.

How are you keeping?

-Hello?

-Hello, is that Margo?

-That's me!

-Hello?

-Hello. Is that Johnny?

-Hello?

-Marty Mone?

-BRIAN:

-Oh, well, Raymond, how's things?

-The very best.

Do you remember I was chatting with you, Brian,

a couple of weeks ago about the shop being 40 years old?

-You were there when it opened.

-I was indeed, aye.

I would love it if were are able to come down for an hour on that day.

-MARGO:

-Oh, absolutely, I wouldn't miss it,

I'll be really, really thrilled to come down.

Is there somewhere to leave Zimmer frames and crutches and stuff?

Is there somewhere to leave that stuff?

HE LAUGHS

I don't want you to steal them when I'm talking to somebody!

You're supple enough yet, boy.

-Aye, no! See you then.

-Thanks, Brian.

I'm really glad that you asked me. Thanks a million.

-Thanks a million, Margo.

-All right.

I'll be there, look forward to seeing you on the 10th...

# Happy birthday to you... #

HE LAUGHS

I'm there. I'm already there, man, thank you very much for inviting me.

Thanks, Johnny. Thanks, see you then, bye.

# Tonight I'm moving on Just letting you know

# It's on to the whiskey I go... #

On the growing list of artists

booked for the birthday celebrations, one name stands out.

Derek Ryan is one of the biggest stars in the circuit.

# Tonight I'm moving on Just letting you know

# It's on to the whiskey I go. #

All right.

I don't even drink whiskey.

# Hold on to your hat

# And we'll drive this road together... #

Derek is a household name with three number ones

under his belt and a legion of dedicated fans.

His appearance at Stewart's is sure to draw a crowd.

# Hold on to your hat... #

The way it's taken off in the last five, six years

is just a dream come true.

I do have to pinch myself.

Not so long ago, you know, I was living in London,

and I remember playing one night in the pub to the barman, you know.

That was the only person there!

# It's all part of God's plan... #

Like many a singer before him,

it was Raymond who helped launch his career.

God's Plan was my debut single.

I got CDs printed up and sent them out to every DJ

and sent it to Raymond.

I sent up, I think it might have been 25 copies of the single to him

and literally three days later, he rang again and said, "Look,

"it sold out and you need to come up and have a chat." So, I went up and

met him and just from that moment, just clicked with him, really.

Here we go!

HE SINGS

Raymond's always been, "You know, let's go for it, let's do this!"

And it's infectious, you know?

That's why I think myself and Raymond buzz off each other and

seven albums on and many years later we're still working great together.

# It only seems like yesterday... #

As the big day arrives,

it seems the country gods are smiling on the celebrations.

The sun's shining. Actually, the sun's in my eyes.

I couldn't have asked for anything better. It's perfect conditions.

So just have to worry to make sure that all the people that are here

enjoy themselves and all the artists enjoy themselves

and it's a successful day, and we sell loads of CDs.

# A yellow coloured ribbon... #

It's the most important day in Stewart's history

since the shop first opened 40 years ago -

four decades of great memories for Raymond.

-Stewart's record shop opening today.

-What age were you then?

I was only a cub, sure, still only a cub.

There's a handsome-looking young man there.

-The haircut on you.

-That's some haircut!

That's a very old photograph of the shop there.

You wouldn't even have been born then.

Look, see how dressed everybody was.

There's an early Gene Stuart album.

Gene Stuart And The Homesteaders.

I remember the day that album came into the shop.

Eugene was there and he opened the box

and he was shocked to see that his new album had arrived.

Declan Nerney, look at how young Declan is. Good album, that.

But I remember him on the day,

he was so pleased to see his new album, he wasn't expecting it.

Put it up there.

All these artists are the people

that cut the track for the artists today -

these people are the pioneers of Irish country music.

It came from the show bands,

and a lot of the songs that they recorded many years ago,

they've been re-released again by the new country artists.

It stands testament to them.

So we owe them all a great sense of gratitude.

It's amazing to have them all here today.

I don't believe there's ever been so many of the older...

Shall we call them "the previous generation"?

..and the current generation ever in the one place before.

On the other side of town,

store regular Isaac is gearing up for the day ahead.

# Sitting on the back boards having a beer

# Talking about his farm and his old John Deere. #

40 years of country music. You know, I'm delighted

that I've won a golden ticket to go up to this event.

You know, I feel like I'm a millionaire.

And I'm hoping to meet many stars that's going to be there.

# ..there be a John Deere beer

# You know, it's not that easy to farm out west

# But when you're driving a Deere, you're driving the best... #

You know, it'll be weird to meet these people,

they were very young then but

they've gone on about the same as myself.

It's good to see them not forgetting what happened 40 years ago.

I want to see all the hands in the air now.

# On a Sunday morning and I feel so bad

# My legs are tired and weak...

As country fans of all ages crowd Irish Street,

the musicians start to arrive,

including some who performed on the day the shop first opened.

Brendan Quinn isn't as young as he once was but he's still at it.

I can't believe it's 40 years since we opened the shop.

And there, look. That's me in all my glory there.

Brian Coll, Philomena Begley, Gene himself.

I was just a young lad at that stage, making my way in the game.

Very, very raw. But 40 years later, I've learned a lot.

So it's good to be here and good to be above the ground.

# I thought that you would be a perfect... #

Another those who performed that day in 1975 was Eileen King,

and Isaac gets a front row view as she belts out one of her classics

and Isaac's favourite song.

# But like a big red rose that's made of paper... #

'I remember coming down here to the shop, and Gene taking the records'

and telling me what to record, so it really means an awful lot to me,

and country music is my whole life.

# Wherever you go, I want you to know

# It takes people like you to make people like me... #

Hey!

And it takes dedicated people to make a 250-mile round trip,

just to see their favourite artists.

-Say cheese!

-Cheese!

But Paddy and Eileen have made that journey from Athlone

and are busy stocking up on autographs.

It's country music heaven. What more can you wish for?

All the stars are here - Tommy Cameron, when we came in the door.

-Yeah, Michael English.

-Marty Mone.

Marty Mone, and Margo, can't forget her! Margo...

The wee man from Strabane, Uncle Hugo. Johnny Brady.

And Johnny Brady. So we're not doing too bad!

-Michael, it's a pleasure.

-Thanks, Paddy. Great to see you.

-God bless you.

-God bless.

There's a buzz of enthusiasm here. Everybody is here in country music.

Only one day in my life bigger than today -

the day I married my wife!

He never told me that before, so he didn't!

# And we're all gonna die someday, Lord

# We're all gonna die someday... #

As the music continues outside, Isaac is busy inside,

catching up with his favourite stars.

-You want me to sign it?

-Yes, please.

-OK.

And who needs an autograph book when you have a guitar?

-Thank you very much.

-Not at all, great to see you.

When this guitar is signed and I hang it on the wall,

it'll have pride of place in my home.

When anybody comes in and sees this hanging on the wall,

I'll just have to be open and honest and tell them -

"Not for sale!"

Seeing legendary artists onstage together is priceless,

but is Dungannon big enough for two Queens of Country?

Philomena Begley and Margo!

-Excuse me, you're the older one.

-No, no, no...

-She's trying to tell everybody that she's younger than me!

-Hey!

You were on the road younger than me.

You're getting a pension, I'm not!

LAUGHTER

They may be older than they once were,

but the songs are timeless.

# We make up with each other

# The way old friends do... #

With so many artists together in one place,

it's creating something of a logistical headache.

There's an awful lot of people here from all over,

the shop's deadly busy.

We haven't enough people on the till.

Philomena's on there at the minute.

Big Tom, he's arrived - we can't get him out of the car,

because everybody's around him, wanting photographs.

Derek Ryan's in here, eating all the buns,

and I can't even get a cup of tea!

Big Tom is known as the grandfather of Irish country music,

and public appearances these days are rare.

Given the demand for selfies and autographs,

he's late to the stage.

-CHEERING

-Thank you!

A lot of people have been asking me, what am I going to do?

I'm not going to do very much!

LAUGHTER

GUITAR PLAYS INTRO

# Oh, we're going out the same way we came in

# Don't matter who you know or where you've been

# Makes no difference who you are, Skid Row Joe or superstar

# You're going out the same way you came in... #

So far, it's going great, we're almost there, it's been fantastic.

I don't think I've ever seen a line-up like that before

in all my life, so I would like to be paying them.

Hold On To Your Hat, here we go.

Derek Ryan, back where it all started for him,

is closing the day's celebrations.

Let's see those hands in the air!

Are we ready?

# Hold on to your hat and we'll drive this road together

# Hold on to your hat, say you'll be mine for ever

# Ah, you know you are my sweetheart

# You're the apple of my eye... #

'What can I say? It's been one hell of a day.

'And I got to meet ones that I'd never met before,'

like Michael English, and who else? Um...

-Jimmy Devine.

-Jimmy Devine and Lee Matthews, who I'd never met either.

-Michael English.

-Yeah, I said Michael English. Are you listening?

It'll be a long drive back to Athlone for Paddy and Eileen, so!

CHEERING

Isaac is so overwhelmed by the experience.

He's already planning his next big day.

I hope, when they're wheeling me out in a brown box, that they're

playing a country song as I'm lowered down and put in the ground.

# Oh, you're going out the same way you came in

# Makes no difference who you know or where you've been

# Makes no difference who you are, Skid Row Joe or superstar

# You're going out the same way you came in

# Yeah, you're going out the same way you came in. #