Folk five-piece The Cornermen are set to release their haunting new single, ‘Stretched On Your Grave’, ahead of their 10-track album, Tramps and Hawkers, due to arrive in mid-October. Blending traditional Celtic instrumentation with an emotive contemporary sensibility, the track highlights the band’s ability to deliver deeply affecting music while remaining firmly rooted in the storytelling traditions of Irish folk.
Opening with lush strings, delicately plucked acoustic guitar and enchanting vocals, ‘Stretched On Your Grave’ establishes a sombre, atmospheric mood from the outset. Traditional instrumentation weaves around an evocative chorus, while delicate flute melodies add further depth to a recording that feels both intimate and haunting. The result is a restrained yet immersive arrangement that allows the song’s emotional weight to take centre stage.
Formed in October 2022 following a spontaneous open-mic session, The Cornermen are more than a folk band. Emerging from South Moreton Boxing Club and spearheaded by John Houston, the five-piece also operates as a support service charity dedicated to raising awareness of men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Music and charitable work are intrinsically linked to the group’s identity, with the band using its growing platform to reach people who may be struggling and encourage conversations around mental health.
The forthcoming album marks the group’s second collection of traditional songs, following last year’s Trad. Across 10 tracks, Tramps and Hawkers moves between familiar folk favourites and interpretations of songs associated with Shane MacGowan and Christy Moore, capturing the warmth and immediacy of a traditional pub session.
The band explain: “This is the second release of Trad songs from The Cornermen. Following on from last year’s Trad, this album, entitled Tramps and Hawkers, has 10 songs from old favourites to covers of Shane McGowan and Christy Moore songs. Done with just vocals, fiddle, guitar and bodhran, this is more of a pub session sound you might find in a Donegal tavern when the hush descends and a song rings out.”
That stripped-back philosophy runs through the band’s approach to traditional music, placing the emphasis on the songs themselves and the connection between the musicians. With vocals, fiddle, guitar and bodhran at the heart of the album, the arrangements aim to recreate the atmosphere of an intimate gathering, where familiar melodies and powerful storytelling bring people together. On ‘Stretched On Your Grave’, the group balances the richness of Celtic folk with a measured delivery that gives the emotion room to breathe.
Since forming, The Cornermen have played more than 50 dates, including performances at O2 Oxford and the Jericho Tavern, as well as an appearance on BBC Radio Oxford. They have also supported Ian Prowse and Damien Dempsey on multiple occasions, steadily establishing a live presence that reflects both their musical versatility and their commitment to their cause. Alongside their traditional releases, the band has put out three albums of original material, demonstrating a creative identity that extends beyond its interpretations of folk standards.
Away from the stage and recording studio, however, the group’s impact is measured in something far more significant than audience numbers. The Cornermen have raised enough money to fund more than 600 counselling sessions for men in crisis, with income generated through streaming and live performances channelled back into their charitable work. The band also runs its own podcast, extending its message beyond the local community and helping bring conversations about men’s mental health and suicide prevention to a wider audience.
With ‘Stretched On Your Grave’ offering a compelling introduction to the next chapter of their traditional repertoire, The Cornermen continue to demonstrate how music can serve both an artistic and a deeply human purpose. The forthcoming Tramps and Hawkers promises to celebrate the enduring appeal of Irish folk while preserving the unvarnished spirit of the songs, musicians and communal sessions that inspired it.
