Draft:Joe Philpott

Rubyhorse

Following the release of A Lifetime in One Day,^[12] the band toured across Ireland before relocating to Boston, Massachusetts, in January 1997. They held a 62-week residency at The Burren in Davis Square,^[13] and won a Boston Music Award for Best New Local Band.^[14]

After finding success on MP3 charts as an unsigned act, they signed with Interscope Records. The band then worked with producer Jay Joyce in Nashville, recording How Far Have You Come. After touring in support of the album, Rubyhorse signed with Island Records.The subsequent album, Rise, became their only major-label release^[15] and featured slide guitar by George Harrison on the track "Punchdrunk."

They supported the album with national tours and TV appearances, including Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Good Morning America. "Sparkle" hit number 21 on the Billboard charts in 2002 and won an Irish Meteor Award. Their music was also featured in the film Sidewalks of New York and TV series such as Smallville and Rescue Me.

After Owen Fegan left Rubyhorse in 2003, the band recorded Goodbye to All That with Jay Joyce in Nashville. Released on the Brash label, it received positive reviews. They continued touring in the United States and Ireland before disbanding in 2005.

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the original lineup reunited remotely to record a "live from home" version of "Punchdrunk," including George Harrison's slide guitar. That live version was released with the approval of Harrison's estate.

White Horse Guitar Club and other ventures

Philpott is a founding member of the White Horse Guitar Club, a group known for its collaborative guitar arrangements. They have toured Ireland and internationally.^[16]

In July 2005, Philpott became a founding member of Jodavino, alongside Joe Carey, Aoibheann Carey, Humphry Murphy, and Trevor Kiely. They released two albums, Deep End (2006) and Say It Like It Is (2008).^[17][18]

He has been involved in community music initiatives such as Music in Community (MIC)^[19] and Music Generation Cork City.^[20]

Memoir

In 2025, Philpott became a published author with his memoir All Roads Lead To Where You Are (from Bishopstown to The Beatles). The Irish Independent wrote about the book, highlighting its focus on "the faith it takes to keep going when things fall apart."^[21] The Cork Independent described it as a "lyrical exploration of music, migration, and memory," emphasizing its themes of risk and reinvention.^[22]

He discussed his memoir on RTÉ Radio 1's Arena.^[23] RTÉ's online Culture section also published an excerpt from his memoir.^[24]

In an interview with the Evening Echo, he said it's "not just a book about music" and that it explores "what happens when you step into the unknown."^[4]

A single "All Roads Lead To Where You Are" was released as a musical companion to the book. Philpott told The Southern Star that it reflected "the miles, the silences, the wrong turns, and the people you become because of them."^[25] Hot Press described the song as "a stunning new single to accompany his memoir," pointing to its Americana influences and reflective tone, and noting how his touring shaped his work.^[5]

With Rubyhorse

• A Lifetime in One Day (1995)
• How Far Have You Come (2001)
• Rise (2002)
• Goodbye to All That (2005)

With White Horse Guitar Club

• The White Horse Guitar Club (2013)
• Sos Beag (2015)

With Jodavino

• Deep End (2006)
• Say It Like It Is (2008)