Edinburgh dad's new career after going viral on Facebook 'by chance'

Edinburgh Live

8 hours ago

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A working class Edinburgh dad-of-two has told how he won't listen to the doubters as he continues on his journey to country music stardom.
Sean Mearns, 40, from Clermiston, is father to his two boys, Robbie, 10, and Luke, five, and husband to wife Kerri, 36, and has already had his music played on UK radio stations.
Working as a maintenance worker, he has told how he is aiming for the stars after a chance Facebook Live has led to him eyeing up a 12-night-run, playing country music classic for 6,000 Fringe festival goers.
Sean, who specialises in Scottish, Irish and American country music, is hoping his own journey can inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
'It all started four years ago when I felt like I was just plodding along in life,' he said. 'I felt my brain was wasting away so I decided to learn how to play the guitar and got some lessons.
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages.
'I started playing in the snug in my house and went from there," he said. "My brother Jamie had his 40th in Liverpool and his pal Dennis (DelBhoy) came along.
'On the minibus he was playing away and my brother and his mates goaded me on to give it a go. I sang Callum Beattie's 'Salamander Street' and everyone loved it.
'Dennis was blown away and asked my story but I said I just play in my room and mind my own business. Little did I know my brother had Facebook Live'd me and my wife told me it was everywhere back home.
'Dennis asked me to come see him when I was home but I thought nothing of it.'
Sean moved on with his life and continued to play for himself until he saw some sage advice he offered to his Robbie rebounded back at him. It was at this point the dad thought he had nothing to lose.
'My boy Robbie was playing footy but was doubting himself,' he said. 'I told him he's amazing and he is doing the right thing and back himself.
'Then he turned to me and called me out. 'How about you back yourself too dad.'
'So we agreed I'd go see Dennis and he'd crack on with his football and we'd both smash it. That has been the deal ever since.'
With the help of Dennis, Sean got out gigging, and he dived in deep playing in front of 120 people in the Midyoken pub. Two and a half years later, he has not looked back.
'The difference between me and other people, a lot folk talk a good game, but I just do it. My motto is we go big or we go home.
'I don't shy away from anything and when the opportunity came to perform at the Grand Lodge on George Street during the Fringe, I jumped at it. We will be performing in front of 500 people a night for twelve nights, hopefully selling 6,000 tickets.
'We will be doing a Country Music All-Stars show, playing classic covers from over the years.'
As a working class resident of the capital, Sean notes people from his community often do not see the Fringe as for them, but he sees no reason why that should be the case.
'We have a mindset it is not for us, but why not?', he said. 'I started off doing covers but then I recorded my first single 'She wanted him' with Dennis.
'My music started taking off, I've had 60,000 streams, and 100,000s of views on TikTok. It was surreal getting comments from people in America loving the music.
'My family have also been amazing, they are just embracing what I am doing, even though they are a bit shocked. No one was expecting me to go down this route.
'It is definitely picking up momentum, folk are stopping me in town and asking for a picture. After the Fringe show I'll probably look to do a Scottish tour.'
Sean said he often meets older men in pubs who live with regrets they did not pursue their dream and he details how he does not want to be one of them.
'If you have a passion for something you want to do, go and do it,' he said. 'No regrets and I say that to my sons.
'Sometimes you have to take a big step and it is easy for others to judge. As Scottish folk we like to knock people who try things, but we should support them, and let people thrive.
'Life is too short. There is a stigma around failure but why can't we succeed?'
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Sean is also keen to give back with the maintenance man regularly playing free shows at nursing homes and charities.
'It's just an hour of my time and sometimes it makes their day or even their week.'
To explore Sean's music visit his Facebook here.