Pedal & Lever Society

Pedal & Lever Society is the new project of alt-folk singer and pedal steel guitarist, Joel Harkin and singer-songwriter and harpist, Sáoirse Van Merkom.

Harp and pedal steel guitar normally reside in separate musical worlds, with harp being found primarily in traditional and classical music, and pedal steel guitar being a mainstay of country, folk and Western swing outfits. P&LS couldn’t be described properly by just one of these genres. They take aspects of Irish traditional music and Americana and sprinkle in some ambient textural sensibilities for good measure.

Joel Harkin has been honing his craft as a singer songwriter for fifteen years. His debut album, Never Happy was shortlisted for the Northern Irish Music Prize Album of the Year award, and he is recognised as a mainstay of the independent Irish music scene. Sáoirse Van Merkom is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist with an affinity for traditional music.

Press:

'They're doing something very different with this collaboration'- BBC Radio Ulster
'Delicate and fantastical' - Chordblossom

Cool things that have happened:
Emily & Scott featured on Celtic Fantasyland Spotify Editorial Playlist - March 2025