During this time, John played with well-known musicians, including Altan, Gerry O Connor, Ted Hawkins, and former Wings guitarist Henry McCullough.

In 2005, Cutliffe teamed up with Andrea Zonn to produce the Hands Across The Water CD, a 16-track collaboration album between Celtic and American artists for children who were orphaned in the South East Asian tsunami.

Artists on the album include John Prine, Paul Brady, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, and several more household names collaborating on new and remixed songs.

[1] The song was written by John and Rory and featured many well known Irish and UK artists as well as a choir of children from Jerusalem and his son, Kevin.

In addition to Cutliffe himself, the lineup included Rory Gallagher, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Liam O Maonlai, Donogh Hennessy, Honor Heffernan, Martin Tourish, Wee Glee Singers, Jerusalem Children’s Choir, Brian Mullan, Laurence Doherty, Clare Lindley, Claire McDaid, and Sophia Brock, as well as Kevin and Caroline Cutliffe.