Danny Kyle Open Stage Sat 2nd Feb 2019
St Roch;s Ceilidh Band
Maths teacher Frank McArdle has been teaching Irish music to his pupils at St Roch’s School in Glasgow and to the youngsters of the “Glasgow Irish Minstrels” – a branch of the Comhaltas movement – since 1977. Having run a folk club in the school for several years, he felt the need to diversify. Volunteers to learn the accordion, fiddle and whistle were sought and the band was born. Their earliest engagements involved playing a few tunes for local community groups. Within a couple of years, however, they were playing their first ceili. They never looked back. They became much sought-after throughout the West of Scotland.
Working closely with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann ( the traditional Irish music association), the music lessons started on Tuesday evenings, opening the band to pupils from all over the city. Nowadays around 200 converge on the school.
His “St Roch’s Ceili Band” has launched the careers of several stalwarts of the traditional music scene including John McCusker, Gavin Pennycook and Clare McLaughlin. They have even managed to produce All-Ireland Champions.
The band still plays regularly for ceilidhs and are equally at home with Scottish or Irish dances. Demonstrations are given and dances called.
The Boxy Gang
Josh
O’Loughlin/ Kristian Dugstad/ Rory Costello/ Eddie Kavanagh/ Brian Corry
A new Irish-based group creating a unique blend of Irish Traditional Music and
Old Time American Folk, with hints of funk, jazz, and contemporary music. Their
music bares a strong draw to the West of Ireland with their newly-released
debut album, ‘West Towards Home’ portraying songs old and new about the nostalgia
of the past and an enigmatic draw towards Celtic roots. The group brings together
established folk and acoustic musicians from Ireland and Norway for an exciting
new project in Folk and Traditional Music, aimed at audiences near and far.
Sam Luc Malin Trio
Sam Mabbett / Luc McNally / Malin Lewis
Luc, Sam and Malin have been looking to create new work with a new sound that is a little different and they think they may have found it! The next step is to share this new work with a new audience! Their material is mostly self-penned but also includes tunes from around Britain and Europe.As well as Bouzouki and Button Box the band features a new breed of Smallpipe and a generous number of effects pedals (even on the pipes!). The group likes to experiment with rhythms and sounds that are rarely heard in traditional music, while keeping true to and acknowledging the roots of tradition.On Bouzouki is Luc McNally who is a member of the highly acclaimed bands Dosca, Suas and the Iona Fyfe Band. Sam Mabbett plays Button Box and is a member of Northern Company and The Canny Band. Malin is studying piping at RCS and is also a pipe-maker and the maker of the Smallpipes played in the band.
Grainne Hunt
Grainne Hunt is a contemporary folk singer and songwriter from Monaghan. With consistently on-point, captivating vocals and well-honed, insig<br`>htful songs, Grainne has shared stages with Glen Hansard and Mark Geary and has been compared to vocal icons Tracy Chapman and Nathalie Merchant.
Having just returned from Nashville, with a new record, ‘This Secret’, in her pocket, Grainne is working towards it’s release in mid 2019. Recorded with Thomm Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell) and featuring the skills of Mark Fain (Ry Cooder) on bass and Lynn Williams (John Hiatt) on drums, it is already gaining attention in the US.
Early 2019 will also see the release of an Irish folk album, Songs from Ireland, recorded with award winning guitarist Brendan Walsh. Recorded earlier this year in Soundville Studios Luzern, including songs Buachaill on Eirne and Raglan Road, they will tour Ireland 11-15 April.