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Galway-based band Island Eddy release debut album
Island Eddy was formed after a gig one night in Kinvara Community Hall
by musical friends Brendan Larrissey, Jim McKee and Martin Gavin.
The night went really well and as Brendan and Jim was living in the area
and kept meeting up they sat down and decided that it would be a good
idea to form a band that would be based locally in Kinvara Co. Galway.
Brendan Larrissey comes from Dundalk, Co. Louth and he has been living
in Galway for nearly 20 years.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s traditional Irish music flourished in
Dundalk and Brendan enjoyed honing his musical skills in many sessions
and fleadhs during that time.
In 1985 Brendan joined his first band Gael Force which was based in Galway.
During the two following years, 1986 and 1987, he played with Dolores
Keane and John Faulkner touring Europe and Ireland and he also recorded
with Dolores and her two aunts, Rita and Sara.
In 1987 Brendan won the Senior Fiddle Championship and the following year
he decided to become a full-time musician.
In 1988 Brendan was a founding member of the award-winning band Arcady
which led to him touring worldwide in the USA, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong
and, of course, at home in Ireland.
He was also involved in the albums A Woman’s Heart and Trad At Heart
to name but a few.
Since then he has recorded two solo fiddle albums, A Flick Of The Wrist
and Up The Moy Road. He has been involved in running the first International
Fiddle Festival in Ireland, runs his own fiddle school in Galway and has
taught many All-Ireland champions to date.
Jim McKee is an artist and singer-songwriter who hails originally from
Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. He has played guitar with many traditional bands.
He has toured from time to time in Europe and America during the last
10 years.
Jim was involved with the award-winning White Hare Band based in Tyrone
with P J MacDonald, who is a virtuoso whistle player and singer, and also
with Brendan Henry, a fiddle player. The White Hare Band has done various
BBC TV and radio recordings and has won the Danny Kyle Celtic Connections
award. Two of Jim’s original songs were used as soundtracks for
two film productions.
Jim is based in Bell Harbour in the Burren area of north Clare in the
west of Ireland. He has written three new songs for this album that are
based on his past experiences in the North of Ireland.
Brian Duke comes from Co. Roscommon which is widely recognised as being
the home of flute playing and indeed Brian is one of the finest exponents
of this flute-playing heritage. He has played at venues across the world
and has recorded on many albums over the years.
Brian has played with various groups over the years most notably the band
Cian. Cian released two superb albums in the 1990s, Three Shouts From
A Hill and The Rolling Wave. He can also be heard on the flute recording
of the Flute Players Of Roscommon.
Brian’s style has been influenced by the playing of Matt Molloy
and the discerning ear can hear this in his playing. He possesses his
own unique style of playing however and displays a wonderful interpretation
of music old and new.
Martin Gavin has a great love of east Galway music and had the great pleasure
of playing in sessions with Paddy Kelly, Paddy Carty and Jenny Campbell
and he still meets Paddy Fahy and Eddie Kelly. Martin now teaches the
bodhrán in Ballinasloe and Galway. At weekends Martin helps to
encourage the next generation of young musicians to keep the music going
through his involvement in the music pub Maud Millars in Ballinasloe.
Island Eddy is the debut album we are going to hear more from this group
of outstanding musicians. Recently launched in Galway and released on
the CLO lár-Chonnachta label the album features eight sets of tunes
and four songs.
Ranging from newly composed to traditional favourites the tunes highlight
the musicianship and solidity of Duke’s flute and whistles and Larrissey’s
fiddle, viola and whistles.
McKee’s contemporary vocals embrace the sentiment of the four self-penned
songs which are influenced by his childhood memories and family background
in Co. Tyrone. Arranged beautifully to include the instruments of the
tradition and enhancing percussion.
Guest musicians on the album include Arty McGlynn on guitars, Adrian Mantu
on cello, Paul Johnson on bass, Bruno Stoehelin on percussion and Carol
Campbell on backing vocals. Island Eddy will be touring Ireland during
the early part of 2008.
n The CD is available on CLO lár-Chonnachta Indreabhab, Co. Galway.
Tel: 091593307, e-mail: cic@iol.ie www.cic.ie |
